The history behind the ship
Built by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Kearny, New Jersey, USA. 1944

Keel laid as GENERAL R. M. BLATCHFORD but renamed GENERAL W. P. RICHARDSON and launched as the ninth of eleven special troopships on  August 6th 1944, group type P2S2R2 number AP 118. Without portholes for security, these ships were fully air conditioned.
Transferred to U.S. Army February 14, 1946, refitted for Mediterranean service, sailing with troops, families and general passengers. Laid up in March 1948.

Chartered by American Export Lines Inc from the US government for use as passenger liner, refitted at Ingalls shipyard, Pascagoula, Mississippi at a cost of $5 million. Renamed LAGUARDIA, 157 first class, 452 tourist class passengers. Her first voyage sailed on  May 27 1949, from  New York to Naples and Genoa, Later cruising included Palermo, Haifa and Piraeus. Mediterranean cruising continued until 1951. 

In  December 19 51, she was handed over to the  US Maritime Commission for use in the Korean conflict then in November 1952  was laid up for four years in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.

In 1955 she was sold to the Hawaiian Steam Ship Company, Textron Inc, New York and she received another refit and was renamed LEILANI - Refitted for California - Hawaii service, carrying 650 first class passengers. The voyage from New York to California via Panama turned into a nightmare with food poisoning amongst the passengers and plumbing problems.

First voyage San Francisco - Honolulu February 5, 1957, and worked this route for two years. The vessel was eventually laid up in San Francisco, then moved to Todd Shipyard in Alameda, until seized by the US Federal Government in May 1959, put up for auction in June and bought by U.S. Maritime Commission.

Bought by American President Lines, San Francisco July 25, 1960. Sailed to Puget Sound Drydock Seattle for $8 million refit which started March 1961 for a luxury liner service, renamed PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, passengers 456 first class, 18,920 GRT. Sailed from Seattle to San Francisco May 10, 1962, began First voyage San Francisco - Los Angeles - Yokohama May 11, 1962.

Bought by D & A Chandris in 1970 for $1.8 million and refitted at Perama (Piraeus) for $8.5 million, renamed ATLANTIS. Completed June 1971, and commenced a weekly service between New York and Nassau, this operation was unsuccessful.

In October 1972 sold to Eastern Steamship Lines and renamed EMERALD SEAS. Cruising from Miami to Nassau, Freeport and Little Stirrup Cay. 1986 Managed by Admiral Cruiselines. Back into profit, with 960 passengers and up to 390 crew, the short 3 and 4 day cruises were very popular.

Bought by Festival cruises in 1992 renamed SAPPHIRE SEAS, cruising Egypt and Israel. Laid up at Piraeus October 1994. 

Renamed OCEAN EXPLORER 1 summer 1998 for use at Lisbon as a hotel ships for Expo 98, returned for lay up at Eleusis, Greece.

In May 2000, OCEAN EXPLORER 1  operated by The World Cruise Company was taken out on service at the completion of the first world cruise and laid up at Eleusis, Greece, where 50 years earlier she had cruised to.

Has any ship had so much money spent on refits?

Last reports were that she had been sold as scrap in 2004.