St Pete Casino Cruise
Ocean Jewel Casino in St. Petersburg: Above: St. Petersburg casino cruise aboard the Ocean Jewel: Ship info.Note: This business has closed. Casino Cruise St Petersburg Fl, brazilian slots, purplelounge casino, casino de madrid restaurante terraza.
Gamblers who like the taste of salty sea air and the sound of ocean waves crashing beneath their feet can enjoy one-day casino cruises in several areas of the United States, including Florida. At port, gambling may still be against the law, but once a cruise ship hits international waters, gambling becomes legal for all passengers age 21 and over.
While on a gambling day trip at sea, the casino amenities mirror that of a brick and mortar casino: slot machines, table games, cold drinks, buffets, entertainment. Florida, with its lengthy coast line, is a prime location for casino ships to set up shop at its various breathtaking ports. The casino ship industry in Florida, however, is not exactly flourishing. In fact, it has seen enough ups and downs to become seasick.
Unfortunately for casino cruise fans, Florida has seen many casino boat closures in the past decade. As of 2004, the Florida Day Cruise Association reported that there were 17 casino boats sailing in the state. In 2008, that number dwindled down to 14. Today, there are even fewer gambling boats available in Florida. The Big M and Victory Casino Cruises are two of Florida's main sailing options.
The Big M
The Big M is a casino cruiser that sails out of Moss Marine in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. The ship offers Vegas-style casino action including multiple-line slots and traditional table games. For six hours, guests can wander the decks trying their luck. When they get hungry, or when money runs out, they can enjoy fine buffet food and entertainment.
The ship's prices are quite reasonable. It costs just $10 to board the Big M. Buffet meals raise the price up to $20-$30, depending on which day of the week it is. The Big M also operates a successful gambling cruise ship out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Victory Casino
The Victory Casino cruises out of Port Canaveral, Fla., seven days per week. The ship offers four decks with over 600 slot machines, blackjack tables with $5 and $10 minimums, sports betting at a full bar with specialty drinks, and other casino standards like roulette, craps, and poker.
When not gambling, guests can savor different international dishes at a world buffet and partake of drinks and dancing at Big Norm's Club V. Those who enjoy sipping cocktails by the sea can relax with a frosty drink at the Coral Side Tiki Bar. Like the Big M, the basic boarding price for the cruise is $10. Also like the Big M, costs rise a bit for guests who plan to partake of a meal.
Sunken Florida Gambling Ship: The Black Diamond
Florida witnessed the recent rise and fall of a new casino ship in Palm Beach called the 'Black Diamond.' In November 2012, the Black Diamond opened its doors to the public. The ship, operated out of Port Palm Beach, offered nightly gambling cruises and also morning cruises Wednesday through Sunday. Passengers enjoyed bingo, sports betting, a floor of 250 slot machines, and table games like baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Evening cruises featured a sit-down dinner and live piano entertainment.
St Pete Casino Boat
Unfortunately for Black Diamond customers, the ship closed down in February 2013 without fulfilling all of its reservations. Unfortunately for the 100 people employed by the cruise line, their employer abruptly cut them off that same month, only three months after the grand opening. As of February 19, 2013, employees had not been paid and customers with reservations had not been refunded.
Employees of the gambling ship found out about the cessation of their employment in an unfortunate way. CEO Steven Craig claimed he was going to tell them about the boat's closure, but dragged his feet so long that an on-site reporting news channel, WPTV News 5 out of Palm Beach, broke the news to the employees instead. According to reporters, employees who had shown up for work began to cry as they realized that not only was their place of employment closing, but also that their paychecks were nowhere to be found.
Craig explained to News 5 reporters that the ship was closing for a while, and if it re-opened in the future, he would call some of the employees back. This revelation caused quite an angry stir amongst Palm Beach community members.
One commenter indicated that she would have loved to take a day cruise on the ship, but had no idea it was even there. Speculations as to what caused the business's early and abrupt demise included the fact that CEO Craig did very little advertising. Many community members did not even know the service existed.
Good News: A New Port of Palm Beach Casino Cruise Line
Effective May 1st, 2013, Island Breeze International will take over the Black Diamond. Island Breeze is an owner and operator of entertainment cruise ships whose goal is to lead the cruise ship entertainment industry. The company plans to make renovations to the boat and open its doors to the public for day cruises starting in August, 2013. Unlike the Black Diamond, the Island Breeze company plans to advertise heavily. They have signed a 10-year lease with the port.
