Review: Queen Mary Dark Harbor 2025

The majestic ocean liner Queen Mary is summoned by the sea making port in Dark Harbor for the grandiose return of the Halloween staple in Long Beach, CA. The demolition of the Old English Village in April was less of a tragedy opening new potential for event space. The 2025 season canvas to really let the creative team work their magic with less restrictions. They really take advantage of every space available for a new stage, new slider alley, expanded cemetery entrance, and more.

The Village Graveyard has an expanded cemetery with tombstones, coffins, wagons, statues, waterfront, and other photogenic backgrounds. Take your time to soak in this atmospheric entrance as the exit will be elsewhere.

The Shipyard features a brand new set up for the main stage, slider alley, and oversized map of scare mazes, carnival rides, show times, bars, shopping, food, and extra experiences. A pirate themed shootout for an extra fee or included with VIP. Captain’s Club for VIP lounge sits on one side of the stage with private cabanas. On the other side of the stage with beaming light house is the Anchor Bar and The Crypt with cushioned bench sitting overlooking the crowds with the Queen Mary in the background. The Crypt is also designed as a private event space for special occasions. Just around the corner is the nearest scare maze, Breakout. You’re locked inside the maximum security prison with notorious criminal Samuel the Savage. Unruly justice, winding prison cells, and convicts abound.

Seaside Village has you covered with carnival fair foods from churros, milkshakes, ice cream, fish bowls, burgers, hot dogs, fries, turkey legs, kettle corn, pretzels, funnel cakes, tacos, nachos, corn dogs, pizza, kabobs, and mocktails. For the price, portion sizes appear quite descent. Sinister Swings from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch returns as a popular mainstay.

Entrance and Main Plaza Photo Gallery:

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Voodoo Bayou conjures magic of roasting s’mores, smoking hookah, themed fries and nachos, cocktails, and the scare maze “Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse”. Navigate the swamp and escape the curse through zombie sailors, potion shops, coffins factories, and crackling lighting. A hidden speakeasy can be found here for those with sight to see the entrance. For knowledge and tokens to the speakeasy, guests will have to consult with Lady Mabel at the outskirts of Halloween Carnival. If you have VIP, you’re already granted access to the speakeasies.

Voodoo Bayou Photo Gallery:

Halloween Carnival is the gateway to roaming clowns, carnival rides, axe throwing, performance stage, cocktails served in oversized alien cups, and the scare maze “Big Top Terror”. This circus tent is full of deadly surprises and cursed tricks with mirror maze labyrinth inside a giant jack o’lantern, spinning tunnel, ball pit, and more. Apparently we missed the speakeasy in this one. Just means we’ll have to go back and try our luck again! Across from Lady Marbel is the scare maze “Lullaby”. Scary Mary is looking for a new playmate. A game of hide and seek through the ship’s lockers, changing rooms, nursery, and dark hallways just what she needs. The speakeasy here grants entry to the enormous void of the boiler. You’ll get a different perspective of guests walking over a collapsing bridge.

Halloween Carnival Photo Gallery:

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Spirits of Dark Harbor is the central gathering inside the ship to learn more about the ship and its ghosts while sipping on cocktails or mocktails from the nearby bar. Additional cost experiences can be found with Trick or Treat immersive holographic VR and the exceptional seance. Join Lady Mabel to the summoning of the spirit of Samuel the Savage through darkness, billowing wind, unearthly sound effects, and splattering blood. The hidden speakeasy to the engine room can be found here. Bring a drink and loop around the confines of twisting metal pipes.

Spirits of Dark Harbor Photo Gallery:

Nearby is the scare maze “Feast”. It takes a strong arm to cut up and slice away delectable portions of fresh meat rising from Butcher to Chef. Guests may find themselves to be the missing special ingredient. Dare to take the challenge to crawl over spinning blades. The exit also features perhaps the most wheelchair accessible hidden speakeasy. Full tables and chairs to chill and relax with a cocktail while meeting the Chef.

Feast Photo Gallery:

“Infirmary” scare maze lead patients from the operating theater to deeper inside the bowels of the ship where the surgeon and his beautiful accomplice, Graceful Gale, conduct gruesome procedures. The hidden speakeasy here sends you down an elevator to the boilder room of the ship with its vast open chamber six fathoms below sea level. The deep darkness can certainly put one on edge. It is much appreciated to have clear visible signage within the ship’s mazes indicating where the designated paths continue. One wrong turn without supervision and a guest could easily get lost.

Infirmary Photo Gallery:

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Merchandise, Food, Observation Deck Photo Gallery:

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The Shipyard stage features not-to-be-missed Maidan Voyage Launch Party to “open the gates” to Queen Mary Dark Harbor, fire dancers, slider alley, and live DJ. There is even a Final Voyage with the main spectrals dancing with guests to  modern Latin music and reggaeton before a foam party across the way!

Every staff member from actors, foods, stores, operations, security, and more genuinely appear to be having fun and embrace the Halloween festivities. The staff and guests engage with each other between the scares, food, shows, and party time atmosphere. Not a single frown to be found. The most impressive hidden speakeasies to be found are those inside the ship. Guests are able to purchase exclusive cocktails and explore at their own pace. 2025 has been the best experience ever for Queen Mary Dark Harbor. We can’t wait to see what the creative team has cooking up for next year.

For more information including dates, times, and ticket sales, visit https://darkharborhalloween.com/