On Entry, Ever Ask What Services Your Cruising Fee Provides?

[deckofficer]

I'm not saying to be belligerent, but politely ask "Are there services that are funded that I am now entitled to for this fee?" Things like SAR, public restrooms maintained near anchorages that of course encourages cruisers to do the right thing, etc.

Anyone ask?

Response?

[Cheechako]

Ha! That's funny!

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Ha! That's funny!

+1
I would be scared they would ask for more money.

[deckofficer]

So, nobody knows what our $300 for Bahamas permit funds, and services provide?

[Cheechako]

Heck, I dont even know what the 8.2% sales tax I pay when I bought the boat provides, much less expect to know whose hand gets greased in a third world country!

[goboatingnow]

It goes into the public purse. It's a tax you don't necessarily get anything specific in return. Sheesh

Dave

[Jim Cate]

A few years back (well, it was actually 1998!) we cruised the Solomons. At that time they levied a 100 Solomon dollar (~20 USD) "lighthouse fee" when entering.

There were no working nav aid lights in the country at that time.

When entering Australia these days one is forced to pay the AQIS (quarantine) folks 330 AUD (during office hours, double that for other times). For this fee you get your food confiscated. Well... your fresh food anyway. What a deal! Helps control obesity in the cruising fleet, way cheaper than a health spa.

These things are just part of the international cruising life and while annoying, the sovereign countries that we visit don't have to explain where the money goes. The people who take it from you likely don't know where it goes either... unless into their own pockets!

Cheers,

Jim

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

It goes into the public purse. It's a tax you don't necessarily get anything specific in return. Sheesh

Dave

Yup - Just like here. What prize did they hand you when you filed in April? Keys to the executive can? My water use tag for Michigan is 550 boat-bucks. I was told it was higher for larger boats because of the wear & tear our trailers inflict on the public boat launches.

[bobconnie]

Yeppers the world has changed, and not for the best LOL in the 70s and 80s Connie and the kids and I cruised the world. and I really believe we made more money then any country we visited, by hauling things they did not have back in those days !!we sold everything from playboy mags, to shampoo!! and we were always greeted well everywhere we went !! Back then Seeds in some places would get ya 2 or 3 virgins LOL, not that I would ever do that !! Yep things have changed!!! to bad we can't go back !!LOL

[kthoennes]

"water use tag"? What's that, they charge you to use lake michigan?

[Lagoon4us]

It doesn't end with just the local "cruising permit" or "vignette" we were sitting on our anchor in a small bay on Korntje Island in CROATIA when along comes a dinghy with two officials wanting 400Kuna for us to anchor overnight because it's a National Park.

No different to anywhere else, no prettier, no more sheltered and NO FISH anyway.....

We just have to accept this if we choose to cruise, 'tis the way of the world.......

[captjeanette]

Well having just paid the Bahamas the $300 it would be nice to THINK some of the funds go toward maintaining aids to navigation, but doesn't seem to be the case.

Have to say the DR was the worst with officials at each and every port with their hands out. We even had someone from the DR air force come on board. Maybe out mast intrudes on their air space??

Anyway, it is what it is, so we pay and go on.

CJ

[David_Old_Jersey]

Mostly paying for minor stuff like the locals not killing you and taking everything you got - as a greeting. and to do that involves someone paying towards all the same old boring stuff that "we" have back home. Socialized Roads and Police etc etc etc. What you pay (however it is levied) goes towards all that - but the locals pay the lions share....even when that amounts to paying little and getting next to SFA in return.

Whilst no doubt the arrival of tourists on private boats does contribute to the local economy - unless we are talking an island whose main asset is a donkey. or a chicken......then the amount contributed in total by folks visiting on boats should not be over estimated........would probably just about pay for an e-mail to your Embassy to pick up the body(s). And I do include VAT / Sales Tax / GST on the "all" the beer you bought.

Not to say that everything collected abroad gets spent wisely or is not looted from the Treasury - legally or not. but that be a seperate matter and exactly the same as "Home".

As we say over here (small island) - If you don't like it and want here more like "Home"....."There is a boat in the morning", albeit sometimes that phrase includes some rude words not permitted by CF!

[deckofficer]

Hey David, I'm just hoping for fees to be market driven. If any given place has a high fee structure, cruisers have the option of not visiting. If the loss of commerce warrants reducing the fees, that would be good. Goods and services needed by cruisers does help local economies, maybe part of the fees offset the lack of us paying hotel taxes. Here in the States that is over 10% of the room bill.

[Cheechako]

When you think about it, how much does it cost to maintain those points of entry in the Bahamas, pay wages, etc? How many boats really go there.... it's definitely not a profit point like fly-in tourism....