Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from The Captain's Table!!!

Hope it's a great day for everyone!!!

Snapshot: Titanic's Ghostly Bow

This photo was taken in 1988 and shows the bow of the ill-fated Titanic emerging from the murky deep - like a ghost ship coming out of the fog. Despite being underwater since 1912, it retains the grace and elegance that made Titanic a truly beautiful ship to behold.

Nevertheless, I feel that it sets the perfect mood on this Halloween Eve. The rusticles hang off the ship like iron tears that have never fallen. Crying for the life Titanic never had perhaps? Crying for all those lost in the sinking?

Probably not...but it's still an awesome (and creepy) photo to show for Halloween.

Snapshot: A Foggy Morning in Long Beach

This photo was taken last week and gives a truly spectacular view of the Queen Mary and Carnival Paradise on one particularly foggy morning. Mornings like this are common in Long Beach this time of year, which is perfect since Halloween is coming up soon!

Ghostly Experiences Aboard the Queen Mary

At the risk of sounding crazy, I believe that spirits still wander the halls of my beloved Queen Mary in Long Beach. I've had too many odd things happen to me to think otherwise and I'd like to share some of them with you right now.

If you're not into this sort of stuff, then you have my apologies.

My first encounter took place back in September 2005 when my mom and I were on the Haunted Encounters Tour. We were standing on the landing of the stairs in the First Class Pool, waiting for the rest of the group to finish looking around when something tugged at the bottom of her jacket. My mom thought this was curious indeed, but before she could turn and tell me, something tugged at the bottom of my jacket. It was very distinct - and seemed very much like a little child trying to get attention. We both thought it to be strange.

Paranormal investigators - by the by - say that the pool area is haunted by a little girl named Jackie. There is no documentation that states a little girl drowned in either of the ship's pools, but many guests and crew members have reportedly seen and heard her over the years.

Jump ahead 4 or 5 years when I was again in the pool (this time while taking the Paranormal Spiritwalk tour). I was leaning against a wall when - off in the far end of the room - I saw a black shadow mass pop out from behind a pillar. It seemed as if it were looking directly at me. It moved back and when I went to check it out there was absolutely nothing.

Once, I was on "B Deck" when I saw a black mass materialize in the hall and walk into a wall. There was no one else around - I checked. I was also unable to recreate what I had seen, so I have no explanation.

Then there have been several times where black masses have walked through me while standing in the pool's changing rooms. That's always fun...

Many people have reported similar things aboard the Mary over the years. If you've ever had an experience, I urge you to contact the ship at www.queenmary.com and let thQem know...then I urge you to share here as well.

Snapshot: Pulling a Body from the Water

This photo shows a boat from the Mackay-Bennett retrieving the body of a Titanic passenger following the disaster. This gruesome task went on for many days until - loaded with nearly 200 victims - the ship sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Many of these bodies were eventually buried in local cemeteries.

Snapshot: Embalming Aboard the Mackay-Bennett

This image shows the body of a Titanic passenger being embalmed on the deck of the Mackay-Bennett, which pulled nearly 300 bodies from the water in the weeks following the disaster (though at least 100 of them were buried at sea - decomposition had rendered identification useless).