Disclaimer: This article was published for April Fool’s Day.
Galveston might be the number one base for cruise ships in Southwest, Texas, but a riverboat gambling company by the name of Bayou Breeze Cruises hopes to offer a new cruise experience closer to Houston with a fleet of luxury riverboat casino rides based on Houston’s own Buffalo Bayou.
Originally founded in Mississippi, Buffalo Breeze Cruises is a luxury gaming boat company that brings the nostalgia of 19th-century steamboats to the modern age with luxury amenities, state-of-the-art slot gambling machines, and all new features.
As the city’s first-ever floating casino network, the Gulf Coast gambling cruise will offers Houstonians a chance to get lucky with classic casino options ranging from roulette, to blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, and more.
As far as legality is concerned, Buffalo Breeze Cruise officials are confident that its private-membership program – priced at just $5 – would enable the company to operate well within the confines of the law.
Furthermore, the company claims that the Buffalo Bayou is federally navigable per the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and therefore entitle the company to legally operate on the waterways.
In addition to live entertainment, including era-appropriate music performances – think fiddlers and banjos – the network will also feature a full kitchen, with a menu specifically curated to Houston tastes. Here, patrons can enjoy bottomless crawfish, themed margaritas, as well as barbecue, Tex-Mex, and more.
As far as its route, the Houston riverboat casino fleet would launch at Allen’s Landing and embark on a two-hour loop along Buffalo Bayou. Throughout which, the cruise will offer unique views of numerous city destinations including Eleanor Tinsley Park, Sabine Street Bridge, and the Downtown Houston skyline.
Rides start at $25. Passengers must be 21+. A $5 fee is required to patronize the cruise’s casino facilities.
If all goes as planned and the city doesn’t shut them down, Bayou Breeze Cruises hope to launch their first fleet in Houston by summer 2025.
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