Moore-McCormack SS Brasil
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With Reuben Goossens
Please note: Images on this page, except
those marked otherwise, are from the author’s private collection
SS Volendam to Enchanted Seas
Introduction
SS Brasil, a ship that became the Universe
Explorer, was without a doubt a magnificent Classic Liner, even though she had
seen some rebuilding with decks added, thus she became a somewhat changed ship
from the one that was originally launched on
Holland America
Due to the ever declining passenger numbers in the shipping industry, Moore-McCormack made a decision to dispose of the two sisters and both ships, the SS Brasil and SS Argentina were sold in 1972 to the famed Dutch shipping company, Holland America Line, which was officially founded in 1972 with their first new ship SS Rotterdam.
Brasil and the
SS Brasil was renamed the Volendam and was registered at 23,395 tons (British tonnage), with accommodations for 739 passengers, whist the SS Argentina was renamed the Veendam and was registered at the same tonnage. Both soon entered cruise duties.
Here she is seen as the SS Monarch Sun
They were both operated by Monarch Cruise
Lines under a charter agreement and the ships were renamed, with the SS
Volendam becoming the Monarch Sun and the Veendam the Monarch Star. However,
Monarch Cruise Lines proved to be so successful that the company was taken over
by
SS Volendam arrives in
The photographer is unknown – Please
see the photo notes at the bottom of the page
In 1983 the SS Volendam was sold to Banstead Shipping that had its offices in
However, in May 1984 SS Veendam was sold to the Island Navigation Corp, or the Bermuda Cruise Line and she was renamed to Bermuda Star. Please Note: SS Argentina’s details and final years can be found on “Page One” via the Index at the bottom of the page.
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Holland America Lines sold the Volendam in
1985 to American Hawaii Cruises who renamed her SS Liberte
and in December of that year she departed on her first series of cruises
SS Liberte seen here in
In 1987 the Bermuda Star Line purchased her
and they renamed her Canada Star, however, by June 1988 she was renamed again
Queen of Bermuda and commenced her first cruise from
She is seen here as the Canada Star
SS Queen of
A fine stern view of SS Queen of
She operated under the name of SS Queen of
Bermuda for three years, but in November 1990 she was taken over by Commodore
Cruise Line who had consolidated with Bermuda Star Lines and they renamed her
In 1991 she was fully upgraded to SOLAS specifications, however in 1993 she was sold once more, but the Brazil Caribbean Shipping Company did not rename her.
A delightful photograph of the
They retained the Enchanted Seas for the next two years until 1995, when she would finally be renamed and have a long term name once again when she was sold to the American V-Ships / Azure Investments, a company that came out of the famed Italian “Sitmar Lines”, and she was renamed SS Universe Explorer.
The SS Universe Explorer was the name that would remain with her until her final days and was chartered to New Commodore Cruise Lines. However, the ship was to be managed and operated by the International Marine Carrier.
*The SS Universe Explorer story continues on “Page Four” - See the links below on the ships Index.
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I watched them come, I watched them go and I watched them die.”
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