Casino Day Cruise

[rolloman]

With the re-start taking place this week here in Florida for "daily" casino ship voyages it has me wondering if Carnival (or one of the other lines) may take advantage and begin doing the same with one of their ships. Revenue from dining, casino, beverages sitting 3 miles out is better than sitting idle with zero revenue.

[Purvis1231]

Right now those type cruises would be illegal with a foreign built/flagged ship.

[rolloman]

5 minutes ago, Purvis1231 said:

Right now those type cruises would be illegal with a foreign built/flagged ship.

Let me re-phrase so it satisfies the legality....All they would have to do is go to nearby Bimini Island for a couple hours.....just like some casino ships do now.

[Purvis1231]

2 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Let me re-phrase so it satisfies the legality....All they would have to do is go to nearby Bimini Island for a couple hours.....just like some casino ships do now.

Ok, that might be an idea. I personally would have no interest in a casino cruise but a lot folks might. I just wonder if the cruise lines would earn enough money to make it work. 

[MsTabbyKats]

7 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Let me re-phrase so it satisfies the legality....All they would have to do is go to nearby Bimini Island for a couple hours.....just like some casino ships do now.

If I lived in FL I'd do it.....as long as the capacity was limited.

[firefly333]

2 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

If I lived in FL I'd do it.....as long as the capacity was limited.

I've done those casino cruises. Been to bimini and nassau. Lived in boca raton... at the time they used to go out near palm beach. 

 

Wasnt anything on bimini at the time except for endless clear beaches and eating. So they held a wet t shirt contest. I'm sure not any more. But unless you could take sun all day on the beach, eatimg and drinking was all that used to be there. It was too small of a island for regular ships like carnival.

[MsTabbyKats]

2 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I've done those casino cruises. Been to bimini and nassau. Lived in boca raton... at the time they used to go out near palm beach. 

 

Wasnt anything on bimini at the time except for endless clear beaches and eating. So they held a wet t shirt contest. I'm sure not any more. But unless you could take sun all day on the beach, eatimg and drinking was all that used to be there. It was too small of a island for regular ships like carnival.

I think OP's plan was to stay on the ship (before legality became an issue).

[firefly333]

12 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

I think OP's plan was to stay on the ship (before legality became an issue).

Maybe they have changed, but the ship couldnt gamble while in port. In nassau there was a big casino to go to.

 

The buffet opened for only a couple of hours. It was just run as a gambling cruise back then. A casino guy went around with tickets he passed out for midnight food to the bigger gamblers. The cruises were obviously aimed at gamblers.

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, rolloman said:

With the re-start taking place this week here in Florida for "daily" casino ship voyages it has me wondering if Carnival (or one of the other lines) may take advantage and begin doing the same with one of their ships. Revenue from dining, casino, beverages sitting 3 miles out is better than sitting idle with zero revenue.

Nope not happening> Not sure why everyone wants to reinvent the wheel for the cruiselines. YOU may want that but not Carnival.

[ninjacat123]

DH and I could possibly be on a cruise structured like that this September if the Bahamas don't allow passengers to disembark. We'll see... 

[rolloman]

33 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Nope not happening> Not sure why everyone wants to reinvent the wheel for the cruiselines. YOU may want that but not Carnival.

Ok...well it is happening with the scenario outlined.....and this is a web site to talk all things cruising which includes ideas. Bimini has constructed a resort/casino and has come a long way as a destination port which happens to be the closest island to Florida. As a matter of fact the new Virgin cruise line has it scheduled as a port visit. 

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, rolloman said:

Ok...well it is happening with the scenario outlined.....and this is a web site to talk all things cruising which includes ideas. Bimini has constructed a resort/casino and has come a long way as a destination port which happens to be the closest island to Florida. As a matter of fact the new Virgin cruise line has it scheduled as a port visit. 

Have a link?

[rolloman]

Just now, ninjacat123 said:

Have a link?

https://www.cruzely.com/11-things-to-do-at-the-virgin-voyages-beach-club-at-bimini/

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, rolloman said:

Ok...well it is happening with the scenario outlined.....and this is a web site to talk all things cruising which includes ideas. Bimini has constructed a resort/casino and has come a long way as a destination port which happens to be the closest island to Florida. As a matter of fact the new Virgin cruise line has it scheduled as a port visit. 

I was SUPPOSED to be on the Virgin Lady earlier this month. Yes, they built a private Beach Club on Bimini and one of the highlights is on selected cruises they would have Celebrity DJ's come on the island and DJ a Day and night party!

