MS Enchanted Capri

MS Enchanted Capri was a Belorussiya-class passenger and cruise ship built in 1975 at Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland. The vessel was constructed as the third of five ships in its class ordered by the Soviet Union and entered service under the name MS Azerbaydzhan for the Black Sea Shipping Company. It had a gross tonnage of approximately 15,409 tons and was designed for passenger accommodation and cruise operations. During its working life, the ship passed through several owners, charterers, and identities. It was refurbished in Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1984 and received a further refurbishment in Freeport, Grand Bahama, in 1997. In 1996, BLASCO of Ukraine acquired the vessel and renamed it Arkadia, also rendered as Arkadiya. It was subsequently chartered by the Florida-based SeaEscape organization and renamed Island Holiday. The vessel adopted the name Enchanted Capri in 1998 after being chartered by Commodore Cruise Line. Beginning on June 4 of that year, it operated two- and five-day cruises from New Orleans, Louisiana, with an emphasis on casino entertainment. Its configuration included 248 cabins, eight suites, eight passenger decks, swimming pools, restaurants, gift shops, bars, lounges, a theater, a disco, a gym, a sauna, a beauty salon, and hospital facilities. Casino America, Inc. was engaged to manage the onboard casino operations under the Isle of Capri Casinos banner, which included slot machines and table games. The cruise operation ended in the aftermath of Commodore Cruise Line's bankruptcy on January 11, 2001. The ship was arrested in New Orleans in a labor-related action brought on behalf of the crew by the International Transport Workers' Federation. Crew members were reportedly owed approximately $500,000 in wages, and more than 230 people from about forty countries were repatriated in a large-scale operation. After being laid up, the vessel was chartered in 2003 by the Mexican company Demar Instaladora y Constructora. The ship was refurbished in 2005 to bring it toward then-current SOLAS safety standards, and by the end of 2007 Demar had full ownership. It was later used as an accommodation vessel supporting oil-rig operations in the Gulf of Mexico rather than as a conventional cruise ship. In 2020, plans were reported to scrap the vessel at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. Before that process could be completed, the ship dragged its anchor during a storm and grounded at Alvarado. It was abandoned and remained aground as of December 2021. The vessel is therefore best understood as a retired and wrecked passenger ship rather than an active consumer brand. The supplied identifier refers to its original name, Azerbaydzhan, while the authoritative Wikipedia subject covers the ship's later identity as MS Enchanted Capri.

MS Enchanted Capri originated as MS Azerbaydzhan, one of five Belorussiya-class passenger ships ordered by the Soviet Union from Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland. Construction was completed in 1975, making the vessel the third ship of the class. It was built for passenger service connected with the Soviet Union-based Black Sea Shipping Company. The ship underwent a major refurbishment in Bremerhaven in 1984. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, its ownership and commercial identity changed. BLASCO, a Ukrainian company, acquired the vessel in 1996 and renamed it Arkadia, with some references using the transliteration Arkadiya. The ship was later chartered by SeaEscape in Florida and operated as Island Holiday. A further change came in 1998, when Commodore Cruise Line chartered the ship and renamed it Enchanted Capri. On June 4, it commenced two- and five-day cruises from New Orleans. The cruises were marketed around gaming and included extensive hotel and leisure facilities: 248 cabins, eight suites, eight passenger decks, swimming pools, restaurants, retail shops, bars, lounges, a theater, a disco, fitness and sauna facilities, a beauty salon, and hospital facilities. Casino America, Inc. managed the onboard casino under the Isle of Capri Casinos banner. Commodore Cruise Line entered bankruptcy on January 11, 2001. The ship subsequently became the subject of a labor enforcement action in New Orleans after crew members sought payment of approximately $500,000 in unpaid wages. The International Transport Workers' Federation helped secure the arrest of the ship and arranged the repatriation of more than 230 stranded crew members representing approximately forty nationalities. The vessel was laid up after its cruise service. In 2003, it was chartered by Demar Instaladora y Constructora of Mexico. Demar refurbished the ship in 2005 for offshore accommodation work and intended to meet applicable SOLAS requirements. By the end of 2007, Demar had become the vessel's full owner. In this later role, the ship supported oil-rig operations in the Gulf of Mexico rather than carrying cruise passengers on scheduled leisure voyages. The vessel's final period was marked by plans for disposal and abandonment. In 2020, it was intended to be scrapped at Coatzacoalcos. It instead grounded at Alvarado after dragging anchor during a storm. The ship remained abandoned and aground as of December 2021. Its history therefore spans Soviet passenger shipping, post-Soviet commercial renaming, American casino cruising, and Mexican offshore accommodation before ending as a wrecked and inactive vessel.

