Casino lures Veendam back

Holland America’s decision to send the Veendam back to Bermuda next year was linked to new laws allowing liners to open their casinos in port.

This according to Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell, who welcomed the news that the ship will complete six trips to Hamilton in 2015 from Boston.

The Veendam was a regular caller to the capital between 2010 and 2012 and provided a much-needed boost to Hamilton businesses.

But the cruise giant pulled the plug on its New York itinerary in 2013 amid reports that passengers were frustrated they were not allowed to use the casinos while in port.

The Cruise Ships (Casino) Act 2013 was brought in last October to allow liners to open their casinos for restricted hours for a fee.

It appears that the Veendam will avoid any charge as she carries just 1,300 passengers — under the 2,000 legislative threshold.

Minister Crockwell said: “We are excited that the Veendam will be returning to Bermuda.

“We have been in discussions with them since the Cruise Ships (Casinos) Act 2013 passed and I understand this impacted their decision.”

The new cruise ship casino rules are expected to be in place for the start of the 2014 cruise season.

But it is not the first time a legislative attempt has been made to allow cruise ships to open their
casinos in port.

On July 10, 2009, then-Premier Ewart Brown tried to pass the Cruise Ship Gambling Bill in the House of Assembly to attract and keep cruise lines in Bermuda.

But UBP MPs and the PLP backbench defeated the bill by voting against it.

The vote was 18 to 11, with seven PLP members voting against the legislation that would have allowed cruise ships to open their casinos in port from 10pm to 5am.

Economy

The new legislation allows liners to open their casinos to passengers between 9pm and 5am if they buy a licence.

The move could also inject around $400,000 into the island’s economy this year.

Chamber of Commerce president, Ronnie Viera, said: ‘It is great news to hear that the Veendam will be returning to Bermuda in 2015.

“The Chamber knows all too well that the loss of a dedicated cruise ship for Hamilton and St George’s has been detrimental to our members in both towns.

“The ability for passengers to disembark from the ship and be more or less in the centre of each town makes a big difference to the activity in the town, at all hours of the day and evening.

“Retail stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars all benefit from this easy access.

“While we appreciate the business we get from the ships that tie up at Dockyard, there is still a real challenge in getting adequate transportation at all times during the day and night between the ships, Hamilton and St George’s. 

“We are continuing to work with Government in this regard.”

In the 2010 and 2012 run, the Veendam was initially supposed to call in at St George’s but the liner was deemed too big to transit Town Cut. 

In 2012, the Veendam made a total of 19 trips to the island from New York. n