Other Sunken Ships
Cruise To St Petersburg
The Black Diamond is not the only ship to sink before its time. The once-popular SunCruz at Hollywood docked for good in 2005. A Florida gambling ship called the 'Big Easy,' once operated out of the port of St. Petersburg, closed in late 2009. The Discovery Cruise line, which once provided day gambling trips to the Bahamas, closed in 2011.
The gambling cruise ship industry in Florida is not a stable one. With the recent closure of Internet cafes and senior arcades in Florida (read here), citizens looking for places to gamble still have one sure bet: the 137 brick and mortar casinos in the state, most of which are located on Florida's vast and beautiful coast line.
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MAKING RESERVATIONS
HOW DO I MAKE A RESERVATION?
Reservations can be made online or by phone at (727 ) 462-2628 with a major credit card. Seats are not held without payment. If you would like to pay in cash, reservations must be made in person at least 24-hours in advance. Reservations are required to ensure cruise availability. Sea Life Safari cruises are booked directly through the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Upon arrival the day of your cruise, check in at our ticket kiosk with your confirmation number to receive your boarding passes.
St Petersburg Fl Casino Cruise
WHAT PAYMENT OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
We accept most major credit cards for reservations and for purchases on board. If necessary, you can pay with a money order by mail. Please call our reservations department at (727 ) 462-2628 for more information. You may pay cash at all cruise locations (see 'How do I make a reservation?' ) . On board purchases can also be paid with cash.
CAN I HOLD A RESERVATION AND PAY ON ARRIVAL?
We do not hold reservations without payment.
I HAVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE / COUPON / DISCOUNT OFFER, HOW DO I REDEEM IT?
All gift certificates, coupons and discount offers must be mentioned at the time of booking in order to be honored. Most coupons or discount offers can be redeemed online by entering the three letter source code at the beginning of the booking process. Gift certificates must be booked by phone at (727 ) 462-2628. Please bring your gift certificate, promotional card or coupon with you on the day of your cruise and present it to at the ticket kiosk prior to boarding.
IF ONE OR MORE PEOPLE IN MY PARTY ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT OR WE MISS THE CRUISE WILL WE RECEIVE A REFUND?
No. Once payment is received cruises are non-refundable. With a 24-hour or better notice we will be happy to reschedule your cruise date. Cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable within 24 hours of your cruise. We do not compensate for no-shows or late arrivals.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS?
StarLite Cruises sail rain or shine. In the case of severe weather conditions or upon the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard, we will remain dockside, but provide the full dining service. In the event that we have to cancel, a full refund of the ticket price purchased will be issued. Dolphin Racer and Sea Life Safari cruises are weather permitting.
DO YOU OFFER ANY INFANT DISCOUNTS?
Infants (ages 2 and under ) are complimentary on most regularly scheduled cruises, but must be included in your passenger count at time of reservation. Some special event cruises may not offer complimentary infant fares.
ARE THERE ANY AGE RESTRICTIONS ON YOUR CRUISES?
There are no age restrictions for most of our cruises. All minors require adult supervision. Please call with questions about any of our special event cruises, as minors are not restricted on most cruises, but the cruise may not be appropriate for all age groups.
IF I PURCHASED TICKETS ONLINE, DO I NEED TO CHECK-IN WHEN I ARRIVE?
Yes. Upon arrival the day of your cruise, check in at our ticket kiosk with your confirmation number to receive your boarding passes.
ONBOARD EXPERIENCE
WHAT IS THE DRESS ATTIRE FOR THE CRUISES?
Dolphin Racer & Sea Life Safari Cruises: Casual attire, such as shorts and t-shirts are appropriate.
StarLite Yacht and Calypso Tropical Daytime Cruises: We recommend Florida casual attire.
StarLite Yacht and Calypso Tropical Evening Cruises: Resort casual to dressy casual attire is recommended. For men, slacks or khaki pants, and a collared shirt; for women slacks or skirt, or dress. We request no tank tops, swim suits, or swim cover-ups.
You may find that some guests are dressed more formally, especially those celebrating special occasions. However, attire varies from comfortable shorts to the more formal. Bring along a light jacket or wrap as it may get a bit breezy on the outer decks.
WHAT TIME DO I BOARD THE SHIP?
Boarding time is usually 30 minutes prior to departure for all cruises. Please check your boarding time when making your reservation.
IS SMOKING ALLOWED?
Dolphin Racer & Sea Life Safari: Smoking, vaporing and e-cigarettes are not allowed on board. StarLite Yachts & Calypso Tropical: Smoking, vaporing and e-cigarettes are allowed on the outside decks only. Please dispose of all refuse in proper receptacles. Do not throw anything into the water.
IS THERE PRE-ASSIGNED SEATING?
