Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor has always held a special place in my spooky heart, so being invited to Media Night is always a real treat. There’s something darkly magical about stepping onto that historic ship knowing you’re about to be surrounded by ghosts, ghouls, and gallons of fog.

The evening began with an exciting opening ceremony led by Brett Bertolino and Amy Hollaman of 13th Floor Entertainment Group, setting the tone for what was to come. On stage, we were greeted by a full lineup of iconic Dark Harbor characters—The Ringmaster, The Captain, Scary Mary, and more—each bringing their own brand of eerie charm to the festivities. The night kicked off with an explosive performance featuring fire dancers, and later, more fire performers could be found lighting up the carnival area alongside roaming entertainers, including mischievous clowns and towering stilt walkers.

Maze Highlights

This year’s lineup of mazes was a fantastic mix of fan favorites and fresh nightmares.

Big Top Terror always brings the fun—and chaos—and I can’t help but love the ball pit section. It’s such a unique and playful scare, and it never fails to make me laugh and scream at the same time. The brand new Voodoo maze was one of the highlights of the night. The atmosphere was rich, detailed, and immersive, blending dark magic and gothic themes in a way that felt fresh for Dark Harbor. The addition of the Voodoo Museum nearby was a clever touch and made for an interesting place to linger between scares. Feast continues to expand the deliciously twisted story of The Chef, and this year’s actors really went above and beyond. I had some of my loudest screams of the night inside that maze! Lullaby will always be my personal favorite, though. I adore the Scary Mary character, and getting to walk by the ship’s pool—one of the most notoriously haunted spots on the Queen Mary—always gives me chills. I’ve had my own paranormal experiences there, so that section never fails to feel extra real to me. Infirmary was solid, though I did miss my favorite character, The Admiral, whom I had some fun interactions with in Infirmary last season. Rumor has it he might make some appearances later this year—if you spot him, tell him The Haunt Girl says hello! Breakout brought plenty of intensity, with heavy fog and strobes that made escaping even more of a challenge then I remembered.

Roaming Characters, Secret Bars & Shipboard Surprises

Outside the mazes, the atmosphere was alive with energy. You never know which characters you’ll run into. I loved seeing Lady Mabel near her cart. You can also see her aboard the ship in The Summoning of Samuel. The area near the show also hides one of my favorite Secret Bars, and I was thrilled to see those return again this year!

There are three on the ship this season, and each offers its own immersive twist, themed cocktails, and beautiful set design. My favorites are still the ones located aboard the Queen Mary itself—they’re stunning, especially the new bar in the old classroom connected to Feast. If you have the chance to find them, I highly recommend making the detour.

Entertainment & Finale

Between mazes, guests can enjoy roaming performers, carnival style entertainment, and food that adds to the festive atmosphere. The energy never dips, and the crowd was buzzing all night long. Of course, I ended my evening at the dance party and foam zone, which is always the perfect way to wrap up a night of scares.

Final Thoughts

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor remains one of my favorite Halloween events—not just because of the top-notch mazes and characters, but because of the ship itself. The Queen Mary is genuinely one of the most haunted locations I’ve ever visited, and blending that real-world history with a full-scale Halloween event makes this experience unlike any other.

Between the beautiful storytelling, passionate performers, talented creative team and the eerie vibe of the ship, Dark Harbor continues to prove why it’s a must-visit for haunt fans. If you’re looking for an event that combines classic scares, immersive fun, and a little bit of the paranormal, set sail for Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor.