An urban explorer has set foot aboard a “creepy” passenger ship that appears to have been abandoned by gamblers who simply “disappeared” from its once bustling casino.
Ben Stevens, known for photographing haunting abandoned areas around the world, recently witnessed rows of slot machines and a roulette table filled with chips on the now-defunct ship docked in Florida.
The Blue Horizon casino cruise ship, which set sail from the Port of Palm Beach, suspended operations less than a year after its launch in 2015.
When Stevens ventured inside, the 30-year-old found elements of the casino in pristine condition and says the casino boat had become “frozen in time.”
Ben Stevens, known for photographing haunting abandoned areas around the world, recently visited a 600-passenger cruise ship docked in Florida.
He was able to capture images of intact slot machines, playing cards and a room filled with dozens of casino chips.
At one point, Stevens also found $50 on board that was covered in mold.
Recalling his visit, he said: What’s going on?: ‘It was literally like a ghost ship. It was like people were playing one day and then everyone disappeared.
After spending a few hours on the ship, the explorer commented that he found the ship “creepy and interesting.”
After finishing his tour, Stevens recalled: ‘It was both creepy and interesting because everything was left there, from the money and poker chips to all the furniture.
As Stevens began venturing inside, the 30-year-old found items from before the outbreak that had been left in pristine condition and concluded the ship had become “frozen in time.”
He was able to capture images of near-perfect-looking slot machines, playing cards, and a room filled with dozens of casino chips.
The Blue Horizon casino cruise ship, which launched in 2015 and sailed from the Port of Palm Beach, has dissolved operations after failing to compete with state gambling rules.
‘There was a room with a safe and all the tokens that could have been exchanged for cash.
‘I was there for a few hours, but it was really hot inside and the mold smelled crazy.’
After sailing for just five months, the Blue Horizon was forced to remain docked after Florida’s land-based casinos were legally allowed to offer craps and roulette to gamblers.
Before this, only the day cruise to “nowhere” could offer high rollers these games, as well as slot machines for those eager to make a quick buck.
Robert Weisberg, CEO of PB Gaming, the company that operated the ship, said that with the implementation of the new laws, the ship had been stripped of its uniqueness and no longer held any appeal.
“There was a room with a safe and all the tokens that would have been redeemed for cash,” he said.
After spending a few hours on the ship, the explorer commented that he found the vessel “creepy and interesting.”
Former casino boat captain Mark Wilkerson explained at the time: “It’s an era that’s coming to an end, I understand that. It’s hard to compete with land-based boats.”
“When you’re stuck (on a ship) for four hours, it’s hard to do anything but sit there and wait for it to come back to the dock.”
But the new gambling laws were not the first problem the ship faced.
Before PB Gaming purchased the ship, its two previous operators had gone bankrupt for unknown reasons.
During the first three months of its launch, the company also ended up spending around $9 million on the vessel to repair its engine and other parts due to damage.
At one point, Stevens also found $50 on board that was covered in mold.
