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Sun Cruz shutting down operations in Pinellas County
Sun Cruz has closed down its operations in Treasure Island.
TREASURE ISLAND (Bay News 9) -- The Bay area's largest casino cruise line is shutting down in Pinellas County.
Sun Cruz employees said they were only given 24-hours notice.
"It kind of came as a shock," black jack dealer Chris Oscar said. "One day we have a job the next we hear they're shutting down."
Twice a day the Sun Cruz casino ship sailed from a Treasure Island port, but now the cruise line is now going to try its luck somewhere else.
"I, I guess I'm still in a state of numb shock I guess, prep cook John Fielding said. "I mean this really came out of the blue for me. It was like getting whacked in the face by an 18-wheeler."
A Sun Cruz surveillance manager refused to do an on camera interview about the short notice and kicked a Bay News 9 photographer off the dock.
The company that owns Sun Cruz released a written statement that said the reason they're closing shop is due to: "Increased competition from land-based casinos and the downturn in area tourism."
Although employees said they wish they'd more notice, they said Sun Cruz gave them a good severance package.
"I think they've treated everybody real nicely," Sun Cruz bus driver Gene Noble said. "They've given us two weeks severance pay, our vacation pay, our final checks, they're transferring people to other ports where there's jobs available."
"Pretty nice severance pay in my last weeks check about a $1,000," Fielding said. "I got some money in my bank. So, I should be all right for a month or two I guess."
Sun Cruz said ships at their other Florida ports are doing well. And they offered jobs on those casino cruises to all of the employees in Treasure Island that have been laid off.
Sun Cruz operates ships out of Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Key Largo and Myrtle Beach.
They said player's club guests could access their comps and credits at their flagship in Port Canaveral.
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