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Commodore Cruise Line

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Commodore Cruise Line was a United States–based cruise line that was in operation from 1968 until 2001. It was founded in 1966 by Sanford Chobol and Edwin Stephan. Following multiple changes in ownership, the company declared bankruptcy in 2001 due to rising fuel costs and increased competition from other cruise lines.[1][2][3] It had its headquarters in Hollywood, Florida.[4]

Commodore Cruise Line
IndustryCruise line
Founded1966
Defunct2001
FateBankrupt
HeadquartersHollywood, Florida, United States
Key people
Sanford Chobol, Edwin Stephan
Parent1981–1990: Rederi Ab Sally
1990–1995: EffJohn
1995–2001: JeMJ Financial Services
Subsidiaries1999–2001: Crown Cruise Line
WebsiteCommodorecruise.com

History

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1966–1981

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Commodore Cruise Line was founded in 1966—the same year that Norwegian Caribbean Line begun operations—by Sanford Chobol and Edwin Stephan.[1][2] Chobol, a Florida hotelier, had previously operated the Brazilian ocean liner Princess Leopoldina on a series of cruises out of Florida in 1962.[2] In order to operate a ship that could successfully compete against NCL's MS Sunward (1966), Commodore reached an agreement with the Sweden-based Wallenius Lines, who acquired the build contract of a half-complete ferry under construction at Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland. The ship in question had been ordered by the Sweden-based Lion Ferry as a combined ferry/cruise ship, but Lion Ferry had subsequently cancelled the order. Wallenius Lines named the incomplete ship MS Bohème and had her completed as cruise ship.[5] Following delivery the Bohème was chartered to Commodore,[2] and she set on her first cruise from Miami to Saint Thomas on 7 December 1968. With the Bohème Commodore Cruise Line became the first company to operate week-long cruises out of Florida around the year.[5]

By 1973, Lion Ferry and Fred. Olsen had acquired interests in Commodore. As a result, Lion Ferry's MS Bolero joined the Bohème in Commodore fleet for the northern hemisphere winter seasons of 1973 to 1976 (the Bolero spent summers in United States—Canada ferry service for Lion Ferry).[2][6] In 1976, the Bolero was replaced by another ferry, MS Caribe, that was also used by Commodore during the winters and United States–Canada ferry service during the summers. Like the Bohème, the Caribe was registered in West Germany during her service with Commodore.[2]

1981–1995

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In 1981, Commodore Cruise Line was acquired by the Finland-based Rederi Ab Sally, who also acquired the Bohème from Wallenius Lines.[2][5] As a result of the change of ownership the Bohème was re-registered to Panama.[5] During the same year Sally acquired two ships for conversion into service with Commodore.[2][7] The first, Karageorgis Lines' MS Navarino, had recently been damaged in a grounding. However, during rebuilding she suffered a fire, followed by capsizing of the drydock, which left the ship so badly damaged that Sally decided to abandon their plans for the ship.[7] The second acquisition, the former Greek Line ship SS Olympia, was rebuilt with diesel engines and entered service for Commodore in 1983 as MS Caribe I.[2] Following the Caribe I's entry into service the Bohème was also rebuilt, re-entering service in 1984. However, in 1986, the Bohème was sold to the Church of Scientology, and Commodore reverted to operating just one ship.[2][5]

By the mid-1980s, Rederi Ab Sally was in financial difficulties, and in 1987 the company was sold to its main competitors Effoa and Johnson Line, based in Finland and Sweden, respectively. Two years later the passenger operations of Sally, Effoa and Johnson were merged into EffJohn.[8] In 1990, EffJohn decided to merge the operations of Bermuda Star and Queen of Bermuda to the Commodore fleet under the names Enchanted Isle and Enchanted Seas respectively. Promotional material from 1991 advertised the addition of two further ships in 1992/1993, but these did not materialize. Instead the Caribe I was sold to Regal Cruise Line in 1993.[2] In 1994, the Enchanted Isle became a floating hotel in Saint Petersburg, Russia, returning to the Commodore fleet the following year.[9]

