#2 Cutting it FINE - 1965 Sailing on the Statendam from NYC

We fell into bed and slept until 8

Friday morning getting to the boat

Got up and dressed and went to Child's for breakfast. Never go to the one near the Statler. Terrible service. Then I went to Macy's to buy some slips--I remembered I hadn't packed any!! And Daddy decided to get suspenders to wear because nylon shirts make his trousers too slippery and they slide around.

My dad in the cabin plucking suspender

He was also going to the 5&10 and get some Scotch tape and rubber bands. I wanted to finish my roll of film and mail it in, but didn't have time.

I got back to the hotel at 10:40. Never let anyone tell you that New Yorkers are in a hurry! Those days are gone. I waited and waited to get a clerk to tell me whether they had and where the kind of slips I wanted (I don't like lace all over them), and they were SO slow and ignorant of the stock. I finally found one helpful soul, and she showed me some back stairs to get down to the street quickly, and I dashed to the hotel, getting there before Daddy.

I quickly repacked, using one of the Am Exp gift bags to put some extras in to lighten our burden -- including gown, pjs and Daddy's medicines in case something held up our bag on shipboard. Daddy came in at 10:55. The deadline for boarding the boat was 11:30, for sailing at 12 noon.

I told him I would dash down and check out, mail the book to B and send up a bellhop while he packed. I fairly flew downstairs to find a LONG line at the checkout cashier with a foreigner at the front trying to explain his problem. I had great sympathy for him, but! The bellhop found an asst manager for me, who opened a window to take care of the bill. I found I had no money by this time, and had to cash a traveler's check. Then I dashed to the mailroom, but couldn't insure the book.

By that time it was 11:08 and no sign of Daddy. I was just ready to call the room, when he appeared, and we dashed for the doors. No doorman, but I got a taxi just as he appeared and the driver leisurely made his way downtown.

Embarkation

The Holland American dock is one of the most modern on the waterfront I believe, and a good thing too. I had visions of all those stairs to climb, those horrible roustabouts to contend with for the luggage and that LONG pier to run down -- but no, our taxi was waved frantically onward and upward, a LONG WINDING ramp, as if we were VIPs and stopped within 50 feet of the gangplank. Of course, by this time everyone else was ON the boat and the visitors were coming off in droves. It was a good thing no-one came to see us off. We weren't there to be seen.

They had a very nice baggage man, who helped pull me out of the taxi, laden down with everything that we were to carry, leaving Daddy free to manage the expenses. And a very wild-eyed frantic (but usually stoical looking I'm sure) man greeted us breathlessly, and said "Mrs H.?" I knew he must mean us and I said "F" - he practically deflated like a burst balloon he was so relieved, and stuck out his card and said that Mr. Knight [travel agent] had sent him. He had called the NY office too because he was so worried about our making the boat. Oh man of little faith that Mr. Knight.

He asked for our papers so he could help us get registered,so while he and Daddy did this I phoned Mr. K's sec'y [publisher] -- I hadn't had a chance to thank her. It was so nice to have those books delivered. In our rush and hurry I forgot to mention how they were to be paid for, I realize, but they can deduct it from our account. After all they hold the purse strings.

By this time, Daddy and the man were back and was MOST anxious that I let Mr. Knight know that he met us and got us thru and onto the boat. Either Mr. Knight was very worried, or else he got this man very worried! We actually had 5 minutes to spare.

So during that time, I phoned B to let her know we were OFF, and that is when Daddy phoned Aunt M [his sister who was in the hospital after having a stroke]. She sounded so good that he thought she must be one of the children. We then battled our way up the gangplank against the surging tide of visitors coming off. [Note - I think they must have had to use pay phones on the dock to phone-no cell phones in those days]

We pushed by all the tears and goodbyes and the "be seeing you"s and made our way down to our cabin. Even our cabin boy seemed glad to see us! He opened the door and VIOLA! the biggest cabin we have ever had. This is supposed to be for 3 people, but they put the other bunk close to the wall. We have a huge deep tub with a shower

Taking photo in mirror- non opening portholes reflected

- 2 portholes but they don't open - air conditioning etc. There is a pushout part of the chest that makes a desk for Daddy to work on. I'm typing on a coffee table pulled up to a chair. There is a full length mirror and enough room to really dance in.