Enchanted Isle
Product brand
UnclaimedA United States-built ocean liner and cruise ship that operated under the name Enchanted Isle during the final commercial phase of its career.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Enchanted Isle was the final commercial name of a large American-built passenger ship whose career extended from the liner era of the late 1950s into the cruise industry of the 1990s. The vessel was launched as SS Argentina by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on March 12, 1958. It was built for Moore-McCormack Lines as part of the company's South American service, linking ports on the east coasts of North and South America. Argentina and its sister ship Brasil were the last luxury ocean liners completed in the United States, making the vessel significant in American maritime and shipbuilding history. The ship was constructed to MARAD design P2-S2-9a with financial support from the United States Maritime Administration under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Its design combined conventional liner accommodation with features intended to improve passenger comfort, including Denny-Brown retractable stabilizers. A large dummy funnel was fitted primarily for visual appearance. Argentina entered service in December 1958 after a delivery and trial voyage from Pascagoula to New York. Its maiden voyage departed New York on December 12, 1958, for Buenos Aires. A minor collision with the tanker Atlantic Viscountess occurred during the return voyage in the Río de la Plata, without reported injuries. During the 1960s the ship served Moore-McCormack's South American routes. A major refit at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore in 1963 expanded passenger capacity through the addition of two decks and 63 staterooms, as well as enlarged public rooms and a new observation lounge. By the end of the decade, however, the economics of traditional liner service had deteriorated. Argentina and Brasil faced high costs, weak passenger loads, and dependence on government support. Moore-McCormack's attempts to lay up or reorganize the ships were complicated by the subsidies attached to their construction. Both vessels were eventually transferred to Holland America Lines in 1972 after the necessary legislative and regulatory arrangements. Renamed Veendam, the ship entered Holland America's Atlantic service and later operated cruises. It also spent periods under charter names, including Brasil during the 1974–1975 winter season and Monarch Star from 1976 to 1978. Its later career included Alaskan cruises, Bermuda itineraries, and service under the Bahama Cruise Line and Bermuda Star Line. As Bermuda Star, it was involved in a major onboard fire during a 1989 refit and grounded in Buzzards Bay in 1990, causing substantial hull damage and a fuel-oil spill. After the Bermuda Star Line was acquired by Effjohn International, the ship joined Commodore Cruise Line and was renamed Enchanted Isle. It made cruises from the Caribbean and also served temporarily as a floating hotel in Saint Petersburg and as accommodation for workers involved in the refitting of RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 at Bremerhaven. A later blackout required the vessel to be towed to San Juan, after which it resumed Caribbean service from Bridgetown. Commodore Cruise Line suspended operations in December 2000 amid bankruptcy-related problems. Enchanted Isle was arrested over unpaid crew wages, fines, and other debts, then sold at auction in New Orleans in December 2001. Renamed New Orleans, it sailed under its own power to Alang, India, where it was beached on December 9, 2003, and dismantled. The Enchanted Isle name therefore represents the last cruise-ship chapter of a vessel that had begun life as one of the final American ocean liners.
History
SS Argentina was built as a replacement for Moore-McCormack Lines' earlier Argentina of 1929. Ingalls Shipbuilding won the contract for Argentina and its sister Brasil, which used the United States Maritime Administration's P2-S2-9a design. Construction benefited from federal subsidies intended to preserve American commercial shipbuilding capacity. The vessel was launched at Pascagoula on March 12, 1958, in a ceremony attended by representatives of Argentina and Uruguay, and was delivered later that year. Argentina left Pascagoula on December 1, 1958, on a combined trial and delivery voyage under Commodore Thomas N. Simmons. Following delivery at Todd Shipyard in New York, it began its maiden voyage to Buenos Aires on December 12. The vessel was designed for Moore-McCormack's service between North American and South American east-coast ports. Its registered dimensions included a length of approximately 574 feet and a beam of 84 feet, with propulsion rated at 28,000 horsepower. The ship also featured retractable stabilizing fins and a visually prominent dummy funnel. The liner received an important enlargement at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore during 1963. Two passenger decks and 63 additional staterooms increased capacity by 163 passengers. Public rooms were expanded, and an observation lounge was added above the bridge. Despite these improvements, the traditional liner business became increasingly difficult. By 1969 Moore-McCormack reported that Argentina and Brasil were losing money even with subsidies, and the ships were described as having unusually high crew-to-passenger ratios. Government approval was required for a transfer because the vessels had been built with federal assistance and had not yet completed the required economic life. Holland America Lines acquired the ship in 1972 and renamed it Veendam. The vessel operated Atlantic service between Rotterdam and New York and later cruises from Baltimore. Rising fuel and labor costs made these operations difficult. Holland America used the ship in several charter arrangements: it operated as Brasil during the 1974–1975 winter season and as Monarch Star under Monarch Cruise Lines from 1976 to 1978. During the latter period an engine failure off Cuba required passengers to move to another vessel. After returning to Holland America control, Veendam undertook cruises in Alaska and later Bermuda. The ship was also associated with Holland America-Westours, which