Bahamas Boating Fees Comparison (2020 vs 2025 vs 2026).

In April 2026, The Bahamas introduced a revised fee structure for visiting boaters, reshaping the cost and process of cruising to the islands. The revised fee structure follows earlier increases introduced in 2025 that sparked concern among marina operators and visiting boaters. The 2026 adjustments aim to create a more balanced system with clearer duration options and more predictable pricing.

Prior to 2025, the boating fees had not been increased since 2012.

For more information, visit https://www.bahamasmarinas.com/enteringexiting-policies.

Category	2020 (Pre-Change)	2025 (July Increase)	2026 (Current Structure)
Cruising Permit – 30 Day	Not offered	Not offered	Up to 30 ft: $150 31–50 ft: $250 51–100 ft: $350 100+ ft: $600
Cruising Permit – 3 Month	Up to 34 ft: $150 35-99 ft: $300 100-149 ft: $500 150-200 ft: $800 200+ ft: $1,000	Not offered	Not offered
Cruising Permit – 6 Month	Not offered	Not offered	Up to 50 ft: $300 51–100 ft: $750 100+ ft: $2,000
Cruising Permit – 12 Month	Up to 34 ft: $300 34–100 ft: $500 100+ ft: $800–$1,000	Under 50 ft: $500 50–100 ft: $1,000 100+ ft: $3,000	Same pricing as 2025
Fishing Permit	Included in cruising permit	Removed from bundle $100 (<50 ft) / $300 (50+ ft)	Same as 2025 (30-day validity, now renewable on line)
Anchorage Fees	Not charged	Under 50 ft: $200 50–100 ft: $350 100+ ft: $1,500 Applies to all vessels. 12 months only.	30 days: $50-$200 6 months: $150-1,000 12 months: 400-$1,500 Applies only to vessels not staying in a marina
Passenger Tax	$20 per additional passenger (over 3)	$30 per additional passenger (over 3)	Same as 2025
Re-entry Rules	Flexible / informal	Limited	Tiered by permit type (30-day, 6-month, 12-month)
Frequent Boater Option (FDCC)	Not available	Introduced (2-year permit) $1,500–$8,000	Same structure continues
AIS Requirement	Not required	Introduced for vessels 50+ ft	Fully enforced
Overall Structure	Simple & bundled	Higher cost + unbundled	Flexible, tiered, more complex