The Blue Horizon Casino Cruise ship is set, once again, to sail out of the Port of Palm Beach Friday October 30th. After several delays including a complete shutdown and trip to a Jacksonville dry dock to replace $1 million worth of engines and the ship’s communication system in July, the ship returned to Riviera Beach, Florida over the past weekend. Plans had been in the works to sail yesterday, but dock area maintenance seems to have delayed that.
Several other attempts to run profitable casino cruises out of the port have failed over the years, with at least two of them on the current Blue Horizon vessel under different ownership and names. PB Gaming, current owners of the casino, have invested about $4 million in the venture so far and seem to have a better than average chance of making it succeed. The Port of Palm Beach entered into a deal with PB Gaming spanning more than five years.
The Blue Horizon Casino Cruise ship can carry up to 600 passengers and in addition to South Florida’s only legal sports book, offer slots, blackjack, craps, and roulette. AAA, AARP, and Group Discounts are available. Book online for a total cost of about $20 per ticket, or pay about $25 at the gate. Blue Horizon will cruise the 3 miles to legal gambling in international waters twice each day except Mondays. The all-inclusive ticket price includes meal, free drinks while gambling, unlimited coffee, tea, and soft drinks, and all taxes plus dock fees. Valet parking is $7 per car.
A news conference has been scheduled for 2pm Friday local time to discuss the resumption of services.
The journey to sea to practice sports betting in Florida isn’t limited to the southern region. Victory Casino Cruises offers jaunts from Cape Canaveral and Jacksonville as well.