FAMOUS LINER RMS QUEEN MARY IS GETTING A LONG-OVERDUE MAKEOVER. HUGO MARTIN OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTS.

Social History: The Los Angeles Times reports in a great story by Hugo Martin the RMS Queen Mary is getting a long-overdue makeover. The company that leases the cruise ship turned floating hotel from the city of Long Beach is investing $5 million to upgrade rooms and restaurants.

The RMS Queen Mary, famed Cunard liner, which Long Beach purchased in 1967, is getting long-overdue upgrades. So far, 75 of the 314 hotel rooms and two of its three restaurants have been renovated. Cruise ship seen behind the RMS Queen Mary is docking at Carnival Cruises terminal in Long Beach. (Courtesy Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

LOS ANGELES TIMES – By Hugo Martín – 9:15 PM PST, March 2, 2010

The Queen has seen better days.

A makeover has been long overdue for the venerable Queen Mary, the retired cruise ship turned tourist attraction and hotel docked in Long Beach Harbor since 1967.

But repairs to the city-owned ship have been delayed because of financial crisis and organizational wrangling.

READ MORE: Click here to read the excellent Los Angeles Times Story. Support your wonderful local newspapers. Without the excellent staff at the LA TIMES these stories wouldn’t happen.

THE QUEEN MARY IN SERVICE – TRANS-ATLANTIC – PHOTOS OF THIS GREAT LINER FROM 1939 UNTIL THE LATE 1960s – WHEN SHE WAS RETIRED FROM CUNARD LINE SERVICE.

THE FIRST CLASS SMOKING ROOM

THE FIRST CLASS SHOPPING CENTER

THE FIRST CLASS DRAWING ROOM

THE FIRST CLASS LONG GALLERY

THE FIRST CLASS SWIMMING POOL