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With Reuben
Goossens
Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer, Author
& Maritime Lecturer
A
true classic liner built in
She
is seen here at anchor in Marlborough Sounds
Postcard from
the author’s private collection
SS Marama Page Three
Introduction:
This page is the
continuation of a series of SS Marama menus and booklets and passenger lists
dating from 1931 to 1934, and all of these have been kindly donated to the
author by Mr. John Alexander of Wellington New Zealand. John is a dear friend of mine and he has proved to
be a fine sailing companion. I was most fortunate to sail with him on the
excellent cruise ship MV Athena in April 2012 from
The Keith Alexander story:
John
Alexander’s dear late father; Mr. Keith Alexander (A.K.) who was
an officer with the USSCo, being the fifth engineer during the time of these
cruises that the SS Marama undertook during the early thirties, he was able to
collect a number of menus, Cruise booklets and Passengers Lists, etc. Of course
as was the norm in those days, with him being an officer, he would host a table
in the First Class Dining Room each evening and on that special night, the
“Farewell Dinner” when the Souvenir Menu” was printed,
passengers at his table would usually sign each others menus, including his.
His signature was always located on the front cover of the inside of the menu,
and the Captain always had signed at the bottom, right hand side corner of the
Autograph page. Gladly Keith retained quite a few of his memorabilia items over
the many years after he had left USSCo, and as his son John who dearly loves
passenger ships, especially those of the Union Steam Ship Company (USSCo),
Keith made sure that he ended up with these, and he like his father has kept
them safe many years! Now they are with me and available on this page for all
of us all to enjoy and see the delights of the
old time cruise scene from way back the 1930s, when things were so
different to today. However, voyages in those days were unique for it was a
genuine ocean going experience and ships had that delightfully nautical feel,
with public rooms that were superbly lined with fine timbers and heavy sofas
and chairs, art adorning the walls. Yet the accommodations were still very
simple although comfortable. Cabins did not have private facilities in those
days, just water and a basin, and passengers would have to make arrangements
during the first evening with the “Bath Steward” a time for them to
use a bath room each day for their daily bath! Indeed
how things have changed, but although today’s ships provide all the
facilities, but they have become huge square floating apartment blocks, that
are more like giant shopping centres, come resorts! That is why both John
Alexander and the author prefer to sail on the Classic International Cruises -
MV Athena!
Apparently Keith
Alexander worked on the Marama for a considerable time and then he transferred
to other USSCo ships and worked his way up the ranks of engineer until he
became Chief Engineer!
Fifth
Engineer Keith A. Alexander seen on board SS Marama
Photograph
provided by Keith’s son John Alexander
John Alexander
wrote:
“My Dad served
as an engineer on the following USSCo ships: SS Marama, the old Wahine, Tamahine, Waiotapu and finally
the
Below you will find a
series of Historic Cruise Itinerary’s and Information booklets, but you
will notice I have scanned the only - covers, the inside cover (once) and the
itinerary. Although, all of them have from 11 to 16 pages in them, and some
even have large fold out maps. I will also show several pages that contain the
General (ships) information. I may scan some more of some of these books later,
should time permit. In the meantime I trust that you will enjoy this remarkable
page of remarkable an historic cruise memorabilia, for this is very rare
material indeed!
I hereby wish to
thank John Alexander for his
friendship and kindness for his donation and permission to have this material
shared with the world on this site!
However, NONE of
this material should be copied without express permission from the author as it
is Copyright ©. For those
who wish to use anything for any reason whatsoever, they should email the
author via the email that is located on the MAIN PAGE; see the link at bottom
of page.
*********************************************
All
passengers received a copy of this 15 page booklet
upon boarding the SS Marama as it contained their itinerary as well as the
ships General Information
A
complete guide to all stops made during their cruise, and at the back of the
book is a large fold out map
---- 
SS
Marama Marlborough Sound’s Cruise ex Wellington March 26, 1934
SS Marama
South Pacific Cruise ex Sydney
This
is the cover of the 20-page cruise itinerary, information book, whilst it is
also filled with a great deal of detailed port information,
photographs and maps
The
Cruise Director was Mr. H. F. Norman and his assistant Mr H. E. Brussey
Rather
than prior to
***************************************************
Return
the SS Marama & Maheno
Or SS Marama Page Two
Once
again a very special thank you to John Alexander
for his wonderful help in bringing this
ship to
world’s attention and providing his and his father’s collection to
the world!
*******************************************
SS Waitaki
TSS Monowai /
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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced in the passenger
Shipping Industry in May 1960
ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate
sites are by the author or from the author’s private collection.
In
addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies
and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding
the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images
would be so kind to make them-selves known to me in order that due credit may
be given.
This
notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all
photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page,
that is, when a page is updated!
ssMaritime is owned and © Copyright by
Reuben Goossens - All Rights Reserved