MS Delphin

The 1975-built MS Delphin cruise ship was originally designed as a passenger ferry and constructed by Wartsila Marine in Turku, Finland. The vessel was owned by the Mauritius-based company Vishal Cruises Pvt Ltd. and last chartered under a 5-year agreement to Pampa Cruises (via Ship Management Ltd-Crt).

The vessel (IMO number 7347536) was last Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311067500) and registered in Nassau.

In early 2019, there were reports about the ship being sold to Cruise Retirement USA LLC, a Florida-based company (company number L17000099783) specializing in maritime residential projects. Following the acquisition, she was expected to be renamed “Enchanted Explorer” and converted into a residential ship, with staterooms available either for rent (as hotel rooms) or for sale (as private apartments).

In March 2022, it was announced that the 47-year-old vessel had been sold for scrap and would be dismantled at Aliaga, Turkey. Reportedly, the auction sale (EUR 3.6 million / USD 4 million / GBP 3 million) covered the shipowner’s outstanding debts for berthing and bunkering (docking fees, fuel, water, electricity, etc.). Sadly, MS Delphin was beached in April and is now listed among CruiseMapper’s scrapped cruise ships.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, MS Delphin was placed in cold lay-up and remained docked at the Viktor Lenac Shipyard (southeast of Rijeka, Croatia), with her last AIS signal transmitted on November 7, 2020. Between 2015 and 2017, the ship was chartered as a floating hotel to accommodate Viktor Lenac Shipyard workers.

Decks and Cabins

MS Delphin’s staterooms (237 in total) included the following cabin types:

• (Decks 2–4) Inside and Oceanview cabins (with porthole windows on Deck 3) feature two bunk beds and a double sofa bed.
• (Deck 2) Oceanview cabins have two bunk beds and a double sofa bed.
• (Boat Deck) “Comfort” (Komfortkabinen) and “Luxury” (Luxuskabinen) categories feature large windows, a double bed (with separate mattresses), separate living and sleeping areas, premium furnishings (sofa, armchair, coffee table), and a refrigerator (minibar).
• (Boat Deck) Window Suites have large slanted windows, a separate living room (luxury furniture, two-seat dining table, minibar), bedroom (double bed with separate mattresses), and a bathroom with a whirlpool bathtub.

All staterooms are equipped with standard amenities, including an LCD TV, radio, telephone, electronic safe (in the closet), hairdryer, writing desk (mirrored vanity with chair), bedside tables with reading lamps, en-suite bathroom (washbasin, WC, shower), and individually controlled air conditioning.

The ship has seven decks, of which six are accessible to passengers and four feature cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options – Food and Drinks

The main meals onboard were inspired by classic European cuisine. The Pacific Restaurant operated with assigned seating (fixed dining times), with tables accommodating 4, 6, or 8 guests. Up to six meals were served daily—from early breakfast to a midnight snack. Coffee, tea, and cakes were offered every afternoon, and light snacks were available at midnight. Breakfast featured an extensive buffet, while lunch and dinner included multi-course menus.

Shipboard Entertainment Options – Fun and Sport

The Grand Salon served as the ship’s theater and main show lounge. Other public venues included the Lido Bar, Wine Bar, Salon Penguin, Dolphin Lounge, Sky Club (disco), retail shopping arcade (Board Shop, Boutique, Perfumery), Photo Shop, Tour Office (travel agency/onboard cruise booking and information), and Library. The ship was also equipped with a fleet of Zodiacs (large-capacity inflatable boats for passenger landings). One lift (elevator) connected all seven passenger decks.

Onboard leisure facilities included a Fitness Center (gym and studio for classes), outdoor jogging track, deck games (shuffleboard), ping-pong and tennis tables, darts, sports court (volleyball/basketball), heated outdoor swimming pool, Finnish sauna and steam room (both complimentary), Spa, and Beauty Salon (hairdresser, cosmetics, aromatherapy, massages, manicure, and pedicure).

Itineraries

In November 2017, Alteza Cruises (an Argentina-based brand) announced plans to charter the vessel from February 2018 through April 2019. Scheduled roundtrip itineraries from Buenos Aires included destinations such as Antarctica, Patagonia, southern Brazil, and Chile, as well as short cruises in Argentina and Uruguay, with the inaugural voyage planned for February 7. However, in February 2018, Alteza Cruises did not commence operations.

On May 8, 2018, Pampa Cruises (a Brazil-based company) announced plans to charter MS Delphin for year-round South American voyages between Argentina and Brazil, offering itineraries ranging from 3 to 16 nights. The charter period was set from October 2018 through September 2019.

• Pampa Cruises itineraries featured five homeports—Santos, Salvador, Recife, Buenos Aires, and Ushuaia—offering roundtrips to ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.
• Some itineraries included visits to the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Brazil), a UNESCO site accessible only to luxury and expedition vessels. MS Delphin was ideally sized for these voyages, as visiting ships must comply with strict environmental regulations and carry fewer than 450 passengers.
• Pampa Cruises’ program also included voyages to Patagonia, the Chilean fjords, and a Transatlantic crossing between Brazil and Greece.