Chapter Five

M.S. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, became the T.S.M.S. Lakonia in 1963

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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Author, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer and Maritime Lecturer

Please Note: All ssMaritime and related maritime sites are 100% non-commercial and privately owned, thus ssmaritime is NOT associated with any shipping company or any other organisation! Although the author has worked and been involved in the passenger shipping industry for well over 60 years, but due to his old age and poor health, he was forced to retire. Yet, he has completed well over 1,365 Classic Liners, Passenger-Cargo Liners as well as humble converted C3 converted Migrant Liners, which has transported countless thousands of folk to the new world, as well on vacations’. I trust the features online will continue to provide Classic Liner and Ship enthusiasts both the information they are seeking, but more so provide a great deal of pleasure and relive many happy memories!

“Memories of the JVO”

M.S. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

Chapter Five

JVO the Cruise Ship

Flag of the Netherland Line - Royal Dutch Mails

The author, living in Wellington New Zealand I had been employed with Russell and Sommers being the General Sales Agents of the Netherland Line and Royal Rotterdam Lloyd and I commenced there as an office boy and then as a travel agent. During this time, many happy hours were spent onboard the M.S. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, as well as the M.S. Oranje and the M.S. Willem Ruys and many other ships whenever they were in port. However, in December 1961, I was employed with the Union Steamship Co of New Zealand, as the supply manager and I had the opportunity to enjoy a Christmas and New Year Cruise on the JVO. Only New Zealander’s were able to enjoy both celebrations on this one cruise, for Australian’s, would have Christmas on one voyage and the New Year the next cruise from Sydney. Those commencing their cruise in New Zealand enjoyed both events on the one cruise.

JVO in Wellington ready to depart for her cruise

Photo by & © Reuben Goossens

Upon arrival at Queens Wharf on December 20, 1961, the JVO looked in a holiday mood, being fully dressed, meaning she had flags strung out from bow to stern and a Christmas tree placed high on the forward mast. Being the traditional way of shipping, the band played out on promenade deck, adding to the excitement and festivities. Thousands of colourful streamers linked the ship to those down on the wharf. Then suddenly, three long blasts on the ship whistle, as we departed Wellington commencing a full two wonderful weeks aboard the beautiful M.S. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, being utterly spoilt with superb service, the finest of food and for those days great entertainment, with one of the most popular and greatly loved Italian bands, as well as special guests!

Itinerary: Depart Wellington Wednesday December 20, 1961, in Auckland Friday December 22, then Melbourne Wednesday December 27, and Sydney on Friday and Saturday December 29 & 30. On our way home we enjoyed our New Years Eve party Sunday December 31 when the ship stopped at midnight whilst at Sea. We returned to Wellington on Wednesday January 3, 1962.

Thus we sailed north to New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. There, berthed at the next pier, was the great Huddart Parker Trans Tasman liner the T.S.M.V. Wanganella. This two-funnelled liner with the traditional black hull looked rather old; yet, this ship was a number of years younger than the more modern looking JVO. After a delightful day in Auckland, we crossed the Tasman for a full day in an extremely hot Melbourne, where I saw the very first “Drive-In” Cinema during our tour. We then sailed to Sydney for my first visit to the really big smoke. I think that everybody was up early to witness our arrival into this beautiful harbour. And we could see the skeleton of the Sydney Opera House that was still very much a huge concrete building site, but the frames to hold up the sails had already gone up in part. The ship docked at the Woolloomooloo wharf it was certainly not the world’s best place to dock, and not very close to the city. But, all those from New Zealand really enjoyed the city and most of us took the lift to the top of Sydney's highest building, which at that time was the AMP building at Circular quay. The author lived in Sydney for five years from 1994 to December 1999, when he moved back to Brisbane up in Queensland, where he had moved in 1963.

A traditional Dutch welcome onboard!

Life on the JVO was full of excitement as many of its passengers were experiencing their very first cruise ever. Although some had travelled on ships in the past, mostly as migrants to Australia and New Zealand, but cruising was certainly a whole new experience, for both the service and cuisine was of a much higher standard than most had ever experienced on their migrant voyages. Meals were a daily highlight with a huge variety of culinary events. The cruise staff would add various delightful touches, like having souvenir flags of the ship printed with the evening’s menu on one side. These would a gift, one for each passenger. When a new item was presented it always came with a new surprise.

One of the typical Netherland Line flag menu

Boat Deck Port looking aft

Photo by & © Reuben Goossens

Ocean Bar forward on the starboard side of Promenade deck

All nine hundred passengers enjoyed JVO’s many lounges and bars. Especially the Old World grandeur, of the fine timbered Smoking Room, the Writing Room, and the Grand Social Music Room., also called the Statesman Lounge.

For a more casual time, and a drink, there was the bright and modern Ocean Bar located on the forward (glass-enclosed) promenade. This venue proved to be popular day and night.

