FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- New SeaEscape Cruises, which has
operated party cruises from Port Everglades, Fla., for 16 years,
changed its name to SeaEscape Casino Cruises and will begin
year-round gaming cruises from midtown Manhattan within 30 days,
the company said.
SeaEscape will continue to operate 12 cruises per week from Port
Everglades, aboard the Island Adventure, the firm's chairman, C.
Dean Hofmeister, said.
The casino cruise market in New York opened up early this year
when a federal court ruled that casino cruises could operate
outside a three-mile limit, not a 12-mile limit, as was previously
in force. Only one casino cruise operation currently sails from New
York: Manhattan Cruises operates the SuperStar Capricorn, a vessel
leased from Star Cruises.
SeaEscape will operate twice-daily cruises from the pier at
Circle Line Plaza at West 42nd Street, Hofmeister said, under an
arrangement with Hudson River Day Line. For the new program,
SeaEscape acquired the 419-foot Discovery Dawn, which carries 1,350
passengers. It will rename the vessel Island Dawn. The vessel was
acquired from Discovery Cruises, another short-cruise operator in
Port Everglades, which SeaEscape is in the process of acquiring,
Hofmeister said.
SeaEscape expects to complete the takeover of Discovery in two
to three weeks. The purchase includes that line's remaining ship,
the Discovery Sun, which sails daily to Freeport, Bahamas.
All New York cruises will include a brunch or dinner buffet and
be priced from $49 to $69, with discounts for groups, Hofmeister
said. SeaEscape's reservations number is (800) 432-0900.