"Steve" wrote in message
...
So, do they have reduced fee if the boat isn't going to fish??

No, everybody gets the fishing permit.

I have given up fishing since I'm not a good fisherman and the 'cross
boarder' and individual state fees are too much of a nusense.. I just
don't
keep any fishing gear on the boat.

What can I say? I'm not much of a fisherperson either. I speared a
lobster and ****ed off a couple of nice groupers (they hate it when
you poke holes in them). Hardly a reason to stay out of the Bahamas.


Steve
s/v Good Intentions

So, do they have reduced fee if the boat isn't going to fish??

I have given up fishing since I'm not a good fisherman and the 'cross
boarder' and individual state fees are too much of a nusense.. I just don't
keep any fishing gear on the boat.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Subject: Bahamas Mess
From: "Doug Dotson"

Nothing has changed in that regard. It is an entry fee plus a fishing
license plus a little encouragement for the officer that clears you in.


Interesting, what kind of "encouragement" have you found necessary to offer?

In my 20 plus years of going to the Bahamas the only "encouragement" I have
ever felt the need to offer the officer/s is a pleasant attitude and a cold
drink.

Capt. Bill

Apparently about $20 of the fee (when it was $100) is kept by
the officer checking you in as part of his/her compensation.

Doug
s/v Callista

"LaBomba182" wrote in message
...
Subject: Bahamas Mess
From: "Doug Dotson"

Nothing has changed in that regard. It is an entry fee plus a fishing
license plus a little encouragement for the officer that clears you in.


Interesting, what kind of "encouragement" have you found necessary to
offer?

In my 20 plus years of going to the Bahamas the only "encouragement" I
have
ever felt the need to offer the officer/s is a pleasant attitude and a
cold
drink.

Capt. Bill

Apparently about $20 of the fee (when it was $100) is kept by
the officer checking you in as part of his/her compensation.

Doug
s/v Callista

"LaBomba182" wrote in message
...
Subject: Bahamas Mess
From: "Doug Dotson"

Nothing has changed in that regard. It is an entry fee plus a fishing
license plus a little encouragement for the officer that clears you in.


Interesting, what kind of "encouragement" have you found necessary to
offer?

In my 20 plus years of going to the Bahamas the only "encouragement" I
have
ever felt the need to offer the officer/s is a pleasant attitude and a
cold
drink.

Capt. Bill

Subject: Bahamas Mess
From: "Doug Dotson"

Nothing has changed in that regard. It is an entry fee plus a fishing
license plus a little encouragement for the officer that clears you in.


Interesting, what kind of "encouragement" have you found necessary to offer?

In my 20 plus years of going to the Bahamas the only "encouragement" I have
ever felt the need to offer the officer/s is a pleasant attitude and a cold
drink.

Capt. Bill

Nothing has changed in that regard. It is an entry fee plus a fishing
license plus a little encouragement for the officer that clears you in.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I haven't been following this since I'm on the left coast. Just what do
you
get for $300?? Is that an entry fee only.??

Yah know! I don't think I would visit any country (or port) in the world
that charged a fee that high.

Even while sailing in and out of 3rd world ports, even the most corrupt
port
offical has never demanded that kinda money..

The reason the Bahamas gets away with it is because the 'well heeled'
boater
pay it.. Same reason the the cost of cruising has sky rocketed. Major
stop
over ports in Baja and Mexico a similar problem. Not because you get your
moneys worth, but because of the fools who continue to go to these traps
and
pay the price, no matter what it is.

This rant is brought to you by a 67 yo retiree who is only now able to
cruise to these places, only to find he his retirement income budget
couldn't possibly cover a $300 fee.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

x-no-archive:yes

"Steve" wrote:

I haven't been following this since I'm on the left coast. Just what do you
get for $300?? Is that an entry fee only.??

Yah know! I don't think I would visit any country (or port) in the world
that charged a fee that high.

Even while sailing in and out of 3rd world ports, even the most corrupt port
offical has never demanded that kinda money..

The reason the Bahamas gets away with it is because the 'well heeled' boater
pay it.. Same reason the the cost of cruising has sky rocketed. Major stop
over ports in Baja and Mexico a similar problem. Not because you get your
moneys worth, but because of the fools who continue to go to these traps and
pay the price, no matter what it is.

This rant is brought to you by a 67 yo retiree who is only now able to
cruise to these places, only to find he his retirement income budget
couldn't possibly cover a $300 fee.

Originally there was a fee for entry and a fishing license fee and
maybe some other little ones. Possibly import duties on some things
like bicycles.

