Atlantis granted liquor licence

Passengers on their way back from an evening dive on the Atlantis submarine will be able to celebrate with a cocktail. 

Vassel G Johnson was granted retail liquor and music and dancing licences at the annual session of the Liquor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman. He had told the board the company was expanding its dive offerings into the evenings and that guests expected to have a cocktail around the 6 to 8pm time frame. As it was a 10 to 15 minute ride back to the dock, this would be the time drinks would be offered. 

One area of expansion, he said, was charter pickups from places including the Westin and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, relatively, long journeys. 

Mr. Johnson reiterated it was not a significant part of business strategy, but in the event someone wanted to charter on a one-time basis the company would like to be able to provide the expected service.  

“We will not offer booze cruises; we are in the business of submarine tours,” he said. 

He said a competitive advantage Atlantis had was the ability to do night dives after Stingray City had shut down.  

The ability to market a sunset and dive tour would enhance the experience for tourists, he said. 

Oceanfront luau 

Private parties may now take place on the new helicopter pad next to The Lobster Pot after Marcus Cumber was granted permission to vary a retail liquor licence for liquor sales to complement catering services only. He also successfully transferred the location of retail liquor licence and music and dancing licences from Regatta Cafe to the Lobster Pot. 

Mr. Cumber told the board the land presented an opportunity as it would not be used much in the evening. The Lobster Pot, with room for 75 people, was relatively small and had to turn down large parties. 

But as the landing pad was on the ocean it was possible to serve food and offer another experience. He said it would be restricted to private functions, not walk-in traffic and it would enable special events such as a Caribbean luau. 

All requests for extensions to licensed hours were deferred by the board in view of the increase in violence in Cayman.