Curious about what it’s like to stay on The Queen Mary? We’ve laid out five reasons it’s worth it after our experience at Day Trip Festival this year.
Day Trip Festival returned to the summer heat of Long Beach on June 21-22 for another weekend at the Queen Mary Waterfront we won’t soon forget. From nonstop house and techno beats during fiery performances and iconic fish bowls to the energetic sea of ravers and much more, Insomniac continues to uplevel this festival since its debut in 2021. It’s quickly become a summer staple that Southern California festivalgoers add to their list of must-attend events.
Having attended the festival in the past, I had always been curious as to what it’s like to stay aboard The Queen Mary during one of Insomniac’s festivals at the venue. I had previously been aboard for the after parties during Day Trip Festival, Apocalypse: Zombieland, and Dreamstate SoCal, but my mind had always wondered what the rooms and accommodations were like. When given the opportunity to experience a stay on The Queen Mary this year, I jumped at the chance.
Overall, convenience was the number one factor in my time as a hotel guest on The Queen Mary during the Day Trip Festival. The proximity to the after-parties, meeting ravers from all walks of life, and more made it clear that spending the extra dollars to stay next to the festival is worth it. Keep reading for a deeper look into our experience and why we think it’s a solid option!
Five Reasons Why Staying on The Queen Mary was the Move for Day Trip Festival
The convenience of staying next to the festival grounds is clutch.
I’ve never had a hotel room be this close to the venue for any festival I’ve attended. Words can’t express how nice it felt to walk five to ten minutes back to my hotel room mid-festival to take a breather before heading back out. I was able to come back in the evening, change my shoes since my feet were hurting from tall boots, don my new Day Trip hoodie I had purchased, grab some items my friend needed, and head back out into Day Trip. Those wanting to save money on drinks inside the venue could also enjoy one in their room or at the Observation Bar; just note that you can’t bring it inside the festival.
Additionally, not having to deal with walking over the bridge connecting downtown Long Beach to the venue or waiting in long shuttle lines was a dream come true. I’ve always had to deal with this while attending recent Insomniac festivals here, so being able to spend less time navigating parking, shuttle lines, expensive pedicabs, or long walks—and being able to be back at my hotel room within minutes at the end of the event—was worth it in itself to me.
The weekend kicked off with some exclusive sets.
The weekend started on a high note by taking advantage of Friday check-in. We got settled in our room, got our bearings on the ship, and prepared for the pre-party in the evening. Taking place on the bow of the ship and in the Observation Bar, artists like Adam Auburn and Walker & Royce helped set the vibe of the weekend.
The check-in experience was seamless. We were instructed to park in a lot off-site, and a shuttle took us to The Queen Mary. This shuttle was also available during the weekend for those who needed to get back to downtown Long Beach or make a convenience store run. The room was cozy and dated, but The Queen Mary is almost a hundred years old, so it was expected. It had everything we needed to be comfortable during our stay, minus a fridge. The cherry on top was being met with little goodie bags on our bed, stocked with Insomniac stickers, a lanyard, water, and more.
The after parties kept everything going deep into the night.
The excitement didn’t stop with the end of Day Trip Festival. Each night, three different ballrooms on the ship hosted afterparties until 4am. While these had previously been held outside on the decks of The Queen Mary, the vibes inside the ballrooms this year were just as high. Artists like Eli Brown, Max Low, Chris Lorenzo, Kyle Watson, Andruss, Gorgon City, and more were spinning tunes for festivalgoers. If you were a hotel guest on The Queen Mary, the after parties were included with your stay.
With food and drink options available at the afters and a variety of stages to check out, we had everything we needed to dance into early morning hours—and when it was time to turn in, it was just a short walk to our room. Something to note, though, is that you may hear the after parties or feel the vibrations of the bass from your room, especially if you’re located right underneath them. If you plan to head to bed before 4am, bring earplugs just in case.
Getting to try different food and beverage options while on the ship.
Various dining options were available throughout our stay, including food and drinks from the Midship Marketplace, Promenade Cafe, and Observation Bar, some of which had options that were cheaper than you’d find inside the festival. The after parties also had options available until close to 4am at different locations on the ship. Additionally, the proximity to the venue allowed us to go in early each day to try the different food options for an early lunch. Whichever you decided, The Queen Mary had you covered to satiate your appetite.
One snag we ran into was that no food was available after midnight, right after the pre-party ended. My friends and I were starving and had been told that some food options would still be open after the party ended. After discovering these options had shut down for the night, we had to get a pizza delivered to The Queen Mary. I would suggest adding food options open later after the pre-party for hungry ravers, or extending the pre-party hours and bringing it inside if needed, as no other food options are available anywhere near the ship’s immediate vicinity.
Getting the chance to connect with other ravers attending the festival.
Half the fun of staying on The Queen Mary came from meeting fellow Day Trip Festival attendees who were just as excited to be there as I was. I connected with people who were first-timers on the ship and others who have vowed to stay on The Queen Mary for each event hosted there. I enjoyed running into familiar faces throughout the weekend and sharing stories about how our Day Trip was going.
If you’re looking to easily make friends with fellow Day Trip fans and take in views of both the festival and downtown Long Beach together aboard The Queen Mary, I definitely recommend staying on the ship. Between all of the perks, convenience, atmosphere, and people, it will be a no-brainer to decide to stay onboard again if given the option.
