No Gambling in Bermuda may prevent Breakaway sailings

[KevinsCruising]

Did they stop going to Bermuda for the casino issue? Doubtful.

 

FWIW I enjoy the pool and that gets closed at night. That is not getting what you are paying for either.

 

Wanna BET ?? LOL

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120116/COMMENT01/701169947

[criscruise]

We love the Bermuda cruise for several reasons. A big one for us is that they are in port overnight. We love this island. We are thrilled Breakaway will be sailing this itinerary.

[KevinsCruising]

We love the Bermuda cruise for several reasons. A big one for us is that they are in port overnight. We love this island. We are thrilled Breakaway will be sailing this itinerary.

 

I Love Bermuda too. I really do. I think Horseshoe Bay is the most beautiful beach I have ever been to. Not knocking Bermuda itself at all. I just wish the Casino was open at night...lol.....thats all. Not trying to get anyones nerve up here...just stating what I wish...lol

 

I do not really go to many of the shows and I always enjoy hanging out at the Casino after dinner. Thats all. Just something on my own personal wish list.

[DGP1111]

The crew/staff running the casino and onboard merchandise shops will definitely have a unique schedule during Breakaway's Bermuda run.

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[palmyrafan]

I am not a big gambler so I would not know this. If this is true, I am shocked that NCL would dock a ship for 3 days with no casino. The casino is a huge money maker for any cruise line. If this is true, someone at NCL screwed up big time not thinking of this.

 

I cant remember but isnt the casino closed on most port days anyway?

 

We have been on several NCL cruises and every time we docked in a port, domestic or foreign, the casino was locked up tight for the duration of the layover. It was usually re-opened within 2 hours of leaving the port.

 

This is certainly something NCL may want to take a look at, although they do dock overnight at other ports as well with the casino closed.

 

Interesting to find out what if anything can be done.

[njhorseman]

Wanna BET ?? LOL

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120116/COMMENT01/701169947

 

That's an opinion (editorial or op ed) piece, not a factual news report. It's someone's opinion that lack of gambling caused a cruise line (presumably Holland America) to discontinue cruises to Bermuda...which may or may not be true, but Holland America itself did not say that.

[AttilaTheFun]

For the Bermuda sailing, there are three FULL sea days, during which the casinos can be open the whole time. That's probably more time than most Caribbean sailings that stop at 4-5 ports.

 

As others have pointed out, Breakaway is also sailing the Bahamas/Florida route out of NYC next year, so just book that instead. The itineraries are very clearly posted on the NCL site. I hate the Bahamas and would never want to return, but then you get your casino time. To each their own!

[chrisc71]

Wanna BET ?? LOL

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120116/COMMENT01/701169947

 

Which cruise line and it only mentions one not coming back?

[chrisc71]

The crew/staff running the casino and onboard merchandise shops will definitely have a unique schedule during Breakaway's Bermuda run.

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This has been standard in the cruise industry for decades. Why do you think it would be so weird for NCL?

[kapoho2]

Don't forget that gambling is not allowed in Hawaii....and therefore, there is NO casino on NCL's Pride of America. This is an important consideration for many people, but NCL is still managing to fill the ship week after week...year after year. The gambling issue keeps coming up for a vote in Hawaii, and keeps getting voted down, so things will not be changing anytime soon.

[jaja]

As someone who enjoys to gamble on land and at sea. No, those overnights may not necessarily be made up during sea days.

 

As stated by someone else, you will probably be back on the ship in the evenings. If you are not a person that enjoys stage shows or the bar scene but enjoys time in the casino as your nightly entertainment, it has nothing to do with "more than made up for". It has to do with thats what you enjoy to do in the evenings.

 

 

I agree !

[Boston and beyond cruiser]

For the Bermuda sailing, there are three FULL sea days, during which the casinos can be open the whole time. That's probably more time than most Caribbean sailings that stop at 4-5 ports.

 

As others have pointed out, Breakaway is also sailing the Bahamas/Florida route out of NYC next year, so just book that instead. The itineraries are very clearly posted on the NCL site. I hate the Bahamas and would never want to return, but then you get your casino time. To each their own!

