MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC -- Service members and spouses do not need to go to Las Vegas to get the casino experience. They can find it right here in the Lowcountry aboard a luxurious cruise.
Headquarters and Head-quarters Squadron will host a Swamp Fox Riverboat Cruise for the service members, families and friends of the squadron along the Savannah River, April 10.
The cruise will board at 6 p.m., depart at 7 p.m., and will return at 9 p.m. Transportation for the cruise will be available via a military bus. Buses will depart from the Lasseter Theater at 5 and 5:30 p.m. They will leave Savannah at 9:30 and 10 p.m., and arrive in Beaufort at 10:15 and 10:45 p.m.
“Located in the heart of downtown Savannah, participants will have the opportunity to experience a cruise along the Savannah River,” said Lynette Thompson, the H&HS family readiness officer. “They will have the chance to enjoy hot hors d'ouerves, music, dancing, cocktails, and an evening of casino fun.”
Sponsors of the cruise will bring authentic poker tables, dealers and all the necessary items to make this event one to remember, according to Thompson.
“Our company will be providing all of the casino equipment and other kinds of entertainment such as craps, roulette, poker, blackjack and the company of Vegas-style showgirls for everyone’s entertainment,” said Kristin Foley, the event planner with O’Brien Productions. “We bring the tables, chips, cards, dice and the fake casino money for the evening.”
Each guest will receive $25,000 in fake money and chips to play real casino games dealt by professional dealers, Foley said. At the end of the night, participants will turn in their chips for raffle tickets. Before docking, for every $10,000 in chips they have, participants will receive one raffle ticket for a drawing in order to win a prize.
According to Thompson, hotel accommodations are available for those who wish to spend the night in Savannah. Childcare will also be available free of charge for all Marines attending. The Child Development Center will begin receiving children at 4:30 p.m., that night. Parents using the CDC will need to pick their children up no later than 11:30 p.m. Advanced registration will be required.
Tickets for the cruise will continue to sell at the discounted rate of $47 per couple until April 1, Thompson stated. Any tickets purchased after will be $47 dollars per person. Tickets sales for Department of Defense civilians assigned to H&HS or the Air Station will begin April 1 until 7. Discounted rate do not include DoD civilians. All sales will be made to Thompson at her office in the H&HS headquarters building, unless otherwise advertised.
“Everybody loves the cruises (O’Brien Productions) is associated with,” Foley said. “They really enjoy them, and the games are really great icebreakers. The entire night is a kind of bonding session with the spouses.”
Any questions or comments regarding the event can be directed to Thompson at 228-7663.