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Story: The voyage out

Dancing on deck

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Dancing on deck

An alluring image of shipboard life – sunny days, the tang of salt air, and a hint of romance – was used by the Matson Line in the 1960s to attract passengers to its ships, which travelled between the west coast of the United States and the South Pacific. This scene is on board the Monterey in 1958.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: NPS AAQT 6401 A 59377

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, The voyage out – 20th-century steamers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2605/dancing-on-deck (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 4 March 2009.