 

 

I haven't looked at the Breakaway (hate that name) itinerary yet, but if it's the same as the Boston-Bermuda run, they've dropped a full day in Bermuda from the old Majesty schedule. We were on the Dawn in October - left Boston Sunday afternoon, arrived in Bermuda Wednesday late morning and left Friday around noon, so it's only TWO nights in Bermuda when the casino is closed. You have five nights and four full sea days to gamble your heart away, and on those two nights, just push your $$ under the closed casino doors - it's the same thing. :)

 

Also, agree on the Bahamas - I'd be very happy never to set foot there again.

[KevinsCruising]

Which cruise line and it only mentions one not coming back?

 

I heard HAL and Carnival.

[KevinsCruising]

For the Bermuda sailing, there are three FULL sea days, during which the casinos can be open the whole time. That's probably more time than most Caribbean sailings that stop at 4-5 ports.

 

As others have pointed out, Breakaway is also sailing the Bahamas/Florida route out of NYC next year, so just book that instead. The itineraries are very clearly posted on the NCL site. I hate the Bahamas and would never want to return, but then you get your casino time. To each their own!

 

Didn't realize that. Looking at booking one of the October sailings. Thanks for the info !!

[slotaddict]

I Love Bermuda too. I really do. I think Horseshoe Bay is the most beautiful beach I have ever been to. Not knocking Bermuda itself at all. I just wish the Casino was open at night...lol.....thats all. Not trying to get anyones nerve up here...just stating what I wish...lol

 

I do not really go to many of the shows and I always enjoy hanging out at the Casino after dinner. Thats all. Just something on my own personal wish list.

 

I agree, although I love Bermuda, I find it a sleepy little place with not much going on a night...therefore most are back on the ship fairly early, it would be nice to be able to go to the casino....

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

I heard HAL and Carnival.

 

Carnival pulled out because it could not get the berths during "prime" days and not because of the gambling. The ships which do still sail to Bermuda now have either 2 days before or 2 days after as full sea days. In the past, it would only take 1 full sea day each way, which is how it still is for the Veendam. This gives the ships an extr full day of money making on board.

 

I've been cruising to Bermuda since 1992 and this issue has come up year after year. Bermuda will NOT change until their economy is in dire straits!

[jints07]

Regarding casinos being closed in ports...I thought that if an NCL ship stays overnight in the Bahamas, it is allowed to open the casino. Is this not true? The Gem (and I think also the Jewel) just recently had overnight stays in Nassau due to repairs and/or weather....anyone who was on those ships...was the Casino open?

 

Anyway, weird, some people almost seem annoyed that there is a casino on the boat.

[time2cruise1]

2 cruise lines have already removed Bermuda from its itinerary.

 

SNIP.......

 

My point is just because it has always been done that way, does not mean it shouldn't change. Change is good as we all know because we all love Freestyling. BERMUDA is messing with our free styling LOL.

 

The cruise lines decision had nothing to to with gambling. There are only 2 piers that will handle the larger modern ships. NCL has one tied up for 6 days a week in season. HAL left when their plan to dock in St George failed with the cut being too narrow for there smallest ship. Carnival bailed as they were unable to us there weight to secure desirable in season dockage.

 

There have been several efforts to open gambling on the ships at night. The last bill 2 years ago. It as been defeated every-time. There is a huge anti gambling segment of the Bermudian population. The last bill even had Bermuda sharing in the profits and was abandoned before even bing voted on. I don't ever expect to see it change in my lifetime but could be wrong.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

[time2cruise1]

Regarding casinos being closed in ports...I thought that if an NCL ship stays overnight in the Bahamas, it is allowed to open the casino. Is this not true? The Gem (and I think also the Jewel) just recently had overnight stays in Nassau due to repairs and/or weather....anyone who was on those ships...was the Casino open?

 

Anyway, weird, some people almost seem annoyed that there is a casino on the boat.

 

Casinos are legal in Nassau and NCL ships are registered there. There is no gambling on Bermuda. Not even lottery.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

[jints07]

Casinos are legal in Nassau and NCL ships are registered there. There is no gambling on Bermuda. Not even lottery.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

 

Understood. I was asking the question as someone earlier mentioned that the casinos were always closed in ports. For sailings out of New York, you are generally going to either Bermuda or the Bahamas (for 7 day trips) so the point is, in fact, the casino is available in roughly half the ports sailing from NY on 7 day trips and boats almost never stay over in Port Canaveral.

