If you’ve ever looked into the history of the famous ocean liner, the Queen Mary, you may wonder if the ship had a swimming pool. Modern cruise ships usually have multiple.
The Queen Mary was incredibly modern by ship standards when she launched in 1934. She had many amenities onboard that were very similar to modern cruise ships.
I have stayed onboard the Queen Mary, as she has been converted into a hotel. There is no pool on the ship available for guests to currently use.
Did The Queen Mary Have a Pool?
The RMS Queen Mary had two swimming pools – one for first-class passengers and a separate, smaller, less ornate second-class pool.
Both pools were free for guests to use. Men and women could swim at different times, or there were sessions for mixed bathing.
| First Class Pool | Second Class Pool | |
| Depth | 4ft (1.2m) – 6ft (1.8m) | 4ft (1.2m) – 6ft (1.8m) |
| Size | 60ft (12m) by 40ft (18m) | 20ft (9m) by 35ft (10m) |
| Current State | Dilapidated | No Longer Exists |
The Design of Queen Mary’s First-Class Swimming Pool
The first-class swimming pool onboard the Queen Mary was built in an Art Deco style.
The pool was built over decks C and D and featured a level at the top, where guests could look down over the pool. The design of the pool itself remained largely unchanged throughout the decades.
At one end of the pool is a staircase, and there were originally two diving boards.
The diving boards were removed before the ship set sail. It had been decided that due to the water moving as the ship sailed, this could be dangerous.
How Deep Was The First-Class Swimming Pool on The Queen Mary?
The first-class swimming pool on the Queen Mary was 4ft (1.2m) deep in the shallow end and 6ft (1.8m) deep in the deep end.
The majority of modern cruise ship swimming pools are relatively shallow, especially the main pool found on the deck. Other swimming pools will have deep ‘plunge’ pools with a small surface area.
The pool was large, measuring around 60ft by 40ft. This equates roughly to around 18 metres by 12 metres.
The Queen Mary wasn’t like a modern cruise ship, where passengers in the inside cabins have access to all the same amenities as those with balconies or suites.
Access to different areas of the ship was determined entirely by which class you were in. Many areas were for first-class guests only.
Did Queen Mary’s Swimming Pool Cost Anything to Use?
Swimming in the pool on the Queen Mary was free for guests. This is different from earlier cruise ships like the Titanic, where all guests had to pay.
Find out more about the Titanic’s pool here:
Inside Titanic’s Swimming Pool – Real Photos, Restrictions, and Design
Mixed-gender swimming was allowed on the Queen Mary. This shows a change in attitude from earlier times. On the Titanic, mixed-gender swimming wasn’t allowed.
To learn more about how the Queen Mary compared to the Titanic, check out this post:
Titanic vs The Queen Mary – Size, Power, and Speed Comparison
War Time Conversion
In March of 1940, the Queen Mary was fitted as a troopship to help with the war effort. Her capacity increased from just over 2000 to over 5000.
As part of this renovation, the first-class pool was converted to provide extra accommodation for troops.
Why Is The Queen Mary’s Swimming Pool Closed Now?
The swimming pool on the Queen Mary is closed to guests for safety reasons.
Decades of decay have left the pool in a dangerous state of disrepair. Structural issues and loose tiles mean that the pool has to remain closed to guests.
Many people hope that the pool will be restored and that the guests staying on the Queen Mary will be able to use the pool as the original guests did. However, this is unlikely.
The swimming pool of the Queen Mary is said to be one of the most haunted places on the ship. For this reason, it is a popular stop on the Queen Mary ghost tours.
Queen Mary’s Second-Class Pool
The Queen Mary also had a second-class pool for guests travelling in this class. The design of the second-class pool is similar to that of the first-class pool, if a little simpler.
The Design of Queen Mary’s Second-Class Swimming Pool
The second-class pool was slightly smaller than the first-class pool. It was known as the “tourist class” pool before World War II.
The second-class swimming pool had multiple small rooms for changing and showers on the right-hand side.
How Deep Was The Queen Mary’s Second-Class Swimming Pool?
The second-class swimming pool on the Queen Mary was 4ft (1.2m) deep in the shallow end and 6ft (1.8m) deep in the deep end.
What Happened to Queen Mary’s Second-Class Swimming Pool?
The Queen Mary currently operates as a hotel in Long Beach, California. The second-class swimming pool onboard the Queen Mary was removed when the ship was converted into a hotel.
The space, which used to be the second-class swimming pool, is now a public area/museum.
It’s unlikely that this pool will ever be reinstated or restored.
Queen Mary Swimming Pool Deaths – Did They Happen?
The first-class swimming pool on the Queen Mary is said to be one of the most haunted places on the ship. It’s reported that multiple people died in the pool.
Despite this, there are no reported deaths in the logs of the Queen Mary.
| Where | Evidence | |
| “Jackie” | First Class Pool | None |
| Lady in Black and White | First Class Pool | None |
Queen Mary Swimming Pool Deaths – Jackie
One of the most well-known stories is about a drowning that supposedly took place in the first-class pool. It involves a young girl called Jackie, who, it is said, drowned there.
Guests have reported hearing the giggling of a young girl around the pool and seeing wet, child-sized footsteps leading away from the pool.
There are no official records of a Jackie having ever drowned onboard the Queen Mary.
Queen Mary Swimming Pool Deaths – Lady in Black and White
There are also stories about a lady in her 50s or 60s who supposedly drowned in the first-class pool. She is often seen by guests wearing black and white.
There are no official records of this death.
To learn more about other people who definitely did die onboard, check out this post:
How Many People Died Onboard The Queen Mary? Crew and Passenger List
Before You Go
To learn more about the Queen Mary, check out the following post:
The RMS Queen Mary Didn’t Sink – Here’s What Happened to Her
Find out why ships like the Queen Mary are painted red below the waterline here:
Why Are Ships Red Below The Waterline? – I Went Under One to Find Out!
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