Victory Casino Cruises Pauses Sailings From Port Canaveral

Victory I. Via: Victory Casino Cruises website Victory Casino Cruises has suspended operations at Port Canaveral indefinitely while its lone ship, Victory I, remains in an extended dry dock, the company told customers this week. In a message signed by Captain Tim, the company said the vessel is undergoing maintenance and that "additional necessary work has extended our time out of service." The statement did not say what work is being done, where the ship is being serviced or when it is expected to return. "While we had hoped to resume sailing sooner, additional necessary work has extended our time out of service," the message read. Refunds Promised, Reservations Closed The company said any paid reservations or deposits will be refunded. It gave no timeline for when those refunds will be issued. Victory is also no longer taking online or phone reservations, and its casino hosts and reservations desk will be unavailable until the ship returns to service. The company said it will post a return-to-sailing date on its website and Facebook page once one is confirmed. "We understand how disappointing this may be, and we sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding and continued support during this unexpected delay," the statement said. A Port Canaveral Fixture The gaming ship has been a regular presence at the port for years. It operates out of Terminal B-2 at 180 Christopher Columbus Drive, and under its normal schedule it sails twice a day, Tuesday through Sunday. Gambling aboard begins only once the ship reaches international waters, roughly 45 minutes after departure. The company has promoted itself as the nation's largest gaming cruise ship operator and says it has carried more than 3 million passengers from its Port Canaveral terminal over 16 years. A promotional article touting those figures appeared on the Space Coast Daily site as recently as September 24th. In its message to customers, the company thanked passengers for "the many calls, messages, and words of encouragement" it has received during the shutdown. "We miss having you aboard, and we look forward to welcoming you back very soon," the statement said.