Congratulations Spanish Cay Marina!

[1bluemarlin]

Now that it has been confirmed that Spanish Cay Marina is charging $50 to dock while checking in with Customs, I will respectfully take my business to Green Turtle instead. Not that they will miss me...about 120 gals of gas, lunch for 8 (my buddy boat will be checking in at GTC as well), usually a t-shirt or 2...At minimum its a $750 stop for us every year.

I know times are tough, but the way to do it is to provide an increased value for the consumer not pic-pocket them during a government required stop over.

I will miss seeing the nice lady at the customs office. She was the first Bahamian I ever met and she remembers me every year. Sweet lady.

I am sure there are some that will say I am out-of-line, but it is the way I feel about it and I have a valid complaint. Please share your views if you think otherwise.

[S/V Toucan Dream]

We also have cleared several times at Spanish Cay, but were shocked at the $50 fee when we were expecting $20 (we anchored out and dingheyed in). The manager (an American) has also told other boats and local Bahamians at Cooperstown (who we won't name) that sailboats are not welcome there, that they don't want their business. Being a sailboater, we have taken offense at that and will not go to Spanish Cay again. It's their loss, not ours. Besides, fuel is much cheaper at the fuel dock at Cooperstown, the people want your business and they make you feel welcome. They don't charge for garbage and it is much easier to go to the fuel dock when going by that area. We will never go back to Spanish Cay again.......we will miss he nice Customs lady, though. :(

[MotuIti]

I'd be curious to know how much of the time that customs man sits around waiting for a boat that needs clearance. Amortize his salary over the few boats that show up and that translates into a high priced overhead item for the connivence offered.

Unfortunately few boats clear there. If there were more, I'm sure the price would come down. And as for fuel, it would be better a comparison to compare their fuel prices with Green Turtle Cay rather than a mainland fuel dock where fuel arrives by truck not the fuel barge.

Things are a struggle right now for the Abaco resorts. For Spanish it's has to be worse. I cant remember ever seeing a Trip Report from Spanish Cay.

-Sandy

[BiteThisToo]

The staff and customs at Spanish are awesome people. The guy that owns the island (Don Davis) is a jerk to say the least and he probably wonders why his marina his empty most of the year. They charge for everything there - $11 a day to keep a freezer on the dock (when I was there last and this may have changed). He would charge for the air we breath if he could contain it and show a profit. The staff and customs there deserve better. The marina is self insured so if you incur any damages you are on your own. His barge broke loose in 2004 and damaged my boat to the tune of $17,000 and all I got was a "oh well" from him.

[SamFamAustin]

I've never had the privilege of being to Spanish, but something sounds weird here. If I was the happy marina owner, I'd have tournaments, towboats, excellent services, a Tiki bar with an island or conch band on the high weekends, great food, a good radio presence, special rates, ads, coupons, a smiling staff that'll help you dock your boat, and try to make it so busy you needed reservations it was such a hopping good place. I mean, look how hard people like Junior work at his marina on Elbow, right?

As to customs and fuel, those are things you shouldn't gig the customer. It's just a cost of doing business and to me, charging for clearing customs somehow seems illegal. Most operators add a few cents a gallon to the delivered fuel price to cover taxes or whatnot, not much profit, so that's basically a low-ball thing even though boat fuel is often sold in high volumes (some will even discount it when you pump over 100 gallons). I mean, that's the way the business works.

Where you make money is on dockage by the foot, marina moorings, services, and repairs. The Tiki bar has free public restrooms, but if you want a shower it's OK to charge for a "shower key" so you can use that, a nice touch if they're clean facilities. We know the drill, and even things like ice can be expensive in the out islands. But you have to be friendly. I guess I don't get the attitude. Maybe they need Sammie and some accountant type to keep things honest? Welcome to Spanish Kaaayyy and what can I do ya for? :D

[MotuIti]

Spanish Cay has always had a tough going because of it's location. There is no "settlement", the resort is the only thing there except for a few homes.

As for a Junior like person, he, whomever would have do depend on a full marina and as compared to Sea Spray. More half the folks dining there and partaking in their fun events come from Elbow Cay & Hope Town.

There is no practical way for flyin visitors to get there (except by private plane). Coopers Town is about a $40 taxi tide from Treasure Cay to the government dock is where you'd pick up a ferry to Spanish Cay. Unfortunately there are only two scheduled, early morning and late afternoon and primarily intended for the resorts day workers. A charter is about $200. So it looks like a late arrival and early departure is the only way to go and you've lost a day.

I'm not taking a position on the matter that started this posting in the first place, only to say, They can make it a super resort but who will come (aside from passing yachts that might spend a night or two (like i have) on the way south to places where stuff happens. Spanish is by nature a catch 22.

