Moore-McCormack Liner Argentina 1958


Moore-McCormack Lines


This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Moore-McCormack liner Argentina, which had a long subsequent career as a cruise liner with many name changes.

Argentina, and her sister Brasil, were the last luxury liners to be built in the USA. They replaced two earlier ships of the same names (plus a third, the Uruguay), on Moore-McCormack's services from New York to South American ports, terminating at Buenos Aires. They were built in the deep south of the USA, by Ingalls at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Brasil was commissioned first, in September 1958, Argentina following three months later. They cost an expensive $25 million dollars each. As built, the sisters were 14984 gross tons, 570 ft long (614 ft OA) and carried 553 First Class passengers. 120 new berths were added on a new upper deck addition in 1963, which increased tonnage to 15257gt. The dummy funnel was originally a glass-covered solarium, but these were removed in the 1963 refits. Their exhaust was released through twin uptakes aft. The accommodation was of a very high standard, and the sisters typically ran a 31 day schedule that called at Barbados, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, and Montevideo on the way to Buenos Aires. Trinidad was substituted for Barbados in the return direction.

The sisters were not economic, due to the high cost of US flagged operation and competition from cheaper foreign flags. They were also plagued by industrial action. In the late 1960s, operations were coordinated with those of Grace Line. There were plans for new cruise itineraries being prepared when Argentina, and her sister Brasil were laid up in 1969, remaining idle for three years before sale to Holland America Lines as Volendam and Veendam. Holland America had been looking for second hand tonnage suitable for use on long distance, luxury cruises. They were bought for $10 million each, and were refitted for just 500 passengers in Bremerhaven. Veendam was used in place of Rotterdam (5) on their 1974 world cruise. The sisters were very heavy on fuel, and the 1973 oil crisis made them uneconomic on their planned long cruises, so they were laid up briefly in early 1974. However, Veendam was chartered to Brazilian operator Intermares in 1974-75, and confusingly renamed Brasil (she had been the Argentina). She was used on cruises from Rio de Janeiro to Miami, the Azores and Dakar. Briefly renamed Veendam at the end of the charter, she joined her sister Monarch Sun in 1976 as the Monarch Star. Returned to Holland America Lines in 1978, Veendam was sold to Bermuda Star Line in 1984 as the Bermuda Star. In 1990, she passed to Commodore Cruise Line as the Enchanted Isle. The old Argentina was sold for scrapping at Alang, India in 2003, renamed New Orleans for the transfer. She was beached there on December 9th 2003.
Ship Names on this Page:-
Argentina - Moore-McCormack Lines: 1958-1969
Veendam - Holland America Line: 1972-74, 1975-76, 1978-84
Brasil - Intermares: 1974
Monarch Star - Monarch Cruise Lines: 1976-1978
Bermuda Star - Bermuda Star Line: 1984-1990
Enchanted Isle - Commodore Cruise Line: 1990-2003

Associated Pages:-
American Hawaii
Commodore Cruise Line
Holland America Lines
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

References:-
The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America: Brian J.Cudahy - Cornell Maritime Press 2001

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(Moore-McCormack: 1958-69)


Early official art card of Argentina and Brasil.



Later official card of Argentina and Brasil, with additional cabins above the bridge deck.







Veendam (Holland America Line: 1972-74, 1975-76, 1978-84) 1973 deck plans for sisters Volendam & Veendam Click to open 5MB PDF of complete plans - similar items available at www.nautiques.net Holland America Cruises official postcard of Veendam and Volendam.



Holland America Cruises official postcard of Volendam and Veendam.
(Ship is Volendam).



Holland America Cruises official postcard of Veendam.



Holland America Cruises official postcard of Veendam.



Holland America Cruises official postcard of Veendam.



Chantry Classics postcard of Veendam.



Veendam or Volendam cruising in Norway
Scan: Audun Indseth
Click to open larger image in new window



Painting of Veendam by Willem Johan Hoendervanger.
Scan: www.wjmaritiem.nl
Click on image to open larger version in new window







Brasil
(Intermares charter: 1975)

Brasil on charter from HAL to Brazilian tour operator Intermares in 1974.
Scan: Dimas Almada.







Monarch Star
(Monarch Cruise Lines: 1976-1978)

Monarch Cruise Lines official card of the Monarch Sun and Monarch Star.







Bermuda Star
(Bermuda Star Line: 1984-1990)

Bermuda Star Line postcard of Bermuda Star.
Scan: Rogerio Gouveia



Bermuda Star Line postcard of Bermuda Star.



Bermuda Star Line postcard of Bermuda Star.



Chantry Classics postcard CC/S110 of Bermuda Star.







Enchanted Isle
(Commodore Cruise Line: 1990-2003)

Commodore Cruise Line card of the Enchanted Isle and Enchanted Seas (ship is Enchanted Seas).



Commodore Cruise Line card of the Enchanted Isle and Enchanted Seas (ship is Enchanted Seas).



Commodore Cruise Line card of the Enchanted Isle and Enchanted Seas (ship is Enchanted Seas).



CT publishing card of the Enchanted Isle.



Simplon Postcards card of the Enchanted Isle.







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