The elegant Smoking Room Forward on Promenade deck

Reading and Writing Room forward Port Side

The Statesman Lounge - previously the Music Saloon

The Author receives his Christmas gift in the Statesman’s Lounge December 1961

Was I ever that young???

Shipboard photographer & used by permission

A colour image of the superb Statesman Lounge

The Pilsander Lounge

The Pilsander Bar

The Pilsander Lounge and bar was originally the second-class main lounge, was also well frequented, although it was the more casual of the interior lounges on promenade deck. Mid ships on Promenade deck was the Cinema come Wintergarden and the third dance venue on board. The Christmas Eve Ball was held here with passengers receiving a gift. These gifts consisted of Dutch chocolates and a small Delft Blue clog or a wall tile. This room was decorated with all the usual Christmas trinkets including a fully lit Christmas tree.

Cinema / Wintergarden

Christmas Ball

Photo by & © Reuben Goossens

Each evening, the nightclub, Neptune’s Tavern, on Upper Deck was a huge success. The pianist or band would play for entertainment and dancing. New Years Eve was spent in this club, and together with many revellers, we joyfully ushered in the New Year. On this warm and calm night, the ship stopped just before midnight. Then at the end of the countdown to midnight the ships whistles loudly announced to all and sundry that 1962 had arrived.

Neptune Tavern aft Veranda

The very popular Neptune’s Tavern nightclub

The popular Mimmo Bruno Orchestra provided music. Mimmo a pianist and vocalist were well supported by his wife Speranza a songster of note, and a trio consisting of bass player, violinist and drummer. Another vocalist and pianist on board completed the musical entertainment. Mimmo Bruno became so popular with Kiwis and Australians they recorded an album at the HMV Studios whilst in Wellington in 1962. It became a top seller on board and throughout New Zealand.

Mimmo Bruno was a huge hit not only on board but also in New Zealand

Shipboard photographer & used by permission

The LP cover featured a large colour photograph of the fabulous JVO. I have kept my copy of the album to this day. Certainly modern ships provide a superior variety of entertainments, but JVO for her day was a happy ship, providing all the usual on board activities, and it was enjoyed by all.

My record of Mimmo Bruno purchased on board and fully signed by the band on the back

The Album is from my personal collection

Folding windows were fastened on the ceiling on warm days, or folded down in the cold

Promenade Deck: The exterior spaces of the promenade were quite unique and very well planed; as the forward Promenade Deck had a glass enclosure with floor to ceiling windows and on the starboard side there was the delightful Ocean Bar. The next section going as far back to the aft section of the amidships cinema/ballroom had timber framed floor to ceiling windows (with a central handrail), thus they would be lowered from the ceiling in colder climes or lifted up and fastened securely above. Thus, the deck would be open and sunshine and a delightful warm breeze would be available! To those who love to spend time on the Promenade!

Above & below: Here we see the windows both up and down. As the ship was in port, it was windy on one side, thus they were closed on that side

Photographs by & © Reuben Goossens

The aft section of the Cinema/Lounge, the decks were open as the image below shows and they were very wide and spacious and it also had the main entrance to both the Pilsander Lounge and the Bar as well as the aft stairwell.

Aft, open Promenade Deck starboard side, located next to the Pilsander Lounge and Bar

Photo by & © Reuben Goossens

A pool was placed in the aft Hold. Forward of the pool was the popular Soda Fountain

Photo by & © Reuben Goossens

Above and below: The Soda Fountain

Looking forward on the Pool/Lido Deck aft on Boat Deck

Photo by & © Reuben Goossens

A typical two-berth cabin without a private bathroom

Private facilities were only available in the suites

The Shop was located forward on Main Deck with a Lounge area

The Forward Restaurant Entrance on B Deck

Bandstand and surrounding Terrace is located above on A Deck above Restaurant

The Author (first right) Xmas Eve 1961 starboard side the forward Restaurant

The two timber and chrome panels slide over to cover the portholes at night

Shipboard photographer & used by permission

My Menu Cover on our second evening of the cruise, Thursday December 21, 1961

had this beautiful painting of ship on the cover and the meal was simply superb!

The Aft Restaurant on B Deck with its surrounding beautiful timber balustrade one deck up on A Deck

Sun Deck with the raised Sports Deck aft

I am looking from the aft of the Bridge towards the indoor swimming pool that had dressing rooms and a Bar

However, as can be seen above there was glass sliding panels at the top that would open in warmer climates

Arriving in Sydney (Woolloomooloo Wharf) December 29, 1961

Chapter 6 - Goodbye JVO

Or the - JVO Index

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“Blue Water Liners sailing to the distant shores.
I watched them come, I watched them go and I watched them die.”

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are either by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition there are some images and photographs that have been provided by Shipping Companies or private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors, however, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer or owner concerned.