Will These New Bahamas Fees Ruin Your Trip?
1 July 2025 · 25 min · 161K views
What this video covers
The Bahamas implemented a new cruising fee structure on July 1, 2025, that significantly increases costs for visiting vessels by eliminating short-term permits and introducing separate charges for anchoring and fishing.▶ 0:09 Cruising permits now cost $500 annually for boats under 50 feet, $1,000 for boats 50 to 100 feet, and $3,000 for vessels over 100 feet.▶ 1:25 Fishing permits, previously included in the cruising fee, now cost $100 per month for boats under 50 feet and $300 per month for larger vessels.▶ 2:07 Additionally, all boats must pay a one-time anchoring fee ranging from $200 to $1,500, and a $30-per-person tax applies to any crew beyond three people.▶ 3:07
The government also mandates that all vessels 50 feet and longer maintain an active, transmitting AIS signal at all times, with a $1,000 fine for non-compliance.▶ 4:52 These changes effectively double or triple the cost of short-term trips, such as weekend visits to Bimini.▶ 8:44 While the Bahamas Ministry of Finance cites revenue generation and conservation as justifications, the new fee schedule makes the Bahamas one of the most expensive cruising destinations in the region.▶ 5:44
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