Some years back, Clint Murchison who once owned the Dallas Cowboys, removed the Casuarina's (Australian Pines )and replanted the island with thousands of coconut palms and other indigenous tropical trees to spruce things up. They even had a dive shop a bar on the ocean side - and it's changed hands a couple times since then.

-Sandy

[james.pleydell.bouverie]

Spanish Cay is history ! They know that customs / immigration is about to move to Coopers Town, and are trying to grab every last cent they can gouge from people, before this happens. Pity this type of greed gives all of us in the Bahamas such a bad name. Sorry, but I got caught last time through, too !!!!!!

Ps Customs & Immigration Officer Sands ought to get the prize for the "Friendliest Bahamas Greeter" She does her job, and it costs us, but she makes you feel welcome, and wanted ! More like you , please

Now that it has been confirmed that Spanish Cay Marina is charging $50 to dock while checking in with Customs, I will respectfully take my business to Green Turtle instead. Not that they will miss me...about 120 gals of gas, lunch for 8 (my buddy boat will be checking in at GTC as well), usually a t-shirt or 2...At minimum its a $750 stop for us every year.

I know times are tough, but the way to do it is to provide an increased value for the consumer not pic-pocket them during a government required stop over.

I will miss seeing the nice lady at the customs office. She was the first Bahamian I ever met and she remembers me every year. Sweet lady.

I am sure there are some that will say I am out-of-line, but it is the way I feel about it and I have a valid complaint. Please share your views if you think otherwise.

[BiteThisToo]

I have yet to meet an unfriendly Customs Officer ....it's the owner of the island and his greed that scares people off. His arrogance may have something to do with it as well.

[yellowfin]

:confused:not quite sure greed equals $50.00 dollars?

[Floridacargocat]

Wait till you see the new fees at Nassau International airport when you pass through on your way to "paradise".
I agree with all the other OP's that visitors are made welcome by Bahams Custosm and Immigration. You will also have to see the economic pressures of the Bahamian Government to maintain Customs and Immigration outposts in places like Walker's Cay and Spanish Cay (future Coopers Town???). I do foresee that the Bahamian Government will be forced to realign their resources for seaports as well as airports in a more efficient way, resulting in a reduction of Ports of Entry. As convenient as it is to check in at e.g., Walker's Cay or other remote outposts, I do foresee a realignment on Freeport and Marsh Harbour (for the Northern Abacos)(Coopers Town being more of a satellite station of Marsh Harbour) in the not too distant future, economic crisis or not.
This will have an impact on the visitors and supply situation for islands with smaller airports, e.g. Spanish Cay, Walker's Cay, Treasure Cay.
I have been to Spanish Cay(admittedly a few years ago), and Customs and Immigration provided an exemplary service for my customers and me, but the present and future situation will require a very hard thinking about what is economic and beneficial or not. If Spanish Cay bears the costs for the upkeep for this Bahamian Government functions, then somebody has to participate.
Do not be surprised when you fly into Nassau on the most cost-efficient low-cost air carrier of the United states and then to find air fares for the flight to MHH/TCB at far higher rates (due to higher airport charges at Nassau MYNN).
Life in "paradise" has its price.

[SamFamAustin]

Life in "paradise" has its price.

You know, I've watched governments do this forever and forever, and really the strategy never works. If anything, the Bahamian government ought to be lowering prices to induce more travel and spending. There is a ton of economic evidence that this model works better and up-pricing the market. Most economic forecasts are for stabilization in 2009 (as I predicted), neutral conditions in 2010, and slow growth in 2011. Yet still, the Bahamas is sending out messages that it wants to tax any visitor harder and harder, knock off a bunch of the cruisers, and make it less attractive to Florida sportsfishers. I can only imagine or guess that flying a private plane would be much more expensive, as well. I'm not being political here, just saying that price pressure might actually slow the economic recovery in the out islands. -sammie

[BiteThisToo]

It's not the $50 as much as it is Don Davis' arrogance in that its his island and he can do what he wants. Well, the fact that they show up at boat shows is an indicator that he wants business but on the other hand he does whatever he can to chase them away by such foolish fees. You can always lower or eliminate the fees but arrogance is harder to fix.

[islandfever]

I have always enjoyed checking in at Green Turtle. Yes, I have had to wait too, but considered it part of the character of the island and well worth it. Just had fun while we waited and no one gave you a hard time.

[islandfever]

You know, I've watched governments do this forever and forever, and really the strategy never works. If anything, the Bahamian government ought to be lowering prices to induce more travel and spending. There is a ton of economic evidence that this model works better and up-pricing the market. -sammie

This was apparent from the numbers of cruisers who stayed away this year. Most years I had to search for a spot to anchor in Marsh Harbour. This year there were seldom more than 10 or 12 boats anchored at any time except possibly when bad weather was threatening. It is the proverbial story of killing the goose who laid the golden egg.