[Roger88]

Not sure it will viable in the nearest months due to all that covid situation. Casino cruises are nice but they involve a lot of people in one place. If its a one time occasion for a short term for a very few visitors then it might work. Otherwise very unlikely 

[kwokpot]

8 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Ok...well it is happening with the scenario outlined.....and this is a web site to talk all things cruising which includes ideas. Bimini has constructed a resort/casino and has come a long way as a destination port which happens to be the closest island to Florida. As a matter of fact the new Virgin cruise line has it scheduled as a port visit. 

Here is what the itinerary was supposed to be:

 

Departing!    
DAY 1
May 03, 2020 7:00 PM
Miami
Port Miami, Terminal F
1103 N. Cruise Blvd.
Miami, Fl 33132
Sailing!    
DAY 2
May 04, 2020
At Sea

Arriving!    
DAY 3
May 05, 2020 8:00 AM
Cozumel-Playa del Carmen

Sailing!    
DAY 4
May 06, 2020
At Sea

Arriving!    
DAY 5
May 07, 2020 9:00 AM
The Beach Club At Bimini

Arriving!    
DAY 6
May 08, 2020 6:30 AM
Miami
Port Miami, Terminal F
1103 N. Cruise Blvd.
Miami, Fl 33132
 

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, kwokpot said:

Here is what the itinerary was supposed to be:

 

Departing!    
DAY 1
May 03, 2020 7:00 PM
Miami
Port Miami, Terminal F
1103 N. Cruise Blvd.
Miami, Fl 33132
Sailing!    
DAY 2
May 04, 2020
At Sea

Arriving!    
DAY 3
May 05, 2020 8:00 AM
Cozumel-Playa del Carmen

Sailing!    
DAY 4
May 06, 2020
At Sea

Arriving!    
DAY 5
May 07, 2020 9:00 AM
The Beach Club At Bimini

Arriving!    
DAY 6
May 08, 2020 6:30 AM
Miami
Port Miami, Terminal F
1103 N. Cruise Blvd.
Miami, Fl 33132
 

I love the exclamation points😄

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, ninjacat123 said:

I love the exclamation points😄

You notice there aren't departure times? I think the idea was to have later departure times not only on embarkation and debarkation but also at the port stops. 

I haven't yet rebooked our Virgin Voyages cruise yet. It was a comped gambling cruise so I can always book it at a later date.

I'm definitely interested in trying out their product. They are marketing themselves as the anti-cruise cruise and have gone out of their way to do things as differently as possible. It's REALLY unfortunate timing they decided to unveil a brand new cruiseline literally during this pandemic. The maiden voyage was supposed to be in April. They have cancelled cruises out until October.

[rolloman]

13 minutes ago, Roger88 said:

Not sure it will viable in the nearest months due to all that covid situation. Casino cruises are nice but they involve a lot of people in one place. If its a one time occasion for a short term for a very few visitors then it might work. Otherwise very unlikely 

Like I mentioned before, it is already happening with ships in Florida who are not associated with the big 3 (Carnival, Royal, NCL). I would think if it goes well, the big 3 will have to consider day runs (at least with a ship or two)

Edited May 23, 2020 by rolloman
added info

[rolloman]

18 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I was SUPPOSED to be on the Virgin Lady earlier this month. Yes, they built a private Beach Club on Bimini and one of the highlights is on selected cruises they would have Celebrity DJ's come on the island and DJ a Day and night party!

There are 6 casino hotels on the island of Bimini....so there was quite a bit going on before Virgin came into the picture. 

[ninjacat123]

9 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

You notice there aren't departure times? I think the idea was to have later departure times not only on embarkation and debarkation but also at the port stops. 

I haven't yet rebooked our Virgin Voyages cruise yet. It was a comped gambling cruise so I can always book it at a later date.

I'm definitely interested in trying out their product. They are marketing themselves as the anti-cruise cruise and have gone out of their way to do things as differently as possible. It's REALLY unfortunate timing they decided to unveil a brand new cruiseline literally during this pandemic. The maiden voyage was supposed to be in April. They have cancelled cruises out until October.

I'll be interested to find out how it goes.  Richard Branson is a unique entrepreneur who thinks outside of the box. 

[jakeT]

Carnival casino are just not big enough for that.  How many people an fit into a casino?  One depends on the ship. If a ship has a capacity of 2000 can 500 fit into a casino.?  If you really start to lose.  Slots odd can be change by the casino   What can you do?