StarLite Yacht and Calypso Tropical: As you board, our captain and host will direct you to your deck then show your party to your assigned table(s ) . Decks are never guaranteed to non-private groups. We assign seats based on needs, order of reservation and capacity for each cruise. Dolphin Racer & Sea Life Safari trips offer open seating.
WILL I GET MY OWN TABLE?
On the majority of our cruises, we assign private tables to the individual parties. However, on some of our special holiday cruises, we do have cabaret-style seating, where we will ask you to share a table with other parties. If this is the case, you will be told at the time you make your reservation.
CAN WE MEET THE CAPTAIN AND VISIT THE PILOT HOUSE?
Yes. Guests are welcome to come and meet the Captain. However, for safety and security reasons, we ask that you check with our staff onboard before visiting the pilot house. We want to ensure that all passengers and crew are kept safe and that the captain is not distracted while performing essential duties.
ARE ANIMALS ALLOWED ON THE CRUISE?
In accordance with the federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA ) and Florida law, people with disabilities may bring their service animals. The ADA and Florida law defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a person with a disability. The tasks or work the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability. The ADA and Florida law do not recognize emotional support animals as service animals, therefore, we do not allow emotional support animals or pets on our cruises. We may ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform.
FOOD & BEVERAGE OPTIONS
ARE THERE VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE? CAN I MAKE A SPECIAL MENU REQUEST?
Yes, for dining cruises, vegetarian options are available. If you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions, once on board, please notify your server. We can accommodate most other special dietary needs in our galley.
DO YOU OFFER SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS FOR BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES OR SPECIAL OCCASIONS?
We offer a variety of special enhancements to add to your dining experience. Please ask your reservations agent about our special occasion packages. These options are also available when booking online.
In addition to purchasing special occasion packages, we are happy to acknowledge all special occasions on our dining cruises. Please let us know what you are celebrating and the name(s ) of those being honored, and our entertainment will be happy to make an announcement during the cruise.
ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY
ARE YOU REGULATED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD?
Our vessels are all subject to inspections by the U.S. Coast Guard and our crew are all properly licensed. We also follow Marsec security guidelines. Should the Marsec security level be elevated, we may opt to increase security measures onboard our vessels to insure everyone’s safety.
ARE LIFE JACKETS ON BOARD?
Each vessel is 100% Coast Guard certified with personal flotation devices (PFD ) and all required lifesaving equipment, including child PFDs.
ARE VESSELS DISINFECTED BEFORE A CRUISE?
As of 05/08/20, we have resumed operations on a somewhat modified schedule. At StarLite Cruises, the wellbeing of our passengers and crew members remains our foremost priority. As all responsible entities should do, StarLite Cruises is vigilant and taking additional measures to minimize exposure to the virus to our passengers and crew members. As businesses around the country are implementing additional safety measures related to the COVID-19 outbreak, we at StarLite would like to share what we are doing to protect our valued passengers and crew members. StarLite employs comprehensive cleaning and sanitizing efforts. Our crew members are ServSafe Certified. Extensive and vigorous cleaning and disinfection of vessels with special cleaning agents are conducted on all common surfaces prior to each cruise. We are limiting passenger capacity to create additional social distancing between passenger reservation parties. We are doubling crew member hand washing requirements. We are screening crew members for COVID-19 symptoms and prohibiting any crew from working that are exhibiting any signs. We are advising passengers to adhere to social distancing practices while moving throughout the vessel. Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations are available for all passengers on board. Menus are now single use paper. Following Pinellas County orders applicable to restaurants (Ordinance 20-14 ) , all employees and passengers must wear face coverings on board the vessels. Face coverings are not required while passengers are dining and/or consuming beverages while seated at a table. The use of face coverings for those under the age of 18 is up to the discretion of the parent, guardian, or accompanying adult.
ARE THE VESSELS HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE?
Not all vessels, decks, doorways or restrooms are accessible. Please call (727 ) 462-2628 with any questions and to ensure handicap accessibility of the vessel you are planning to cruise on. Please let us know if you or a guest will be using a wheelchair, oversized wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or scooter.
DO YOU HAVE ELEVATORS?
None of our vessels have elevators. Access to the upper decks on all vessels are by stairs only.
WILL I GET SEASICK?
The vast majority of our guests experience no discomfort at all as our dining vessels generally do not leave the calm waters of the intracoastal. If you are sailing on the Dolphin Racer, we may go out into the open water and as a result, the chance of getting seasick increases.
IS THERE A PHONE ON THE BOAT THAT RECEIVES CALLS?
StarLite does not have phones for guests' use. Most cellular services are available on the water as we do not cruise beyond one mile off shore on most of our cruises.