The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority will study the possibility of Atlantic City becoming a stop for small cruise lines.
The idea was touted by city Mayor Donald Guardian and CRDA will have a consultant investigate the costs and logistics of having smaller cruise ships stop in the resort.
John Palmieri, CRDA executive director, said the study by engineering firm is a preliminary step to see if the idea is worth pursuing and whether there is any interest by the cruise industry in Atlantic City.
“We want to look at the hard realities of doing this,” Palmieri told the local Press of Atlantic City.
Cruise industry analysts, however, said the city may be wasting its time as there is little interest in the resort as a cruise stop and is too close to other cruise departure ports on the East Coast, such as New York City and Bayonne.
Logistically, there are also very few “small cruise ships” that could dock at Atlantic City as most cruise ships are quite large and carry thousands of passengers. Atlantic City is not a deep-water port.
Still, the idea has floated around Atlantic City for years and officials believe some cruise ships could be accommodated.
“It’s not a new subject, but we haven’t really investigated the engineering issues,” Palmieri told the paper.
