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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

Europe Canada Line

Managed by “Holland America Line”

MS Seven Seas

ex Nelly, Long Island, Mormacmail

My Voyage on MS Seven Seas to New York

By Frans Mast

MS Seven Seas ready to depart for her Trans Atlantic voyage on March 1, 1957

That is me back in 1957 - my passport photo

I had decided to immigrate to the United States and passage had been arranged on the Europe Canada Line liner the MS Seven Seas departing Holland on March 1, 1957. I took a taxi to Rotterdam to board the ship at the Holland America Line pier, and as I lived in Schiedam near the River Maas, it was only a short distance away. Having said all my farewells to my parents and all my many family members I commenced with the official formalities and was ready to board this nice looking white ship. Having boarded I soon I found my to the side deck of the ship where I would be able to see my family and I remained there until the three blasts of the ships horn and we slowly pulled away It was an emotional experience, something you do not quickly forget, especially with the music playing over the system and people everywhere crying as they were leaving the home they had always known, and many did not know if they would ever see it again.

That is me in the middle waving goodbye to my family ashore

Taken by my brother J. Mast

My brother is on the far left with the little girl in the white jacket with a hood on his shoulders

Ready to set sail

Taken by a family member

But now the voyage had commenced as the ship slowly sailed past my hometown of Schiedam, then Vlaardingen, Maassluis en finally Hoek van Holland. However, as my brother had a car and he would travel along the way and there the family would assemble and stood waving at me until they could go no further, and it way finally Goodbye!

MS Seven Seas is taking me to a new life, as my family come see me off - here they are at Schiedam

Photo’s taken by a family member

And here my family take a last shot of the ship at the Hoek of Holland as we are ready to enter into the North Sea

Photo’s taken by a family member

After we reached the North Sea, I went to my room to see what it was it was like for I had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be a dormitory for 15 men to live and sleep. The ship, although under Holland America management, had a German crew but they spoke English, but like most passengers, I spoke very little English, but it was enough to get around. I loved to play chess and did so with quite a few of the passengers and I remember that there was a Hungarian girl who played really very well and thus I enjoyed playing with her.

On the way to New York the Seven Seas called at three ports, such as; Le Havre in France, then at Southampton in England and then Halifax in Canada.

Whilst on board I made good friends with a man named Bob Roos who was a delightful Indonesian Dutchman. We dined in four groups in two dining rooms and on my table around 90% were Dutch and the food was very good on board. Although whilst on the Atlantic we had some rough seas and there were many people who skipped their meals, but I never missed a meal nor, thankfully, was I seasick. Most of the time we had to make sure that our plates would not fall off the table. Later when we arrived in New York I discovered that the Hungarian girl was sick the whole time we were crossing the Atlantic, which was sad. She was fine at first, but then the weather was fine. About half way during the voyage apparently there was some engine trouble and the ship was stationary for a day, and thus we just drifted until the engines were restarted. I also recall that at one time during a Church service held by a German minister, I was asked to translate a Birthday wish from German into Dutch for a passenger, which I was only happy to do.

Our farewell dinner party with long balloons

There is a balloon separating me (clapping) from a Dutch Indonesian gentleman, and I am next to a young lady

Photo (my camera) by another passenger

When we reached Halifax we could leave the ship and go to town and do some shopping. I went with some friends and visited a Woolworth store. I remember well that the town was filthy and I was certainly not impressed with the place and did not enjoy my visit there. Two days later we arrived in New York City and I saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time!

The Passenger List

Just for interest. The Mr. Mast under my name in the passenger list is not related to me. And I never met him whilst I was on board. Also at that time, I smoked about a pack of cigarettes every day and I was very happy because a pack of cigarettes cost only 10 cents whilst at sea compared to the (well then) high price of 35 cents a pack at home in Holland.

Also my voyage to the America as an immigrant was fully paid for by my sponsor, which was the “World Church Service.” And to enter America you had to have a job and a sponsor. The “First Presbyterian Church” of Oxford PA was my sponsor, and I commenced working at the J. J. Newberry’s 5 and 10 cent store in Oxford. Later I married an American girl, and we now have four wonderful children and eight delightful grandchildren. As you might gather, by now I am now 78 years old, but I am still in good health.

A more recent photo of Mr. Frans Mast

Thankfully, I did stop smoking about forty or so years ago and life has certainly been very good to me. Thus, the MS Seven Seas has certainly brought me to a good life in this new land and I will live with many happy memories of this fine old ship!

Frans Mast - USA.

Seven Seas Index

Page One – Ships History Page

Page Two – Photo Album

Page Three - The Maat Families Atlantic crossing

Page Four - Frans Mast sails in 1957 to New York

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