Launch of casino day cruises delayed again

It’s been no breeze launching new day- cruise casino trips out of the Port of Palm Beach.

Following two missed preliminary deadlines, the Island Breeze II isn’t expected to set sail before the end of October at the earliest, and perhaps even later in the year, according to port officials.

The cruise- to- nowhere tripswere to cast off inAugust, then were pushed back to mid- to- late September. Now, Island Breeze International, the New Jersey- based operator, is eyeing a soft launch in late fall, although no official date has been announced.

Island Breeze executives said in a statement Wednesday they haven’t finished refurbishing the former Black Diamond ship. The 160- foot, 600- passenger ship will feature a full casino with 220 slot machines, 21 table games, a 14- table poker room and sports betting. The ship will include a restaurant, sports bar and lounge.

While the delay may frustrate some gamblers eager for daily outings to return to the Riviera Beach port, the company doesn’t want to begin play too soon.

“Management believes that the customer experience is extremely important, and thus wants to ensure that when renovations are completed that all aspects of the ship meet and exceed guest expectations,” the company said.

The port’s previous daycasino operation launched in November 2012, but lasted only a few months. Inadequate marketing, weather issues and a staff reorganization were cited as reasons for the failure. The troubled service was supposed to fill a void created in early2010whenthe Palm Beach Princess ceased similar cruises.

The company is seeking to fill a number of positions, including marketing director, casino shift manager, and player development representative. A list of openings can be found at ibreezecasino. com/ career.