The year is 2004 and I’m glued to the television anxiously awaiting the premiere of the paranormal reality TV show, Ghosthunters. Founded by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, the duo, along with their TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) team, would travel the country investigating places that were deemed haunted. This was the first time I had ever truly seen a show that focused on bringing the paranormal world to the mainstream and it has since left a profound impact on me. It’s been almost 15 years since then and I still have a soft spot for the TAPs team, which is why I was so excited to learn that I would have the opportunity to go on a ghost hunting adventure with Grant Wilson aboard the Queen Mary.

Voyage to the Other Side is an on-going paranormal investigation into some of the most haunted areas of the Queen Mary. As per the description from Queen Mary, each month paranormal thrill seekers will be treated to one of Aiden Sinclair’s 45-minute theatrical seance performances, a one-of-a-kind lecture, paranormal investigation, and meet and greet with special guests. Haunt lovers will have the opportunity to investigate the Revenant Room and the historic Rope Locker first hand by participating in the first recurring paranormal research aboard the RMS Queen Mary. This past weekend, the Queen Mary invited Grant Wilson, co-founder of TAPS, aboard the ship where he teamed up with Aiden Sinclair to kick off the inaugural event.

As I’m sure you can probably tell by reading the above description, this was definitely an event suited to my needs. Upon arrival, guests made their way to The Revenant Room Lounge where they got to mingle with other paranormal fans while partaking in cocktails prior to the show. At 10pm we were then led into The Revenant Room where Aiden Sinclair performed his Illusions of the Passed show which was tailored to focus more on the paranormal side of things. This being the third time seeing his performance (you can read our reviews HERE and HERE), I was happy to see a change to his routine which incorporated a new act titled “The Shadow Project”, which allowed the audience to conjure up something similar to a shadow figure. What Aiden is trying to accomplish throughout the next three months, in conjunction with the investigation, is to see if we can make contact with the other side and allow for a relationship, of sorts, to blossom. I am still convinced that he is somehow a dark wizard because I quite literally can’t wrap my head around the illusions he performs. Without a doubt, Illusions of the Passed is a show that everyone should see, especially if you are a fan of magic, as you’ll be both amazed and perplexed at what he is able to accomplish. To this day, I don’t know if it’s paranormal or sleight of hand or wizardry, but what I do know is that I’ll continue to go to his shows without thinking twice.

Following the show was when started to get into the investigation portion of the evening. It was at this time that Grant Wilson introduced himself and prepared us for what we were about to experience. He was very thorough in giving us the run-down of how to approach an investigation and the do’s and don’t’s of ghost hunting. It was quite clear that he’s still just as passionate about these experiences as he was 15 years ago which made my ghost-hunting-heart burst with joy. After finishing the explanation of the rules and devices we would be using, he called out to the spirit realm while we waited with bated breath for communication. Soon after, a K2 meter (otherwise known as an EMF reader – read more about them HERE) started to go off, an indication that something was working with the device, though who or what that was we aren’t sure. Guests could also take some of the equipment, and/or use their phones, and investigate the surrounding areas within the Revenant Room and Lounge to see if they could pick up any readings or communicate with anyone. I had the chance to try out a spirit box, something I had never done prior, and though I didn’t really hear much through all the static, it was still an interesting device to test out. What I appreciated most about this experience, though, was how respectful everyone was – whether it was the hosts or the guests, everyone genuinely seemed interested in what they were doing and there was never a time when someone yelled out “Come at me, bro” in hopes of seeing if they would be possessed by a demonic entity.

I also found the event to be rather educational, and though I was familiar with a lot of the terminology associated with ghost hunting, those who were new were able to jump in rather quickly. Grant is also a phenomenal person to talk to and is someone who is willing to take the time to explain equipment or listen to EVP’s or just shoot the shit about paranormal stuff. The saying goes that you should never meet your idols, but Grant Wilson is one of those rare exceptions as he is just as kind and sweet as he is on TV. For me, it was such a huge honor to be able to talk to him about the impact his show had on me growing up in Massachusetts where I felt ostracized from people who didn’t understand my love for the paranormal.

What’s unique about this event is that all of the research we conducted, and/or evidence we collected, will be used in next month’s investigation. I don’t want to give too much information out on what we discovered because I want next month’s team to go in blind in hopes that they will have a similar experience with the other side. Though I didn’t pick up any paranormal vibes in the Revenant Room, I did get a rather unsettling feeling in the Rope Locker area. I’m still not sure what exactly this space was used for, but from what I’ve been told it was where POW were held during the War, which could account for why the energy in that space is one that is very uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it was a perfect way to end the evening.

As media, what I described above was what I experienced, but for ticket holders, you get more of an experience before the start of Illusions of the Passed as well as an opportunity to have brunch with the team the following day. Tickets may seem steep at $275 for general admission (additional $125 for Evidence Review Brunch), but that not only covers the private showing of Illusions of the Passed and the haunted investigation of the restricted areas of the ship, but also a meet and greet and meal voucher at Chelsea’s Chowder House. On February 23, 2019, Queen Mary has invited Scott Porter & Doogie McDougal, co-founders of the Tennessee Wraith Chasers franchise, to lead the 2nd paranormal investigation, followed by the third event on March 30, 2019 led by actor and paranormal investigator Chad Lindberg. Space is extremely limited so make sure you get your tickets early as this first event sold out.

In conclusion, I just want to thank Queen Mary and Senter Stage Events for having Nightmarish Conjurings cover this first Voyage to the Other Side. It was a remarkable experience and one that I will always cherish. We aren’t sure what next month’s adventure will bring, but if we end up going you’ll hear all about it! For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.queenmary.com.

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Shannon McGrew

Founder/Co-Owner at Nightmarish Conjurings

Shannon is the Founder of Nightmarish Conjurings and a lover of all things horror and haunt related. When she's not obsessively collecting all things "Trick 'R Treat" related, or trying to convince everyone that "Hereditary" is one of the greatest horror films ever made, you can find her designing interiors for commercial restaurants. An avid haunt fan, Shannon spends the entire year visiting haunts and immersive experiences throughout the Southern California area and hopes to one day design her own haunted attraction.

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