Bail out cruise ships?

The Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper is reporting that Broward County officials may soon have to decide if they should bail out the gambling ships that sail out of Port Everglades because of declining business. Port administrators are warning the three daily cruise lines will fall more than $700,000 short of what they owe in dockage charges this year because of increased competition from places such as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.



Port Everglades is considering reducing the charges rather than enforce the contracted fees that they now consider unrealistic. The problem for the port is expected to worsen if voters approve slot machines onshore. The port has sent a memo to the County Commissioner's staff in which it estimates dock fees could decline by an additional $2.5 million a year if slot machines are installed at the county's pari-mutuel tracks (including Pompano Park).



Commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to set a March 8 referendum for slots at the tracks and whether to allow the port to renegotiate the contracts with SeaEscape, Discovery and St. Tropez cruises. The county has been crafting a deal with the racetracks and jai-alai frontons to pay local government up to $30 million a year in exchange for allowing slots.

« Back