• 2020

  Grounded after a scrapping plan

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was intended for scrapping at Coatzacoalcos but dragged anchor during a storm and grounded at Alvarado.

• 2007

  Demar obtained full ownership

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  By the end of 2007, the Mexican company was reported to own the vessel outright.

• 2005

  Refurbished for offshore accommodation

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  The ship was refurbished with the stated aim of meeting current SOLAS standards for its new operating role.

• 2003

  Chartered for Mexican offshore operations

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Demar Instaladora y Constructora chartered the laid-up vessel for use as offshore accommodation.

• 2001

  Crew wage dispute and arrest

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  After Commodore Cruise Line entered bankruptcy, the ship was arrested in New Orleans in connection with unpaid crew wages.

• 1998

  Began service as Enchanted Capri

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Commodore Cruise Line chartered and renamed the ship, starting short casino-focused cruises from New Orleans on June 4.

• 1997

  Refurbishment in Freeport

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  A further refurbishment took place in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

• 1996

  Renamed Arkadia

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  BLASCO of Ukraine acquired the ship and changed its name from Azerbaydzhan to Arkadia, also rendered Arkadiya.

• 1984

  Refurbishment in Bremerhaven

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  The ship underwent refurbishment in Bremerhaven, Germany.

• 1975

  Built as MS Azerbaydzhan

  [1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland completed the third Belorussiya-class passenger ship for the Soviet Union and the Black Sea Shipping Company.

The vessel was positioned at different stages as a Soviet passenger ship, a leisure cruise vessel with casino entertainment, and later an offshore accommodation ship. Its Enchanted Capri operation emphasized short-duration cruises from New Orleans combined with onboard gaming.

• Passenger ship · 1975

  MS Azerbaydzhan

  The ship's original identity after completion in 1975. It was a 15,409-GRT Belorussiya-class passenger vessel built for the Soviet Union and operated in association with the Black Sea Shipping Company.

• Casino cruise ship · 1998

  MS Enchanted Capri

  Under Commodore Cruise Line, the vessel operated short cruises from New Orleans beginning in 1998. It offered cabins and suites, dining, pools, entertainment venues, fitness and wellness facilities, medical facilities, and a casino managed by Casino America under the Isle of Capri Casinos banner.

• Maritime accommodation · 2005

  Offshore accommodation vessel

  After leaving cruise service, the ship was refurbished for accommodation work connected with oil-rig operations in the Gulf of Mexico. This represented a shift from passenger cruising to industrial maritime support.

• 2020

  Planned scrapping and subsequent abandonmentOther

  Background

  The aging vessel was scheduled for disposal in Mexico.

  Action taken

  A plan to scrap the ship at Coatzacoalcos was overtaken by a storm-related grounding at Alvarado after the vessel dragged anchor.

  Aftermath

  The ship was abandoned and remained aground as of December 2021.

  Source

• 2003

  Conversion to offshore accommodation useStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of its cruise operation and a period laid up, the ship was repurposed for industrial maritime use.

  Action taken

  Demar Instaladora y Constructora chartered the ship and refurbished it in 2005 for accommodation support connected with oil-rig operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

  Aftermath

  The vessel remained in Mexican ownership until it was later abandoned after grounding at Alvarado.

  Source

• 1998

  Shift to casino-focused cruisingStrategy

  Background

  Commodore Cruise Line chartered the ship at a time when short cruises with onboard gaming were part of its commercial offering.

  Action taken

  The vessel was renamed Enchanted Capri and deployed on two- and five-day departures from New Orleans, with Casino America managing the casino under the Isle of Capri Casinos name.

  Aftermath

  The operation ended after Commodore Cruise Line's bankruptcy in January 2001.

  Source

• 2020

  Scrapping plan and grounding at Alvarado[1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The ship was reportedly planned for scrapping at Coatzacoalcos, but it dragged anchor during a storm and grounded at Alvarado. It was subsequently abandoned.

• 2005

  Demar Instaladora y Constructora refurbishes the vessel for offshore use[1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The vessel was refurbished for use as an accommodation ship supporting oil-rig operations in the Gulf of Mexico, with work intended to bring it toward current SOLAS standards.

• 2001

  Enchanted Capri arrested after Commodore Cruise Line bankruptcy[1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Lawsuit · Other

  Following Commodore Cruise Line's bankruptcy, the International Transport Workers' Federation pursued the ship in New Orleans on behalf of crew members seeking unpaid wages. More than 230 crew members were repatriated.

• 1998

  Enchanted Capri begins Commodore Cruise Line operations[1]MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  After being renamed Enchanted Capri, the ship began two- and five-day cruises from New Orleans with casino-oriented programming. Casino America managed the onboard gaming operation under the Isle of Capri Casinos name.

1. 1MS Enchanted Caprien.wikipedia.org