World Cruise Company

SS Ocean Explorer I

Rating:TBD
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Operator: World Cruise Company Inc.
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1944 / 1998
Length / Tonnage: 622 / 24,500
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 395 / 790
Officers / Crew: International / International
Operating Area: World cruises of varying lengths.
Overview: one of the oldest passenger ships afloat, she started her live as the GENERAL W.P. RICHARDSON when she was built as a troopship during the Second World War. After the war she was converted for commercial service and on charter to American Export Lines, running the New York to the Mediterranean service as the LA GUARDIA.

She briefly returned to military service to run troops to Korea before she began running as tourist liner to and from Hawaii as the LEILANI. Within two years, LEILANI was laid up. Next to plunk down money on this war horse was American President Lines which spent ten million 1961 dollars to fit this ship to carry 404 passengers in first class only. A decade later, the APL eagle folded its wings on the PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT and she was sold to Chandris and she steamed off to Greece for a refit.

Transforming the old passenger liner PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT into the cruise ship ATLANTIS, Chandris Lines showed savvy foresight and exquisitely calculated taste. After fourteen months cruising for Chandris, the ATLANTIS was delivered to Eastern Steamship Company where she had a long but relatively easy career out of south Florida, running three and four days Bahamas cruises as the EMERALD SEAS. Displaced once more by newer tonnage, she was sold off to undercapitalized interests, and in the last few years, has had four names and no success with any of them.....she was the TERRIFICA, she was the FUNTASTICA, she was the FANTASTICA, she was the SAPPHIRE SEAS.

And now she is the OCEAN EXPLORER I on charter for eight years to the World Cruise Company, a sister company to Marine Expeditions of Toronto. We had high hopes for this ship but have been getting mixed reviews about the accomodations and service. Stay tuned as we will have an updated review shortly.