The Big Bon Voyage

The Big Bon Voyage


What happened to the jet age?

A record 19,430 passengers left New York for Europe onboard 19 ocean liners in just a single week during August 1964. The New York Times reported that nearly half of those passengers, 9,270, sailed on one glorious day: Saturday, 8 August 1964.

A pre-1964 view of Liner Row

Here’s the roll call:

-French Line’s France, Pier N/A: 1,900 passengers.

-Holland America Line’s Rotterdam: Pier 40, 1,460 passengers.

-Norddeutscher Lloyd’s Bremen: Pier 88, 1,120 passengers.

-Hol­land‐America’s Westerdam: Pier 40, 100 passengers.

-American Export Isbrandt­sen’s Constitution: Pier 84, 930 passengers.

-United States Lines’ America, Pier 86: 950 passengers.

-Norwegian America Line’s Bergensfjord, Pier 45: 870 passengers.

-Holland‐America Line’s Maas­dam, Pier 40: 860 passengers.

-Swedish American Line’s Kungsholm, Pier 97: 760 passengers.

-Zim’s Israel, Pier 64: 320 passengers.

Imagine being able to personally inspect one of more of these liners. Back in those less security-minded days, one could simply buy a ticket—usually priced at about 50 cents—and board the liner and roam around the ship until minutes before departure.

Think of all the bon voyage parties you could visit!