A couple of years ago they consolidated it to $100 fee per visit which
covered everything including entry, exit and fishing licenses. Flat
fee. I think they maybe had a problem with people not buying the
fishing license and then fishing anyway. This new flat rate fee was
for a year's cruising in the Bahamas for (I think) up to about 4
people, and the boat stores on board.

But what they found with this $100 fee was that the folks in FL paid
the fee and then went back and forth without checking out and in and
paying the fee over again. Especially little boats that don't have to
have a customs sticker. And the folks in the big cities (Freeport and
Nassau) felt that the cruisers were taking away their business by
selling their 'boat stores' locally, or maybe that they just didn't
spend enough money. They want to concentrate on the cruise ship sheep
who (in their view) spend lots and don't use much in the way of
services.

The folks in the out islands are feeling the pinch - I don't think as
many people are going this year. We're not. We could afford the $300
(66 and 67 year old retirees), but we don't want to. Particularly
until the US stops having people have to check in with immigration in
person when we come back.






grandma Rosalie

x-no-archive:yes

"Steve" wrote:

I haven't been following this since I'm on the left coast. Just what do you
get for $300?? Is that an entry fee only.??

Yah know! I don't think I would visit any country (or port) in the world
that charged a fee that high.

Even while sailing in and out of 3rd world ports, even the most corrupt port
offical has never demanded that kinda money..

The reason the Bahamas gets away with it is because the 'well heeled' boater
pay it.. Same reason the the cost of cruising has sky rocketed. Major stop
over ports in Baja and Mexico a similar problem. Not because you get your
moneys worth, but because of the fools who continue to go to these traps and
pay the price, no matter what it is.

This rant is brought to you by a 67 yo retiree who is only now able to
cruise to these places, only to find he his retirement income budget
couldn't possibly cover a $300 fee.

Originally there was a fee for entry and a fishing license fee and
maybe some other little ones. Possibly import duties on some things
like bicycles.

A couple of years ago they consolidated it to $100 fee per visit which
covered everything including entry, exit and fishing licenses. Flat
fee. I think they maybe had a problem with people not buying the
fishing license and then fishing anyway. This new flat rate fee was
for a year's cruising in the Bahamas for (I think) up to about 4
people, and the boat stores on board.

But what they found with this $100 fee was that the folks in FL paid
the fee and then went back and forth without checking out and in and
paying the fee over again. Especially little boats that don't have to
have a customs sticker. And the folks in the big cities (Freeport and
Nassau) felt that the cruisers were taking away their business by
selling their 'boat stores' locally, or maybe that they just didn't
spend enough money. They want to concentrate on the cruise ship sheep
who (in their view) spend lots and don't use much in the way of
services.

The folks in the out islands are feeling the pinch - I don't think as
many people are going this year. We're not. We could afford the $300
(66 and 67 year old retirees), but we don't want to. Particularly
until the US stops having people have to check in with immigration in
person when we come back.






grandma Rosalie

What does it cost a family of four Bahamians to get visas to enter the US?
Looks like $100 for each application, non-refundable if denied:
http://travel.state.gov/vofees.html Then there's the time involved:
How long does it take to get a visa?

a.. Processing times are difficult to predict for an individual applicant.
For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is required as a
standard part of visa processing. For travelers, the need for an interview
will mean additional coordination with the embassy or consulate, is required
to schedule an interview appointment. If additional processing is needed,
visa applicants are informed at the time they submit their applications.
While most additional processing takes 30 days or less, a small percentage
may take considerably longer.
b.. Advance planning is a key ingredient for successfully having your visa
when you want it. If you wish to visit the U.S., plan to submit your visa
application well in advance of your departure date.
So it makes sense to not go somewhere where the fees or hassles are more
than its worth, I think it helps to keep it in perspective by looking at
what the good old USA does to potential visitors.

Paul
"Steve" wrote in message
...
I haven't been following this since I'm on the left coast. Just what do
you
get for $300?? Is that an entry fee only.??

Yah know! I don't think I would visit any country (or port) in the world
that charged a fee that high.

Even while sailing in and out of 3rd world ports, even the most corrupt
port
offical has never demanded that kinda money..

The reason the Bahamas gets away with it is because the 'well heeled'
boater
pay it.. Same reason the the cost of cruising has sky rocketed. Major
stop
over ports in Baja and Mexico a similar problem. Not because you get your
moneys worth, but because of the fools who continue to go to these traps
and
pay the price, no matter what it is.

This rant is brought to you by a 67 yo retiree who is only now able to
cruise to these places, only to find he his retirement income budget
couldn't possibly cover a $300 fee.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions