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

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

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

First it allows your boat to be in their country for 12 months. Second it goes towards customs and immigration fees and third it includes the departure tax that one normally has to pay to leave the country. Oh, it also includes a fishing permit.

[deckofficer]

Aw, fishing permit. There is a service with value to the cruiser, thanks.

[capn_billl]

I'm just happy they don't take the boat. In any country the Government class is a dependent class that lives off of the largess of the taxed.

By making the amount seized; uniform, and predictable over unorganised pirates that may take all or nothing, they provide a relatively safe place to cruise.

Thats worth the amount payed right there.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Here in the States that is over 10% of the room bill.

Many U.S. cities love to "stick it" to out-of-towners with hotel tax on top of sales tax.

[rtbates]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

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.

I bet you can afford it!

Nice boat!!

[Hud3]

The US$11 they charge for a 30 day visitors visa here on Nevis probably doesn't cover the salaries of the two agents and the office they occupy, much less anything else.

[Katiusha]

Three years ago we were told that a part of this Bahamas fee also goes towards marine conservation, like efforts to maintain Nassau grouper populations, eradicate lion fish, against lobster poaching, etc.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by 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.

I guess there are two ways of looking at that. The other way could be that a high entry fee serves to keep the riff-raff from entering the country.

[captjeanette]

Just to clarify--we paid our $300 to the Bahamas 2 days ago and were told in no uncertain terms that the cruising permit is only good for 90 days. We tried to argue saying we had been told 1 year by many but the officer emphatically stated "90 days".
We are in Freeport for repairs to our rudder which broke in exactly the spot where it was repaired not that long ago. Hope this repair lasts longer. Sigh.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by captjeanette

Just to clarify--we paid our $300 to the Bahamas 2 days ago and were told in no uncertain terms that the cruising permit is only good for 90 days. We tried to argue saying we had been told 1 year by many but the officer emphatically stated "90 days".
We are in Freeport for repairs to our rudder which broke in exactly the spot where it was repaired not that long ago. Hope this repair lasts longer. Sigh.

I think there's a misunderstanding here. The cruising permit is good for a year. Read the permit! The language states "and it is my intention to take it (the boat) out of The Bahamas within 12 months of the date of this permit...". Read you "Temporary Cruising Permit".

The 90 days is your permission from Immigration to stay in the Bahamas. It can be renewed towards the end of the 90 days.

[Paul L]

Excuse me mister homeland security customs man, what services do I get for the $25 customs decal that I have to buy each year?

I'm not clear what the OP position is on these fees, but it sounds like he is saying that he is owed travel with his boat into someone else's country. Seems arrogant.

[captjeanette]

Vasco: I went back and read the cruising permit and fishing license. The fishing license has an expiration date of 90 days stamped on it. The cruising permit states "I intend to take it (the boat) out of the Bahamas within 6 months...." Maybe they changed it recently.

CJ

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by captjeanette

Vasco: I went back and read the cruising permit and fishing license. The fishing license has an expiration date of 90 days stamped on it. The cruising permit states "I intend to take it (the boat) out of the Bahamas within 6 months...." Maybe they changed it recently.

CJ

The "Temporary Cruising Permit" form is old but they still use it. The boarding officer (might be customs, might be immigration now as they now use one officer for both functions ) usually crosses out the "6" in the form and writes in "12". You must have got an immigration officer who is unfamiliar with the Cruising Permit which is a customs form. Believe me, your permit is good for 12 months.

[stevensuf]

Lets face it, you are out cruising around, bumming about on a boat, while most people back home, one way or another are busting it out doing nine to five, as are the customs /immigration guys doing nine to five, or the others on welfare /state benefits with just enough to eat and house and not much more, you are fortunate enough to be in a position to whine about an entry fee!

You may say I worked hard for this life or you may have been lucky and the money came easy, but by god the cleaner who did all the over time in the world still could not live this life no matter how hard he or she worked.

I'm sitting looking at 100 foot motor boats , I'm sure the owners would leave tips greater than $300 , but i see 3 crew on board and a vacant owner who probably uses the boat a few weeks a year and i think the crew are better off than the owner!

If you think $300 is too much, don't go!

Simples!!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Excuse me mister homeland security customs man, what services do I get for the $25 customs decal that I have to buy each year?

For simply asking you get a go on the rubber glove - so you fully understand what you are getting from da Gubberment.