http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=245629
What a horrific experience this was and one neither of us will ever embark on again............I can assure you!
This is the new LARGE casino vessel off the shores of ST. PETERSBERG
After calling to make reservations, we are instructed to be dockside at 6:30 at the latest to board the SHUTTLE BOAT that will take us to the majestic OCEAN JEWEL.
We leave Tampa at 5:30 and fight rush hour traffic for one hour and arrive at our destination at 6:35 and proceed to pay $5 to park.
We then have to catch a tram that takes us about a mile to the port where we will then have to catch the SHUTTLE BOAT to the casino.
After signing in, we pass through the security check and arrive in a room featuring free rice crispy bars and soda.........YIPPEE!
We then learn we will be here for ONE HOUR waiting for the SHUTTLE BOAT!
They entertain us with an episode of MASH.........and as mentioned, show their hospitality by providing us with free rice crispy bars and soda.
Finally the SHUTTLE comes and all approximently 30 of us boad the vessel.
As we head out of the port, I ask an employee how long it will take........thinking no more than 30 miniutes. I thought he was joking when he said a little over an hour!
This only gets worse..............we head out for a hour+ journey that proceeds to take us into the darkness of the night heading for the SKYLINE bridge and under it.
We are moving at a good clip, at least 55 mph and probably more..............HAWKEYE171 and myself go outside to the bow and it feels like we are on a hydoplane boat. We finally FIGHT ourselves back into the cabin as waves are crashing overboard into our bodies. After about 15 miniutes back inside, I decide to check outside again and move up the very narrow outside of the boat.
This is when I thought my life was over...........as i STRUGGLED FIERCELY to get back inside as waves of water pummeled my body and I CRAWL the last 8 feet back into the cabin!
After 65 miniutes of this, we arrive at the majestic OCEAN JEWELL to join the other I would say 100 patrons. LOL!
Now after boarding, we wait in line another 5-10 miniutes to get wristbands to let us know what shuttle we take back...........which is in only about 90 miniutes. LOL! (thank GOD as it turns out).
The boat was actually quite nice...........five floors with slots and casino table games.................and a POKERROOM and SPORTSBOOK!
They offered $2 BUD cans, which was pretty sweet.
The Card room was offering up a LIVE NO LIMIT game..............$40-300 buy in...........which was cool but decided to pass on as I was still soaked with sea water and starving.
Had a $6 dried up pork sandwich at the deli............not recommended.
We proceeded upstairs to the sportsbook and find a little mini-version Las Vegas sportsbook...............similar to the LEROYS types in Vegas.
Low and behold, there working as manager, is a former Las Vegas sportsbook manager............the one and only Perry Swanson from good old TOMS SUNSET CASINO fame in Vegas whom I am sure many of you are aware of.
Picked up a few PREMIUM DON BEST schedules(the highlight of the trip) and by this time it was time to take the dreaded shuttle back to shore...........this time completely full with all the casino employees on board.
Sweated the ROCKETS game out on my sportspager as HAWKEYE171 and myself needed them +7 as a wager...........was a winner and that helped make the ride back a little more bearable ..........as I remained inside this time for the entire journey back.
Back into port.........back on the LAND shuttle that took us back to our car and the 40 miniute drive back home.
Final conclusion..........................
The casino had no beatable slots and terrible less than 100% payback video poker.
The pokerroom, as mentioned, offered up a very nice game.
The sportsbook was nice to see, but who needs it when you have offshore online gambling.
Overall, and I am sure I can speak for HAWKEYE171 in saying this...............
Would NOT recommend this adventure to anybody.
Go fishing, see a movie, or stay home...........and enjoy life much more.
Quite frankly, this was a living NIGHTMARE.
What a horrific experience this was and one neither of us will ever embark on again............I can assure you!
This is the new LARGE casino vessel off the shores of ST. PETERSBERG
After calling to make reservations, we are instructed to be dockside at 6:30 at the latest to board the SHUTTLE BOAT that will take us to the majestic OCEAN JEWEL.
We leave Tampa at 5:30 and fight rush hour traffic for one hour and arrive at our destination at 6:35 and proceed to pay $5 to park.
We then have to catch a tram that takes us about a mile to the port where we will then have to catch the SHUTTLE BOAT to the casino.
After signing in, we pass through the security check and arrive in a room featuring free rice crispy bars and soda.........YIPPEE!
We then learn we will be here for ONE HOUR waiting for the SHUTTLE BOAT!
They entertain us with an episode of MASH.........and as mentioned, show their hospitality by providing us with free rice crispy bars and soda.
Finally the SHUTTLE comes and all approximently 30 of us boad the vessel.
As we head out of the port, I ask an employee how long it will take........thinking no more than 30 miniutes. I thought he was joking when he said a little over an hour!
This only gets worse..............we head out for a hour+ journey that proceeds to take us into the darkness of the night heading for the SKYLINE bridge and under it.
We are moving at a good clip, at least 55 mph and probably more..............HAWKEYE171 and myself go outside to the bow and it feels like we are on a hydoplane boat. We finally FIGHT ourselves back into the cabin as waves are crashing overboard into our bodies. After about 15 miniutes back inside, I decide to check outside again and move up the very narrow outside of the boat.
This is when I thought my life was over...........as i STRUGGLED FIERCELY to get back inside as waves of water pummeled my body and I CRAWL the last 8 feet back into the cabin!
After 65 miniutes of this, we arrive at the majestic OCEAN JEWELL to join the other I would say 100 patrons. LOL!
Now after boarding, we wait in line another 5-10 miniutes to get wristbands to let us know what shuttle we take back...........which is in only about 90 miniutes. LOL! (thank GOD as it turns out).
The boat was actually quite nice...........five floors with slots and casino table games.................and a POKERROOM and SPORTSBOOK!
They offered $2 BUD cans, which was pretty sweet.
The Card room was offering up a LIVE NO LIMIT game..............$40-300 buy in...........which was cool but decided to pass on as I was still soaked with sea water and starving.
Had a $6 dried up pork sandwich at the deli............not recommended.
We proceeded upstairs to the sportsbook and find a little mini-version Las Vegas sportsbook...............similar to the LEROYS types in Vegas.
Low and behold, there working as manager, is a former Las Vegas sportsbook manager............the one and only Perry Swanson from good old TOMS SUNSET CASINO fame in Vegas whom I am sure many of you are aware of.
Picked up a few PREMIUM DON BEST schedules(the highlight of the trip) and by this time it was time to take the dreaded shuttle back to shore...........this time completely full with all the casino employees on board.
Sweated the ROCKETS game out on my sportspager as HAWKEYE171 and myself needed them +7 as a wager...........was a winner and that helped make the ride back a little more bearable ..........as I remained inside this time for the entire journey back.
Back into port.........back on the LAND shuttle that took us back to our car and the 40 miniute drive back home.
Final conclusion..........................
The casino had no beatable slots and terrible less than 100% payback video poker.
The pokerroom, as mentioned, offered up a very nice game.
The sportsbook was nice to see, but who needs it when you have offshore online gambling.
Overall, and I am sure I can speak for HAWKEYE171 in saying this...............
Would NOT recommend this adventure to anybody.
Go fishing, see a movie, or stay home...........and enjoy life much more.
Quite frankly, this was a living NIGHTMARE.
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