The Island Escape has become the Ocean Gala, with U.S. Shipbrokers managing the vessel sale and becoming the commercial management firm for the 1982-built ship. The vessel was bought by a South Florida-based consortium of investors.

The ship is fresh off a drydocking at Damen in Brest, France, and is now headed to Scandinavia to become a floating hotel for workers involved in the ongoing refugee crisis.

The Ocean Gala is expected to head for Latin and South America in late 2016, where an experienced group will operate cruises sourcing passengers from countries in Latin America.

Other floating hotel charter and cruise charter arrangements are being considered for 2016.