Bahamas Sticker Shock

[Captain Bill]

I expected the Bahamas to be a little more expensive this year due to the new 7.5% VAT which started in January, but I wasn't prepared for it's implementation in practice. Apparently adding 7.5% to the cost of things is too complicated so they just round up. An item which was $2.00 last year and should be $2.15 with VAT is now $3.00. Some people have really gotten into it to the extreme. I just had my first pumpout in Georgetown this year. Last year it was $20 for a 60 gallon tank. This year $40. When I asked about it he said they're taxing us on it now mon. It certainly is my last pumpout here. For $40 I can take it far off shore and have a nice sail besides.

[Vasco]

You can still get two Guinesses at Marshall's for $5.50.


Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

.......... For $40 I can take it far off shore and have a nice sail besides.

Or just out of sight.

If costs get too high, people will stop going there or cut back their spending. They may end up with less revenue rather than more.

Even $20 is about $15 too much for a pumpout..

[Tingum]

The current government just does not get it. Once Cuba opens they will NEVER get people back! And I live here!

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Or just out of sight.

If costs get too high, people will stop going there or cut back their spending. They may end up with less revenue rather than more.

Even $20 is about $15 too much for a pumpout..

To be fair, this is a pumpout boat and costs for that have to be a bit more than a shore side pumpout. $20 was a little steep perhaps, but I've been charged $25 in the states so it is not totally unreasonable. $40 is totally unreasonable. The most common discussion I've heard here this year is that if/when Cuba opens up the Bahamas will only have Canadians. Given the comments of the head of the Bahamas National Trust last year, the Bahamas don't really want cruisers here anyway.

[Canibul]

Do you reckon there are hotels full of Chinese businessmen in Havana right now hammering out the details of a dozen new resorts and marinas?

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Do you reckon there are hotels full of Chinese businessmen in Havana right now hammering out the details of a dozen new resorts and marinas?

It will be interesting to see what changes are going to be. The Cuban military controls one of the largest hotel chains in the world and combined with other non chain hotels the military owns it ranks as the 34th largest hotel chain in the world, larger than the Walt Disney empire. There are some foreign investors that have invested in some of the military hotel chain but the military still controls who works in those hotels and how much they get paid, no one in Cuba gets paid more than $US35 a month with minor exceptions.

Once both Castro brothers pass away the military will be even bigger power brokers than they are now and I doubt they will be anxious to share their profits with peeps from China or anywhere else.

[monte]

How much is that per poo?

[zboss]

Maybe time for a composting head?

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

To be fair, this is a pumpout boat and costs for that have to be a bit more than a shore side pumpout. $20 was a little steep perhaps, but I've been charged $25 in the states so it is not totally unreasonable. $40 is totally unreasonable. The most common discussion I've heard here this year is that if/when Cuba opens up the Bahamas will only have Canadians. Given the comments of the head of the Bahamas National Trust last year, the Bahamas don't really want cruisers here anyway.

Flat fee at our marina on Muskegon Lake (Lake Michigan) is $5.00. Difficult to get excited. $40 is mote like a city sewer bill. Glad to have a composter.

[RainDog]

When I was paying for it in Texas it was $45. It seemed unreasonable at the time. Did not realize how unreasonable until I started traveling. Since I needed it once a week, it was $200 / month.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Yikes...makes my Electrascan seem cheap!

[Amapola]

We're skipping the Bahamas this year.

[psneeld]

Talked to a dock builder the other day who sat in a meeting at pretty high levels in government on the US side.

The skinny is Cuba wants to add 10,000 boat slips in the next 5 years.

Hope so!

[nautical62]

I noticed the increased prices when there this winter. Still, for the price of a cruising permit, I can anchor all I want, catch lobster and roast them over a fire on the beach.