South America Tour -- 1964-1965 (San Fransisco

Monday December 14, 1964

Flag of Norway in the log. Cruise line is Norwegian. 

Finally the Big Day arrived clear and rather cold. Overslept! Nearly two hours. Had breakfast, finished packing, loaded car and took off over Bay Bridge and on to the Alameda Embark Terminal. With help of one man we took luggage on board and saw our suite for the first time - in was a honey. We put our luggage away and gazed around excellent accommodations.

There were beds with reading lights over each. Dressing table with three view mirrors, two chairs, two separate closets using the full from wall, each with three shelves a rod for hanging clothes and four drawers. There is also an electric switch to turn on a small heater in bottom of closet which circulates warm dry air thru the closet to offset the humidity. The bedroom has a ceiling light and too curtained windows. 

The living room is on the front of super structure. It has three windows facing the bow and two more on the portside. All of the windows have wood blinds concealed below window and when uncatched the blind is forced up by a spring. It permits air to pass thru but keeps circling.

In this "Day Room" are four comfortable arm chairs, sofa and writing desk. with wall lights two ceiling lights. Heating and air conditioning controls in each room. The bath is large with deep tub and movable shower head with flexible tube. There are two wash bowls and the two medicine cabinets are exceptionally deep. The hall has a full length mirror and a hat and coat-rack. Doors  to cabin have two key holes side by side. one for our key the other for emergency for opening by authorized ship personal. The door can be opened quickly even tho passengers leaved key in lock. 

The ship was built in 1958 in Holland although it indicates Bergen, Norway as homeport it has never been there. 

We drove back to SF and the motel. I took the car to Fillmore Garage for storage. The owner drove me back to motel which saved a lot of time. We picked up our coats and odds & ends, walked over to Chestnut st. (one block) to get bus to downtown transferred to Market St. bus and then to Wells Fargo Bank to pick up cash for trip. Then walked over to terminal to get bus to Alameda. Millie walked ahead with attache case with money, I followed two steps behind with case of film. Arrived at 1:10 pm for 1:35 Bus. Walked from Stanton st Alameda to dock and boarded ship. the luggage we left on Pier 41 SF the previous Wednesday was not there. Steward checked and assured us it was in the warehouse. It was and it arrived later.

We were first to arrive. We met the other passengers as they came in the lounge. All of them had done considerable world travelling. The ship started moving out into SF Bay at 6:00 PM. It took two hours to go down the bay, go under Golden Gate Bridge and head out into the Pacific. Dinner at 6:30 PM an excellent meal well served amid an exceptional atmosphere. Retired to lounge after dinner where passengers became better acquainted. To bed about eleven. Everyone very tired but happy.