Is Cruising on the Decline ?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by savoir

Countries with low cruising fees usually have high sales taxes so they get you either way. At least Australia has no annual property or use tax on boats.

Well there is the yearly state registration fee which is just another name for a tax.

I am not aware of any state in Oz that does not charge this fee (except NT).

[Vic de Beer]

Brings us back to the question.... Is cruising on a decline?

[zeehag]

us citizens also need a visa in mexico. always have. max time is 180 days. i never bought a house i could not afford, where from this big mayhem began, allegedly. is not fault of me--i didnt want the banks bailed out to the detriment f the a country or
b world. we have a jerk as presidunce-- so i have to apologize to the rest of the world for the politix i dont hold?? get real. how many people in this nation do you think really like the politix here lately???? i have only found 3 that do. i havent liked the obvious trend since it started many years ago. enjoy your cruising and be nice to folks even if ye dont like their ways--isnt their ideas that yu are bashing--is the admin of a nation. is NOT individually agreed with. perhaps this adverse politix could be a REASON to cruise!! ye think???!!

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Vic de Beer

Brings us back to the question.... Is cruising on a decline?

In the Caribbean - Yes! Folks with money are pulling back conserving what they have until things turn positive again.

[Surrymark]

What does cruising mean in this group? Does it mean significant voyages between ports? Two, or five, or ten nights out of your home port? Day sailing in a "cruising boat," maybe with an overnight?

[bill good]

Weather has been on the nose for most of this year here!!! (Brisbane) & just driven thru the country & it has been extreme. In Hobart now & it is still not cruising weather!!
Regards

[frank_f]

Yea Zee! Absolutely correct.

I think we would all like to be hanging with Jimmy Buffet but the reality is we need these admins whether we want them or not.

They are the people that look after the mother of a child or two with no (or limited) means of support, they look after the kid living in a park because living under a tree is better than living at home, etc. The irony is that these admins are exactly the cause for the question "Is Cruising on the Decline?"

It takes money to do these things. Are you going to go after the corporations? Don't be silly, corporations (for all their evilness) provide jobs that stimulate the micro-economies around the country. Tax (or negotiate) the crap out of them and they'll simply pick up their toys and move to some place less hostile. Has anyone lost a job when their employer moved somewhere else? Remember, these people are responsible to their shareholders, not to their employees.This is a topic for a different time.

Anyhow, if you take them out, who's left? The rich? The average Joe? Good luck if you want to see a second term. So who do you go after? The recreationalists (is that even a word?). They have disposable income. It's not just us, it's hunters, fisherman, snowmobilers and whatever else. We're small groups with virtually no government say ( OK, hunters and the NRA are a little different but they still get shafted). We're easy to push around and especially if we've just sailed in from nowhere and have next to no supplies. A captive audience if you would.

If you don't want to pay what the Bahama's are asking for coming to their country, bypass it. Go to South America instead (or Cuba if you're Canadian). How long do you think they will keep their prices if no one is paying them? About the time South Am catches on, the rest of the Carib will have moderated.

Just a thought (and probably wrong).

[John A]

Originally Posted by Surrymark

What does cruising mean in this group? Does it mean significant voyages between ports? Two, or five, or ten nights out of your home port? Day sailing in a "cruising boat," maybe with an overnight?

Ir depends.

To me cruising is to sell the farm, live on the boat, and leave your home country for a min. of 6 years.

Anything less is just a vacation, a daysail, or an overnighter..

[meyermm]

Firstly everything I have read about the Caribbean is that it is reasonably poor so I find it a bit rich that the biggest user US citizens complaining about the cost. But then again reading some of the garbage on this site the last day or two why would I be surprised?
Some of what has been written has really annoyed me and I gather some others as well but just to add a little more. The $300+ notice the plus sign so lets say $400 what do you get for the money. Well have a look at a chart of the Pacific between Fiji and Australia it is a large bit of ocean with a number of small island nations. Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu etc. When your boat starts to sink, your wooden masts break in a storm and you end up seriously injured or at least needing help who do you think will be providing the help. Who's rescue service, Navy Air Force etc wiil be sent to do the job. As well as spend extra time and money since you also refused to fit an EPIRB. Which country will provide the specialised medical required oh yes and not at US medical rates. Most of the countries I mentioned might be able to round up a few canoes and someone trained in first aid probably by Australia or New Zealand and they are good paddlers not sure about their coordinated location techniques. New Zealand would also be more involved if you were in the more Southern areas.
So while your screaming in agony waiting for the canoes to arrive you will get the huge satisfaction of knowing that you did not pay those terrible Australians the $$s.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by meyermm

....So while your screaming in agony waiting for the canoes to arrive you will get the huge satisfaction of knowing that you did not pay those terrible Australians the $$s.

