The Texas Treasure, one of two day-cruise gambling ships at the Port of Palm Beach, will set sail Feb. 16 for its last cruise - citing lack of business and its competitor's edge for the departure. There simply wasn't enough business, says Texas Treasure President Stephanie Hodges. She complained that competitor Palm Beach Princess' favorable lease gave it too much of an edge. The Princess, unlike the Treasure, has a long-term lease, paying the Florida port $1.30 less in fees per passenger than the Treasure, and also has the perk of a passenger shuttle service paid by the port. Port Director Richard Wainio had been warning port commissioners that the Treasure could go at any time because of its financial shape and it had to work around the schedules of small, luxury cruise ships using the terminal. The port had expected $850,000 in revenue from the Treasure for the rest of the fiscal year, but hopes to make up all but $400,000 to $500,000, says Wainio. The operator of the Princess has had financial problems of its own. In January, it filed for bankruptcy protection while it tries to refinance the ship. Both port officials and Princess President Fran Murray say they are confident the operation would survive.
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