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With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian,
Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author
Pahe Four - Our voyage on the
Flotta Lauro Lines
T\n Roma
October - November 1962
TN Roma seen in Sydney Australia in 1962
From the author’s private collection
The information and two images on
this page was kindly provided to me by Ingrid, who was a passenger, who with
her husband sailed on the Flotta Lauro liner TN Roma from
Fremantle Western Australia on Tuesday October 16, 1962. The ship sailed via Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Singapore,
Bombay, Suez,
Port Sais, and Medina to Naples
Italy,
arriving there on November 24, where they disembarked. From there Ingrid and
her husband proceeded to Germanywhere they remained for over a month spending
both Christmas and New Year there. They then continued to the United Statesand
now reside in the Bay Area in California.
Although I do have the details, but the surname has been withheld by
request.
Reuben Goossens.
Tuesday,
October 16 - 12 Noon. We departed
Fremantle, Western
Australia and sailed southward and via the south of Australia for Melbourne.
Saturday,
October 20 - 7.00 am. We arrived
in Melbourne
and went to the city and discovered the beautiful wide streets there.
The Roma in Melbourne
at Station Pier
Photographer unknown – “See photo notes
at bottom of page
Sunday,
October 21 – 7.00 pm. The
Roma departed Melbourne for Sydney.
Tuesday,
October 23. We
arrived in Sydney
Harbour early in the morning and it
was a beautiful sight. We had two great days of sightseeing and we left late
the next day.
Friday,
October 26. We
arrived in Brisbane
on a delightfully warm day and spent the day sightseeing.
Saturday,
October 27. There
was great excitement, the pool was filled today, and we had “Life boat
drill.”
We feel all safe now!
Provided by Ingrid the
Passenger
Sunday,
October 28. Perfect weather, smooth seas, able to see land and many small Islands.
Monday,
October 29. At
5.00 pm we passed Cape York. Then at 7 pm the
pilot left the ship per a motorboat.
Wednesday,
October 31. Today
beautiful calm seas and we saw many Flying fish as well as some Shark fins in
the sea.
Thursday,
November 1. We were
able to tour the Bridge and Chart room. At full speed the Roma does 17 knots.
We learned that at 1.30 pm we passed a Volcano named “Komba.”
Friday,
November 2. Deck
& pool competitions started today. Amazingly we saw Dolphins surfing right
next to ship.
Main
Lounge
From the author’s private collection
Saturday,
November 3. It was
overcast today. Equator ceremony took place at 3.00 pm. Tonight at 9.30 pm was
the Gala Ball in the Main Lounge.
Here I am receiving my official crossing the
equator certificate
Provided by Ingrid the
Passenger
Sunday,
November 4 – 10.00 pm. We arrived in and went ashore. It was very dirty and we saw large
beetles, people sleeping on the sidewalk. Shops were closed of course; a
policeman said that the street lights go out at 3.00 am.
Monday,
November 5. At 8.00
am we went sightseeing. Singapore
seems to be very poor with women doing all the manual work. We took a taxi to Tiger Palm Gardens,
which was very interesting; it had mystical figures as well as animals. We
visited Singapore
again in 1997 and certainly saw a huge difference, it was clean very modern.
The Roma is seen departing Singapore
Photographer unknown – “See photo notes
at bottom of page
Tuesday,
November 6. Today we
rested on board the ship after a hectic day ashore yesterday.
Sunday,
November 9. We
passed Ceylon.
Later during some pool games, an American won the diving competition. He
managed to gather 19 plates in just 30 seconds.
Tuesday,
November 11. As we are
getting closer to Bombay
we are seeing lots of small sailing boats and activity on the water.
Monday,
November 12 – 7.00 am. Arrive
in Bombay. Our
first impression was simple – “squalid.” We hired a hose
drawn carriage for sightseeing and things looked better from higher up. Nice
big historic buildings, beautiful women in colourful saris, etc.
Thursday,
November 15. Today I
was trying to put something together for our costume ball on Saturday night.
Lounge
bar
From the author’s private collection
Saturday,
November 17. After a
relaxing day, we took part of the Costume Ball up on Lido Deck. Judging
concluded at 11.00 pm. There were too many people really, and outside the air
was hot and muggy, but worse still the beer was warm.
Sunday,
November 18. Sailors
were busy most of the day painting and varnishing around the ship keeping
everything ship shape. We now have Red Sea
water in the pool. And it seems very salty!
Monday,
November 19 – 10.00 pm. Arrived
in the port
of Suez. Went into town, but
everything was closed except for the food stalls, ate some Flat bread. There
were many peddlers surrounding our ship in small boats. We bought several
stuffed camels. We finally went to bed at 4.00 am. .
Tuesday,
November 20 - 8.30am. Excitement
built as we entered the Suez Canal. The
Egyptian side was dotted with small Houses with flat roofs, and women in long
black dresses carrying pots on their heads. There was no sign of life on the
Arabian side. We arrived in Port Said
at midnight. It was very foggy and we anchored just outside the harbour.
Wednesday,
November 21 - 9.30 am Arrived in Port Said. Once again
there were many peddlers in small row boats surrounding the ship. We sailed at
11.00 am. The agenda to day was simply washing and ironing.
Thursday,
November 22. Getting
close to the end of our voyage and packing is not easy with all those souvenirs
and gifts that we have purchased during the voyage.
Friday,
November 23. Today
the sea very rough and many were sea sick, but luckily we were fine. We arrived
in Messina at
6.00 pm, and went ashore, and back on board 9.00 pm.
A Flotta Lauro
postcard of the TN Roma entering Naples
From the author’s
private collection
Saturday,
November 24 - 8.30 am. The TN Roma
has arrived at her destination, Naples,
Italy and we disembarked at 11.00am.
We checked our luggage into a locker at the railway station and went
sightseeing. We decided to take the night train to Rome.
Sunday,
November 25. Rome. We rented a car for
24 hours to go sightseeing. We just loved this old historic city! We slept in
the car. But it was a cold night.
Monday,
November 26. Did more
sightseeing around Rome and then took the night
train to Cologne in Germany, where we stayed until
after the New Year.
**************************************
TN Sydney & Roma INDEX:
Main
Page … TN Sydney & Roma history page.
Page One
… First Class photo album.
Page Two … Tourist Class Photo album.
Page Three … Deck Plans.
Page Four … A Voyage description - Australia to Naples in 1962 on the Roma.
Page
Five … Mr. Uma Shankar Jaiswal sails from
Bombaii to Naples in 1962.
**************************************************
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Who is the
Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry
in May 1960
ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
Where
the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos
Story
Also visit my …
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Ocean Voyages” pages
Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages 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 (my email address may be found
on www.ssmaritime.com only),
in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude
of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to
provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no
legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans
up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!
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!
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