Gambling Boat Cruises In Florida
Casino Cruises in Florida: If you are a casino enthusiast, you don’t have to go all the way to Vegas. You can place your bets at several Florida casinos located across the state, or set sail from Port Canaveral or Jacksonville on a casino cruise where you can play your favorite games while you sail the seas. Discover what Floridians already know… float away for a day, leave your cares behind, and come back refreshed – you might even come back with a little more cash. Now that’s a winning combination!
Victory Casino Cruises' four decks of maritime merriment abound with more than 600 slot machines, 30 table games, and an expansive food selection including hot entrees, meat carving and pasta station. Visit Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures, an aerial adventure park with dozens of fun and challenging obstacles. After a short “ground school” lesson to learn proper form and technique, it’s off to the ropes course, which includes suspension bridges, wide balance beams, tunnels, zip lines, balancing logs, monkey bars, and more.
While just a few years ago there were many choices when considering a casino cruise, today just one company sails the waters off Florida’s coasts.
Victory Casino Cruises
Victory Casino Cruises is the most authentic Las Vegas-style casino experience in Florida, featuring five and six-hour cruises along the Space Coast and departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Our cruise ship showcases over 600 slot machines and the best selection of 27 casino games, including Florida’s only LIVE roulette and LIVE craps tables. Our Sportsbook Lounge, the only sportsbook in the state, will take bets on basketball, football, baseball, soccer, boxing, MMA, hockey, and more. Enjoy superb food, buffet dining, and drinks on all four decks. For spectacular entertainment, Big Norm’s Club V offers free shows and a beat-filled dance floor for parties of all sizes.
Just for playing slots and casino games, you can earn Reward Points for perks like free drinks, free food, free gifts and even dollars taken off your final bill. Discover why Victory is the most authentic, affordable and fun casino experience in Florida!
Victory Casino Cruises – Port Canaveral and Jacksonville
It’s a sure bet that you’ll have a great time when you set sail on your casino cruise from either Port Canaveral or Jacksonville.
The Port Canaveral casino cruise is the largest ship with four decks of gaming action, including over 600 slot machines. Passengers can also play bingo, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, and more for a morning or evening of fun.
Sailing from Jacksonville’s historic Mayport area, Victory’s ship boasts three decks with over 300 slot machines. Players can also try their hand at blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker.
Reviews of these cruises are mixed, but whether you win or lose, most agree that they had a great time. We found the biggest complaints seemed to be the smoking that is allowed on some decks and the food. On the contrary, the best compliments came because of the food and staff friendliness and courteousness.
Another common complaint was rough seas. This usually depends on the weather and is beyond the cruise line’s control. If you are prone to motion sickness, check weather reports in advance to make sure there will not be a chop on the water and take medication if necessary.
Ticket Information and Details
It’s just $13 to board either ship. Dining is additional and the cost depends on the day of the week and time of day of the cruise. Prices begin at $15.00 and go as high as $22.50. Purchase advance dining and save some money.
For Casino information or reservations call 855-GO-VICTORY (855-468-4286) or visit victorycasinocruises.com.
Transportation is available to both the Port Canaveral and Jacksonvilledocks from various locations. It is worth the additional charge for the convenience and if you plan on drinking on board, it is cheaper than calling a cab. Either call the above phone number or check the website for pickup points for either location. A 24-hour advance reservation is required along with a small transportation charge.
What Do You Wear On A Casino Cruise?
Are Drinks Free On Victory Casino Cruise?
How Much Is A Casino Cruise?
| Victory I Pricing Per Person For Cruise (Includes Port Fee/Parking/Federal Tax) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Boarding | Dining Purchase On Ship | |
| Wednesday and Thursday PM Cruises | $13 | $17.50 |
| Friday and Saturday PM Cruises | $13 | $22.50 |
| Sunday Noon Cruise | $13 | $22.50 |
Where Does Victory Casino Cruise Sail?
Victory Casino Cruises is the most authentic Las Vegas-style casino experience in Florida, featuring five and six-hour cruises along the Space Coast and departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.
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.
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
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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