You have no idea how difficult it is to debate on issues versus making a personal comment on that appears to be a very narrow minded and parochial point of view.

BTW, it helps to take a breath once in a while and use better sentence and paragraph structure, as it certainly appears to be a run-on thought the way it is presented here. I know Australian schools teach a much better use of the English language then is sometimes demonstrated on the internet.

If I get it correct, you seem to say, "Hey, if you want to enjoy the charms of Australia, please come, but don't complain about paying lots of money. We give great value, so quit complaining."

Let's look at this just a bit differently.

Very few economists will argue that governments are the best way to create wealth. Most economists will state that any money that is utilized by government through fees and taxes is money that can not be used within an economy, and the multiplier effect that money would have in the private sector.

Not only are the high fees a disincentive to cruisers even thinking of coming to Australia, those that choose to come anyways, will have less money to spend once they arrive on shore.

Less money to choose for restaurants, bars, stores, tours, rental vehicles etc. etc.

It would appear that either you don't care about the disincentives and the lack of multipliers to the economy that these high fees cause, or you take the attitude that, hey, let's get those cruisers for all we can, after all, their rich.

Even if they are rich, I think that those cruisers can make their decisions and take their money and spend it where they are made to feel welcomed, not where they are made to feel that they are a cash cow.

It was nice to see that there were other Aussie's on here who get it, and would hope they can find ways to welcome, rather then restrict tourism.

[meyermm]

I don't think anyone thinks that exorbitant fees are an incentive but there will always be those that complain no matter what is charged. My 60 years on this earth has taught me that they are usually the ones who will need to be rescued etc.
They are all very gung ho about being independent up till the proverbial hits the fan.
The $800 US visa required had nothing to do with cruising or cruisers, no return ticket no entry without visa simple. What I did not mention was you also have to book a day for your interview, go through stringent security check in any hand luggage etc. There would have been at least 20 to 30 there on the day some having done it before which included a girl from Tasmania who had to fly up for the day. When this Visa which I paid to extend for five years expires I will have the pleasure of doing it all over again.
Finally Bums bay on the Gold Coast is full of cruising boats and also near the Southport bridge as well that was at 7am this morning - Merry Christmas

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by avb3

Very few economists will argue that governments are the best way to create wealth. Most economists will state that any money that is utilized by government through fees and taxes is money that can not be used within an economy, and the multiplier effect that money would have in the private sector.

Many economists, perhaps most, believe in unbridled growth and the self correcting nature of the free market but not all. One thing gov'ts do is restrict growth through taxes. This is not neccessarily a bad thing when you consider that nature doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of economic models and economists have been know to be overly optimistic.

Australia has had a great deal of opportunity to study and consider the impact of invasive species on their environment. Certainly New Zealand has as well and it has been argued that Australian measures are draconian compared to New Zealand's; that doesn't mean Australia isn't correct.

I don't know one way or the other but it's worth thinking about.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by meyermm

...The $800 US visa required had nothing to do with cruising or cruisers, no return ticket no entry without visa simple. What I did not mention was you also have to book a day for your interview, go through stringent security check in any hand luggage etc. There would have been at least 20 to 30 there on the day some having done it before which included a girl from Tasmania who had to fly up for the day.

Well, let me welcome you to visit Canada then... no visa requirements from Australia, and you know what, we won't charge you anything to land here.

If you choose to come by boat, we still won't charge you.

We speak English (and some French), have an arguably nicer and more diversified scenery then the U.S. (hey, we can be parochial here), and if you come in the summer time, there are many places which are as warm as Australia.

Come in the winter time, and you can see the Northern Lights like no place else.

We know how to treat our tourists right, and thankfully our government does not deplete any funds they may have available which now can be spent employing all our wonderful people who understand how to cater to tourists.

You will even have some money left over to tip those catering to you

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by avb3

Well, let me welcome you to visit Canada then... no visa requirements from Australia, and you know what, we won't charge you anything to land here.

If you choose to come by boat, we still won't charge you.

We speak English (and some French), have an arguably nicer and more diversified scenery then the U.S. (hey, we can be parochial here), and if you come in the summer time, there are many places which are as warm as Australia.

Come in the winter time, and you can see the Northern Lights like no place else.

We know how to treat our tourists right, and thankfully our government does not deplete any funds they may have available which now can be spent employing all our wonderful people who understand how to cater to tourists.

You will even have some money left over to tip those catering to you

You had me booking a flight up until that last sentence about tipping, we don't tip as a general rule something about paying employees so tipping to make up for low wages not required, so I will have to decline your kind offer
You now have me thinking I wonder how much those cruisers save in Australia by not having to tip?

[meyermm]

AVB3 - I have been to Canada many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it just as I have enjoyed the states which I have been to quite a few times. Both are great and Iam not one to spend time comparing to find fault as some make a hobby of when they travel and that includes Australians.