Bahamas-bound but afraid to fly?<\/P><\/p>\n
Relax.<\/P><\/p>\n
The Port of Palm Beach expects to launch daily passenger ferryboat service in May to Freeport Harbour, Grand Bahama Island.<\/P><\/p>\n
The cost: $100 to $140 for a round-trip ticket, depending on the day. That’s about half what it costs to fly from West Palm Beach.<\/P><\/p>\n
But the trip by boat is much longer — about three hours each way.<\/P><\/p>\n
A new Miami company called Party Cruise Line plans to start service aboard the 123-foot, 367-passenger Cloud X, company general manager Antoine Gurrey said. The company is working out details of the service.<\/P><\/p>\n
Customers already are waiting, port marketing director Jarra Gould said.<\/P><\/p>\n
“We get calls daily from people who want to take a boat over to the Bahamas,” she said.<\/P><\/p>\n
The ferry also will offer touch-screen gambling, food, and a duty-free shop, Gould said.<\/P><\/p>\n
Announcement of the ferry deal came four days after the Texas Treasure gambling ship’s last cruise. The company has moved its operations back to Texas, citing financial problems.<\/P><\/p>\n
With the Treasure gone, the Cloud X will help make up lost revenue. The Treasure was expected to bring in $1.2 million a year.<\/P><\/p>\n
Gould said the ferry service should pay the port at least $500,000 a year. The port is giving the ferry a “start-up” discount on passenger and docking fees to help it get established.<\/P><\/p>\n
The ferry will employ 54 people on board in 18 different jobs, according to company documents.<\/P><\/p>\n
Another ferry venture was tried at the port about three years ago and left after just a year. Gould said the previous ferry was foreign-made, making it more difficult and costly to get parts. Gurrey said the Cloud X is newly built and American-made. He said Palm Beach County has strong potential and that he also will try to draw travelers from Orlando.<\/P><\/p>\n
“We think it’s a location which has a lot to offer,” Gurrey said.<\/p>\n
By Thomas R. Collins, Palm Beach Post
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