1995–2001

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By the mid-1990s, EffJohn in turn was in financial difficulties, and decided to concentrate on its core market in the Baltic Sea.[10] As a result, Commodore Cruise Line was sold in 1995 to the New York–based JeMJ Financial Services. The new owners continued operations with the Enchanted Isle and Enchanted Seas until 1996, when the Enchanted Seas was sold to World Explorer Lines.[11] In 1998, MS Island Holiday was chartered from a Ukrainian company and renamed MS Enchanted Capri.[2][12] Both the Enchanted Capri and Enchanted Isle were based in New Orleans at the time. In 1999 the Commodore fleet grew again to three ships for the first time with the acquisition of MS Enchanted Sun.[2]

In 1999, Commodore reactivated the Crown Cruise Line brand (which had also been previously owned by EffJohn but ceased operations in 1997) as a more upscale brand.[1][2] During the following years Commodore was facing harsh competition from larger cruise lines that were beginning to push down their prices. As a result, Commodore filed for bankruptcy in January 2001.[3]

Ships

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Ship Built In service
for Commodore		 Tonnage Status as of 2022 Fhotos of the Ships
MS Bohème 1968 1968–1986 10,328 GRT Since 1986 MS Freewinds for the Church of Scientology
 
The M.S Bohéme as M.S Freewinds.
MS Bolero 1973 1973–1976 (winters only) 11,344 GRT Scrapped in 2018
 
M.S Bolero as M.S Louis Aura in Tallinn 2015.
MS Caribe 1968 1976–1981 (winters only) 10,448 GRT Scrapped 2012
 
M.S Caribe as M.V Discovery Sun in the Port Everglades, Florida
MS Navarino 1957 Never entered service 17,392 GRT Sunk 2001 as MS Sea
 
MS Navarino as M.S Gripsholm in 1958.
MS Caribe I 1953 1983–1993 22,979 GRT Scrapped 2009
 
M.S Caribe l as M.S Regal Empress in Nassau 2008.
SS Enchanted Isle 1958 1990–1994, 1995–2001 23,395 GRT Scrapped 2003
 
The M.S Enchanted Isle in Kiel, 1994
SS Enchanted Seas 1958 1990–1996 23,500 GRT Scrapped 2004
 
The M.S Enchanted Seas as M.S Universe Explorer docked at Canada in 1997
MS Enchanted Capri 1975 1998–2001 16,331 GRT Since 2020, wrecked on a beach in Mexico, partially scrapped.
 
The M.S Enchanted Capri as M.S Azerbaidjan (Soviet Ship) in 1981.
MS Enchanted Sun 1974 1999–2001 7,764 GRT Since 2006 MS Casino Royale for Royale Prime Co

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 26–29. ISBN 981-246-739-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Boyle, Ian. "Commodore Cruise Line". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  3. ^ a b Motter, Paul (2006-09-15). "Budget Cruising: a Short History". Cruise Mates. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  4. ^ "Commodore Holdings Ltd · 10-K · For 9/30/98 · EX-10.V." Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved on January 15, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e "M/S Bohème Cruise Ship Chronicles". Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  6. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Bolero (1973)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  7. ^ a b Othfors, Daniel. "Gripsholm (II)/Navarino/Regent Sea". The Great Ocean Liners. Archived from the original on 2009-10-10. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  8. ^ Koski, Sami. "Valkeat kaunottaret saapuvat". Valkeat Laiva (in Finnish). Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  9. ^ Miller, William H. Jr. (1995). The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860–1994. Mineola: Dover Publications. p. 8. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
  10. ^ Malmberg, Thure; Stampehl, Marko (2007). Siljan viisi vuosikymmentä (in Finnish). Espoo: Frenckellin Kirjapaino Oy. p. 165. ISBN 978-951-98405-7-4.
  11. ^ Boyle, Ian. "Brasil". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  12. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Azerbaihzan (1975)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-04-18.
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