marketed voyages and tours in the Alaska trade. It reportedly struck a reef in Alaskan waters in 1979 but sustained repairable damage. In 1983 the vessel was sold and operated by the Bahama Cruise Line, with summer service from New York to Bermuda and winter service from Miami to Mexico. The operating company became the Bermuda Star Line in 1987, and the ship was renamed Bermuda Star. The Bermuda Star period included both commercial innovation and serious operational incidents. The line accepted a charter from RSVP Vacations for an all-gay cruise, an early example of a dedicated charter in that market. During a 1989 refit at Southwest Marine in Portland, a cutting-torch fire damaged the ship and injured crew members through smoke inhalation. In June 1990, Bermuda Star grounded in Buzzards Bay in poor visibility. The hull suffered a long tear near the fuel tanks, more than one thousand passengers were evacuated, and approximately 7,500 gallons of heavy fuel oil were spilled. Effjohn International acquired Bermuda Star Line in 1989. The ship was ultimately folded into Commodore Cruise Line and renamed Enchanted Isle. In 1993 it completed a final cruise from San Diego to Miami before repositioning to Saint Petersburg, Russia. It served as a floating hotel there in 1994, with its electrical system converted to European voltage for its rooms. It was later moved to Bremerhaven to house workers involved in work on Queen Elizabeth 2. The ship subsequently returned to Caribbean cruising, although a blackout caused it to be towed to San Juan. It resumed operations from Bridgetown in 1995. Commodore suspended all operations on December 30, 2000. Enchanted Isle was arrested over unpaid crew compensation, fines, and other debts and remained laid up in Louisiana. A 2001 auction resulted in a sale in New Orleans, but plans for renewed service did not materialize. The ship was renamed New Orleans and sailed to Alang, India, under its own power. It arrived on December 9, 2003, and was dismantled. The vessel's career illustrates the transition from subsidized American liner service to international cruising, charter operations, floating accommodation, and finally ship recycling.
- 2003
Scrapped at Alang
[1]The ship, then named New Orleans, was beached at Alang and dismantled.
- 1993
Renamed Enchanted Isle
[1]Following the integration of Bermuda Star Line into Commodore Cruise Line, the vessel received its final cruise-service name.
- 1987
Renamed Bermuda Star
[1]The operating company became Bermuda Star Line and the vessel adopted the Bermuda Star name.
- 1972
Renamed Veendam under Holland America
[1]The ship was sold to Holland America Lines and entered service as Veendam.
- 1963
Passenger accommodation expanded
[1]A Baltimore refit added two passenger decks, 63 staterooms, and enlarged public areas.
- 1958
Launch and delivery as SS Argentina
[1]Ingalls Shipbuilding launched Argentina at Pascagoula on March 12, and the ship was delivered to Moore-McCormack later that year.
Products and positioning
A classic American ocean liner later repositioned as a smaller-scale international cruise ship and floating hotel.
Ocean liner transportation · 1958
South American liner service
Argentina's original commercial role was scheduled passenger service between ports on the eastern coasts of North and South America. The route connected the United States with destinations including Buenos Aires and formed the principal operating purpose for which Moore-McCormack commissioned the ship.
Cruise travel · 1972
Cruise operations
Under Holland America, Bahama Cruise Line, Bermuda Star Line, and Commodore Cruise Line management, the vessel shifted from scheduled liner work toward leisure cruising. It operated itineraries associated with Bermuda, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Baltic, Mexico, and other regional markets.
Hospitality · 1994
Floating hotel accommodation
In 1994 the ship served as a floating hotel in Saint Petersburg. Its electrical system was adapted to the European standard, allowing its approximately 375 rooms to be used for accommodation rather than cruising.
Marketing campaigns
- 1987RSVP Vacations charter
United States · Caribbean
Bermuda Star Line accepted a charter from RSVP Vacations for a dedicated all-gay cruise. The successful first voyage was followed by another cruise aboard Bermuda Star, which passengers informally nicknamed Brenda Starr.
Outcome. The charter was reported as successful and became a notable example of specialized cruise-market programming.
Brand decisions
2000
Operations cease amid Commodore bankruptcyOtherBackground
Commodore Cruise Line suspended operations while the ship had unpaid crew compensation, fines, and other outstanding obligations.
Action taken
The vessel was arrested and laid up at Violet, Louisiana.
Aftermath
It was sold at auction in 2001, renamed New Orleans, and eventually sent to Alang for dismantling.
1993
Repositioning as Enchanted IsleStrategyBackground
After acquisition and fleet integration, the vessel needed a new identity within Commodore Cruise Line's passenger business.
Action taken
The ship was renamed Enchanted Isle and repositioned for cruises, later also serving as a floating hotel.
Aftermath
The vessel operated in the Baltic, as accommodation in Russia and Germany, and later in the Caribbean.
1989
Acquisition of Bermuda Star Line by Effjohn InternationalM&ABackground
Bermuda Star Line was considered too small to compete effectively with larger cruise operators and had experienced financial losses.
Action taken
Effjohn International acquired the Bermuda Star operation and later integrated its vessels into Commodore Cruise Line.
Aftermath
Bermuda Star was renamed Enchanted Isle and continued in a restructured cruise operation.
1972
Transfer from Moore-McCormack to Holland AmericaM&ABackground
The ship and its sister were economically difficult to operate, while their construction subsidies imposed restrictions on disposal and foreign transfer.
Action taken
Holland America Lines acquired the vessel and renamed it Veendam after the required governmental and legislative arrangements.
Aftermath
The ship continued operating but increasingly relied on cruises and charters rather than its original liner service.
Sources1 sources
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