New Ships
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
Matson Line
New Offices and New Ships
THE Matson Line’s attractive new booking offices in Sydney, at Berger House, Elizabeth Street, were officially opened on February 27 with a cocktail party for gentle men (about 50) and ladies (3) of the Press. This booking office is sub sidiary to the company’s main offices in Martin Place but is now in busi ness making advance bookings on Monterey and Mariposa, both of which will be on the Pacific service at the end of this year.
In the new office good use has been made of Queensland maple in the furniture and fixtures. A large illuminated mural map of the Pacific takes up part of the main wall and the “switch-back” ceiling in half-round hardwood strips looks like bamboo.
But the description of two new ships is as mouth-watering as the new offices —particularly to hardened South Pacific travellers who are used to taking what they can get and lumping it. All (repeat, all) cabins have private showers and toilets and some have baths —and, if you have that kind of money, you can have a “Lanai or deluxe suite.”
There is a variety of lounges and bars, swimming pool, theatre, dining rooms; the ships are entirely air conditioned, and equipped with stabilising fins.
Each vessel will carry 365 passeng ers, all in first-class. Fares were published in February PIM, but in Australian currency, the minimum fare. Sydney-San Francisco, is £245/11/-.
Mariposa will arrive in Sydney on her maiden voyage on November 21.
Monterey will begin her service shortly afterwards.
The entry of these two £lO million ships to the Pacific service has ended 10 years of uncertainty. It was ex pected that the old Mariposa and Monterey would be reconverted to passenger use after Pacific war transport duties but high costs and failure of negotiations between the Oceanic Steamship Co. and the US Government prevented this. The old Marpiosa is now the Homeric, operating in the Atlantic under the Italian flag; the old Monterey will
re-enter Matson service. She is H ing reconditioned and as the Mq sonia will go onto the California.
Hawaii run about June next year;
Artist's sketch of one of the new Matson ships.