The Last Ocean Liners

Moore-McCormack Lines

Argentina / Brasil

 

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By 1956, Moore-McCormack's pre-war "Good Neighbor Fleet", the Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, were nearly 30 years old and at the end of their useful lives trading between New York and the east coast of South America. The decision was made that the popularity of the exotic, tropical route justified their replacement with two new, faster, more luxurious ships named Argentina and Brasil, which were completed in 1958.

The new Moore-McCormack Lines ocean liners were very spacious by the standards of the time and featured all outside staterooms with private facilities. The generous public room layout on Promenade Deck included the main lounge, night club, a two-deck cafe facing the swimming pool plus writing, reading and card rooms, dance studio and gift shop. The three-section dining room was on Main Deck.

Their normal route was from New York to St. Thomas (3 days), Rio de Janeiro (10 days), Santos (12 days), Montevideo (14 days) and Buenos Aires (15 days). The homeward voyage called at Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Barbados and San Juan.

"A beautiful world of shipboard luxury, gayety and relaxation... the 'Champagne Touch' of Moore-McCormack. And it greets you the moment you board the ss ARGENTINA or the ss BRASIL, America's newest, most modern luxury cruise liners."

Sadly, there wasn't a great need for the Argentina and Brasil as the jet airliners were coming quickly and would take most of their passengers. In an effort to make them profitable a new top deck of cabins and an observation lounge were added to both ships in 1963. Their sailing schedules were diversified to include cruises to the Caribbean, the North Cape and Baltic, Mediterranean and around Africa.

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Sample minimum one-way fares from New York to Rio de Janeiro: First class $615; from New York to Buenos Aires: First class $735; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.

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Go to Moore-McCormack Lines sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:

Argentina Moore-McCormack Lines Built: 1958 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula MS, USA Gross tons: 15257 Length: 617ft (188m) Width: 86ft (26m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 21kn Power: 35000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 557 First End of service: Laid up 1969; sold 1971 as Veendam then Monarch Star then Bermuda Star then Enchanted Isle; scrapped 2004 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Brasil Moore-McCormack Lines Built: 1958 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula MS, USA Gross tons: 15257 Length: 617ft (188m) Width: 86ft (26m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 21kn Power: 35000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 557 First End of service: Laid up 1969; sold 1971 as Volendam then Monarch Sun then Liberte then Queen of Bermuda then Enchanted Seas then Universe Explorer; scrapped 2003 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.