I wonder how long the tax would last if people didn't get off the ship, or if we wouldn't book any cruises with Mexico on the itinerary. Maybe we should tax Mexico for all the illegal aliens that are here in the U.S.! What do you thing it's costing us per head? Let's see... according to a study made based on Census Bureau data, households headed by illegal aliens cost our Federal Government 10 billion dollars in 2002. GO AHEAD MEXICO, TAX US SOME MORE.
No it is not just you. I am a physician here in Tucson and I can tell you from experience that the American taxpayer is getting raked over the coals. I know of someone who needed a heart transplant but couldn't afford it in Mexico. The solution? Cross the border illegally and get in absolutely free in the U.S. We are talking about more than $500,000 for one patient and this happens everyday in our local area.
I can also tell you of how the local police can pick up several dozen illegal immigrants at a time and when they call the border patrol, they are told that no one is available and they should just let them go. I know it sounds hard to believe, but this also happens thousands of times everyday in our country. It is a shame that our country is going to bankrupt itself.
With that being said, I can't wait to get out of town in about three weeks and forget about all of this.
I agree with gdjoslin, when the Alaska tax went into effect and didn't slow bookings at all, I wondered how long it would take for other Gvt taxing authorities to get into the act. Don't be sruprised to see more of it in the furute.
Well, I guess if it is only $5 p/p, that should be OK with me. Especially, considering that each cruiseship passenger will spend allot more than that on the fuel surcharges(imposed after the big rise in fuel costs). In fact, just one drink at one of the bars onboard could cost that much, or more.
I tend to agree with you, Frase: $5.00 here and there isin't much. But as Dave pointed out in another thread on the fuel surcharge, it's the cumulative effect that is going to eventually hurt. As Neil says, when everybody starts getting into the act, it could seriously raise the cost of cruising; or cut back the quality, or both; which those of us who have been cruising for a while would say has already been going on for quite some time.
Posts: 3313 | Location: Costa Mesa, California | Registered: November 16, 2006
Speaking of taxes, Honduras has a really good one. They do not impose any taxes on your arrival, but charge a "departure tax" of $33 per person to leave. I don't think this applies to cruise visitors at Roatan but we have to pay it each year when we fly home from our mission trip.
Next Cruise: Carnival Fantasy 10-27-08
03/08 Carnival Fantasy 10-07 Carnival Holiday 03-07 Carnival Holiday 11-06 Carnival Triumph 03-06 CaribbeanPrincess 01-04 Carnival Victory 09-03 Carnival Destiny 05-03 Carnival Imagination 11-02 Carnival Imagination 01-02 RCCL Rhapsody of Seas 02-01 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 02-00 RCCL Empress of Seas 01-99 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 01-98 RCCL Majesty of Seas
Originally posted by tncruiseman: Speaking of taxes, Honduras has a really good one. They do not impose any taxes on your arrival, but charge a "departure tax" of $33 per person to leave.
St. Lucia does the same thing, or at least they did a few years ago.
Posts: 1363 | Location: birmingham, al | Registered: April 30, 2007
Another one that's been added is for flights into Chile. If you're flying to Santiago to catch a ship you'll need US dollars at the airport. They only take cash and it's a $100. per person entry tax. There will be a Gov't official there to relieve you of your cash. I figure the guy walks out of the airport with fuller pockets everytime a flight from the US arrives.
