New casino boat docks in Horry County

A new casino boat arrived in Little River on Friday, bringing a second boat to the area for the first time since December.

The boat will temporarily keep the SunCruz name and will run out of the same office as the previous operator, said owner Bob Weisberg, of Highland Park Real Estate Development.

"We want to have the boat operational by May 1, but it will probably be the middle to the end of the first week in May before it has the first passengers," said Tom Herron, a public relations consultant for the company.

The office is likely to open next week.

The boat was supposed to start sailing this week but a few delays getting equipment and Coast Guard approval in Florida held up the journey to Little River and the opening, Herron said.

The previous SunCruz ship left abruptly in December, shortly before the company that operated it filed for bankruptcy. The new ship will operate under the SunCruz name for a limited time, in an agreement arranged through the bankruptcy court.

"We have a lot of brand ID among cruisers so we at least get to start out and call it SunCruz," Herron said.

The boat, the Aquasino, will compete with a boat operated by Big M Casino that docks within a short walking distance at 4491 Waterfront Ave. The Aquasino can hold 600 passengers. It will have new slot machines and a dining room nearly triple the size of the previous SunCruz boat.

Locals who saw the boat arrive agreed that it is larger than the previous SunCruz vessel.

"It's really big," said Bobbi Freed, a bartender at Key West Crazy Grill & Tavern.

Freed said the Aquasino appeared nicer than the previous SunCruz boat and with a better paint job.

The casino will bring more business to the restaurant, she said, and several boat employees had already visited Key West just after the Aquasino was piloted into the dock.

The restaurant drew more employees than customers from the previous SunCruz boat, Freed said.

"The more the merrier down on the waterfront," she said.

The boat will have two trips daily, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., which will cost $10, with additional costs for food and drinks.

Tony Digennaro, owner of Rum Runnerz bar and grill, said he hopes that casino customers will come to his restaurant before or after their trip on the boat.

The previous boat didn't bring him many customers, but the new boat is larger, he said.

Although the parking he will share with the casino is "very limited," he said he is waiting to see if it is a problem.

Most of the staff for the casino boat - more than 200 workers - have already been hired.

"All the employees are absolutely jacked up," Herron said. "Of course it's taken a couple weeks longer [but] the new ownership is absolutely thrilled to be here."

Now that the new ship has arrived, the Coast Guard will go through it and make sure everything is in order, he said.

There are some additional changes that may be made and some additional wiring to be done.

The staff will have to be trained in first-aid and will take several test cruises to make sure everything is working properly.

People who want to make reservations or have questions can call 280-2933.