Cruise ships will be allowed to open late-night casinos in port in Bermuda, according to The Royal Gazette. Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown announced the decision in the House of Assembly as one of a number of alterations to cruise ship legislation, the newspaper reported.
He said that ships would now be allowed to open bars and signature shops and "provide full entertainment inclusive of the opening of casinos after 10 p.m. while in port."
Brown said that, in return, the cruise lines would be required to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to on-Island activities, adding that Norwegian Cruise Line has committed to pay $150,000 a year to the Bermuda Music Festival and provide entertainers for Harbour Nights in Hamilton, produce an on-Island dining brochure distributed to all its cruise guests and donate a total of $275,000 to the Bermuda Heritage Museum and St. George's Foundation, according to the Gazette. It added that negotiations are underway with Royal Caribbean.
Brown reportedly said a review of cruise industry trends concluded that Bermuda was losing its competitive edge attracting cruise ships, especially "the smaller premium ships capable of docking in Hamilton and St. George's." This he blamed partly on increased competition from other summer destinations such as the Mediterranean and Baltic and high operating costs in Bermuda.
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