 | |
| Industry | Cruise line |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Bankrupt |
| Headquarters | Hollywood, Florida, United States |
Key people | Sanford Chobol,Edwin Stephan |
| Parent | 1981–1990:Rederi Ab Sally 1990–1995:EffJohn 1995–2001:JeMJ Financial Services |
| Subsidiaries | 1999–2001:Crown Cruise Line |
| Website | Commodorecruise.com |
Commodore Cruise Line was a United States–basedcruise line that was in operation from 1968 until 2001. It was founded in 1966 bySanford Chobol andEdwin 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 inHollywood, Florida.[4]
Commodore Cruise Line was founded in 1966—the same year thatNorwegian Caribbean Line begun operations—bySanford Chobol andEdwin Stephan.[1][2] Chobol, aFloridahotelier, had previously operated theBrazilianocean linerPrincess Leopoldina on a series of cruises out of Florida in 1962.[2] In order to operate a ship that could successfully compete against NCL'sMS Sunward (1966), Commodore reached an agreement with the Sweden-basedWallenius Lines, who acquired the build contract of a half-complete ferry under construction atWärtsilä Turku Shipyard inFinland. The ship in question had been ordered by the Sweden-basedLion Ferry as a combinedferry/cruise ship, but Lion Ferry had subsequently cancelled the order. Wallenius Lines named the incomplete shipMS Bohème and had her completed as cruise ship.[5] Following delivery theBohème was chartered to Commodore,[2] and she set on her first cruise fromMiami toSaint Thomas on 7 December 1968. With theBohème Commodore Cruise Line became the first company to operate week-long cruises out of Florida around the year.[5]
By 1973, Lion Ferry andFred. Olsen had acquired interests in Commodore. As a result, Lion Ferry'sMS Bolero joined theBohème in Commodore fleet for theNorthern Hemisphere winter seasons of 1973 to 1976 (theBolero spent summers in United States—Canada ferry service for Lion Ferry).[2][6] In 1976, theBolero 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 theBohème, theCaribe was registered inWest Germany during her service with Commodore.[2]
In 1981, Commodore Cruise Line was acquired by theFinland-basedRederi Ab Sally, who also acquired theBohème from Wallenius Lines.[2][5] As a result of the change of ownership theBohème was re-registered toPanama.[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 formerGreek Line shipSS Olympia, was rebuilt with diesel engines and entered service for Commodore in 1983 asMS Caribe I.[2] Following theCaribe I's entry into service theBohème was also rebuilt, re-entering service in 1984. However, in 1986, theBohème was sold to theChurch 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 competitorsEffoa andJohnson Line, based in Finland and Sweden, respectively. Two years later the passenger operations of Sally, Effoa and Johnson were merged intoEffJohn.[8] In 1990, EffJohn decided to merge the operations ofBermuda Star andQueen of Bermuda to the Commodore fleet under the namesEnchanted Isle andEnchanted Seas respectively. Promotional material from 1991 advertised the addition of two further ships in 1992/1993, but these did not materialize. Instead theCaribe I was sold toRegal Cruise Line in 1993.[2] In 1994, theEnchanted Isle became a floating hotel inSaint Petersburg, Russia, returning to the Commodore fleet the following year.[9]
By the mid-1990s, EffJohn in turn was in financial difficulties, and decided to concentrate on its core market in theBaltic Sea.[10] As a result, Commodore Cruise Line was sold in 1995 to theNew York–basedJeMJ Financial Services. The new owners continued operations with theEnchanted Isle andEnchanted Seas until 1996, when theEnchanted Seas was sold toWorld Explorer Lines.[11] In 1998, MSIsland Holiday was chartered from aUkrainian company and renamedMS Enchanted Capri.[2][12] Both theEnchanted Capri andEnchanted Isle were based inNew Orleans at the time. In 1999 the Commodore fleet grew again to three ships for the first time with the acquisition ofMS Enchanted Sun.[2]
In 1999, Commodore reactivated theCrown 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]
| Ship | Built | In service for Commodore | Tonnage | Status as of 2022 | Photos of the Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Bohème | 1968 | 1968–1986 | 10,328 GRT | Since 1986 MSFreewinds for theChurch of Scientology |  |
| MS Bolero | 1973 | 1973–1976 (winters only) | 11,344 GRT | Scrapped in 2018 |  |
| MS Caribe | 1968 | 1976–1981 (winters only) | 10,448 GRT | Scrapped 2012 |  |
| MS Navarino | 1957 | Never entered service | 17,392 GRT | Sunk 2001 as MSSea |  |
| MS Caribe I | 1953 | 1983–1993 | 22,979 GRT | Scrapped 2009 |  |
| SS Enchanted Isle | 1958 | 1990–1994, 1995–2001 | 23,395 GRT | Scrapped 2003 |  |
| SS Enchanted Seas | 1958 | 1990–1996 | 23,500 GRT | Scrapped 2004 |  |
| MS Enchanted Capri | 1975 | 1998–2001 | 16,331 GRT | Since 2020, wrecked on a beach in Mexico, partially scrapped. |  |
| MS Enchanted Sun | 1974 | 1999–2001 | 7,764 GRT | Since 2006 MSCasino Royale forRoyale Prime Co |