What is the date?
The official festival begins on Friday, May 16th, 2003 in the Queen's Salon. We
have an optional pre-festival day at Avalon on Thursday, May 15th.
Where is the venue?
The festival will be held aboard the RMS Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach, CA
What is the Queen Mary, and where is the hotel?
The RMS Queen Mary is a retired British luxury liner, the largest, fastest, and most elegant ever built. She enjoyed a 31 year tenure at sea during the heyday of sea travel as well as distinguished war service. She sailed from 1936 until 1967, when she was put up for sale after international air travel had become commonplace. The city of Long Beach, CA bought her and reconfigured her as a permanent tourist site and museum in 1971, as the last remaining reminder of a bygone era of sea travel. The hotel is on the ship; the very staterooms used during her days at sea serve as hotel suites. The hotel and ship offer every amenity (except a pool) including function rooms, restaurants, and spa.
What is the room rate?
The festival room rate has been set at $135 per night, single or double occupancy (Normally, $200). Down the road, delegates can contact the Queen Mary directly for reservations. Be sure to mention the Al Jolson Society.
562/432-6964
800/437-2934
www.queenmary.com
Where is the Queen, and is she accessible from an airport?
The Queen Mary is located at the south end of the 710 Freeway, at 1126 Queens Highway, in Long Beach, CA 90802, across the bay from downtown Long Beach. You may come in from the Long Beach Airport on either Jet Blue or America West or approximately 20 miles away from the Queen is LAX and the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. I would recommend travelers to use LAX, as it is bigger, has more international and non-stop flights, and has the Super Shuttle vans.
The Long Beach Airport webpage is http://www.lgb.org/. American and America West fly directly into that conveniently located facility. Certainly a better shuttle ride than from LAX or John Wayne or Burbank or Ontario.
Can I rent a car instead, and is there a parking fee?
Yes, and Yes. But listen... There is a fee of $8 per day for a vehicle.
Is there a shuttle from the airport to the Queen Mary?
Yes. There is a blue van called "Super Shuttle" which can be booked at LAX for a
fee. I will contact Super Shuttle to try to get a group rate.
Are there other shuttles to sightsee?
Yes. There is a blue bus that will take you to downtown Long beach and aquarium that runs a periodic schedule from the hotel. However, we encourage you not to miss festival events aboard the ship. Sightsee early or late, but not during!
Will the Queen be at sea, and do I have to worry about sea-sickness?
No, she is not at sea. While the Queen is moored permanently, she actually is floating in the water; there is a misperception that she is cemented into the Peninsula. Although floating, she will not move, so no fear of motion sickness.
I have a bit of a problem with sailing, but I'm interested in going to Avalon. What do you recommend?
I have sailed over numerous times, and the
boats are beautiful (with restrooms, a bar, and snacks available) and the ride
generally very relaxing. First of all, it's only 55 minutes. Naturally, control
of weather conditions or sea conditions on that given day is out of my range! I
think you'll be fine. I might recommend Dramamine or a like pill to control
motion. Take a nap- you won't even notice it! Remember, Catalina is an
island. The only other way over is by helicopter, but it would cost a lot
more than your boat transit. And we certainly don't want anyone to miss Avalon!
What is the registration fee?
Full festival registration fee (first class passage) will be $175 per
passenger. This covers: all daytime events (Avalon not included), two
dinner/shows, and Sunday breakfast.
The day at Avalon on Thursday, May 15th, is optional and is open for a fee of
$60 per person, which includes round-trip boat ride, tour of Casino Ballroom,
and admission to the Avalon Theatre for the 70th Anniversary screening of
"Hallelujah, I'm a Bum!" with our special guest, Mr. Harry Langdon Jr.
(subject to availability).
Partial Fees
Combo dinner/show pre-registration required: $75 per person or $40 show only
on both Friday and Saturday. Dinner reservations required in pre-registration!
Show only tickets will also be sold to the general public.
Daytime event pass: $20 per person (9am-4pm). For non-members, they will receive
a full annual membership which includes two Jolson Journals and four
Journalettes.
Avalon- $60 per person (round trip boat ride, Casino Ballroom tour, admission to screening)- optional
Hillside Bus- $20 per person- optional
Will there be accommodation for special dietary needs?
Yes, of course. The chef can accommodate any special needs such as Kosher, Vegetarian, or request for a sugar free desert. But it will be your responsibility to indicate such on your registration form.
Is there Handicap accessibility?
Yes! Please check sub-link for handicap accessibility.
Is there a Lost and Found?
If an item is found, we will bring it to our registration
table. Neither the Jolson Society nor the host committee will take
responsibility for any lost or stolen items.
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