 

Switching gears, someone else mentioned that perhaps something dramatic would need to occur for Bermuda to change its mind on this....perhaps the current state of their tourism industry is enough? See: http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120315/BUSINESS/703159915/0

 

Obviously the fact that something or some way of thinking has worked in the past has nothing to do with future success. Indeed, failure to adapt is almost always the root cause behind what the press calls "mismanagement". Not suggesting casino gambling is the answer for Bermuda, but the statistics don't lie that gambling has been on a huge rise in terms of things that get recreation dollars. The real point is that it shouldn't be dismissed just because it has never existed in the past.

[phillygirl63]

I love to gamble, but quite honestly can do without it for 2 nights. My priority is seeing as much of Bermuda as possible, so I really would not be spending a lot of time in the casino while we are in port anyway. I just did the Hawaii cruise on Pride of America, and it didn't bother me at all that there was no casino on board. I bought myself a real nice pair of black pearl earrings with the money I would have spent in the casino. I think it was a good tradeoff.

[dread_pirate]

My issue with Bermuda is most passengers are on the ship at night anyway. Bermuda is not loosing any of its tourist money. It is another venue for the passengers to hang out in, mingle and gamble if they like. If Bermuda allowed the casino to be open from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, what would be the harm.

The harm is that these are Bermudian waters and gambling is illegal in Bermuda. It's like saying, "In Holland, kids can drink at 18. When a Dutch ship is docked in NY or FL, how come the kids can't drink?" Simple - drinking age is 21 in NY or FL.

 

When in local waters, cruise lines must obey the local laws. Cruise lines don't get to tell Bermuda or any other jurisdiction what is legal or illegal in their own waters.

 

Bermuda obviously feels that there is harm in gambling. Until they change their minds, you have two choices: live with no gambling in Bermuda ports, or cruise elsewhere. Vote with your feet & dollars.

[emcelh]

I am not a big gambler so I would not know this. If this is true, I am shocked that NCL would dock a ship for 3 days with no casino. The casino is a huge money maker for any cruise line. If this is true, someone at NCL screwed up big time not thinking of this.

 

I cant remember but isnt the casino closed on most port days anyway?

 

I don't think anyone at NCL failed to consider this. It's been this way for years. Maybe Bermuda cruises are more expensive because the have to offset the lost revenue from the casino. In any case, they don't seem to have a problem filling the ships.

[Diamond60]

I don't intend on going to Bermuda (for my own reasons) and respect their right to make their own rules but I did want to address this statement.

 

As someone who enjoys to gamble on land and at sea. No, those overnights may not necessarily be made up during sea days.

 

As stated by someone else, you will probably be back on the ship in the evenings. If you are not a person that enjoys stage shows or the bar scene but enjoys time in the casino as your nightly entertainment, it has nothing to do with "more than made up for". It has to do with thats what you enjoy to do in the evenings.

 

I agree with you che.... a 100%. Because some folks don't gamble, doesn't mean others don't gamble and want to enjoy the casino. It's your vacation. So, if you want to gamble, that's your choice no one else's. For this reason, I'd never cruise to Bermuda unless they change that rule. I'm one who enjoys gambling on land and sea. Not a high roller; but, I do enjoy playing my slots. The last thing I want to do, is sit a port for 2-3 days with a closed casino. I don't think so. That's one reason I'd never cruise the POA. People who enjoy gambling make sure you choose a ship and/or itinerary that have access to the casinos whether it be 2-3 days layover in a port or not.

[emcelh]

I agree with you che.... a 100%. Because some folks don't gamble, doesn't mean others don't gamble and want to enjoy the casino. It's your vacation. So, if you want to gamble, that's your choice no one else's. For this reason, I'd never cruise to Bermuda unless they change that rule. I'm one who enjoys gambling on land and sea. Not a high roller; but, I do enjoy playing my slots. The last thing I want to do, is sit a port for 2-3 days with a closed casino. I don't think so. That's one reason I'd never cruise the POA. People who enjoy gambling make sure you choose a ship and/or itinerary that have access to the casinos whether it be 2-3 days layover in a port or not.

 

I enjoy gambling as much as the next person. I'm a Diamond Player with Harrah's and spend alot of time in casinos. However, I've been on a few Bermuda cruises and didn't miss not having the casino open. For me, Bermuda was worth it so I wouldn't discourage any one from booking a Bermuda cruise as long as they knew what to expect.