2018 Bimini June trip (June 24th - June 30th)

[robert843]

During our passport research, my wife discovered there is a less expensive alternative called passport cards which are only about 40 bucks each(cost depends on age). Anybody know if these are a viable alternative to a regular passport?

Edit; I just did some research on my own, and it looks to me like they would be accepted documentation for this trip. It's accepted for sea travel to the Bahamas and back, at least according to the information I found.

From what I understand yes it is acceptable but that being said if your going to go through the same process to get one I would pay the extra money for the passport book. If an emergency situation arose and some needed to be air lifted back to the states they could not do so on a passport card. I do believe either will get you into the Bahamas by sea though as you mentioned.

 

[vanmurray]

I'm ready -- new Yeti 65 came today! Was thinking about getting the tie down kit (anyone install these?)



Is this right? How much is duty for beer? What about food? Anyone have a checklist of things already put together for things they are bringing or who has been and things they wish they brought? Anything not to bring?

 

[jayasaki138]

The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. The passport card is Real ID compliant and can be used for domestic air travel.

 

[robert843]

I'm ready -- new Yeti 65 came today! Was thinking about getting the tie down kit (anyone install these?)

View attachment 68228

Is this right? How much is duty for beer? What about food?

I have never been charged a duty for food or drink being brought in but I do think there is a dollar limit per person that can be brought in but I don't recall the number. I only know of one person in the trips ever having there food inspected but if I remember right the put a crazy amount of food being brought in on their customs form. One thing to remember most don't think about is bug spray. At night it can be hit or miss on the bugs. Also spf type lip protection with zinc is nice as well the heat and the salt will dry then out fast.

 

[Sbrown]

The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. The passport card is Real ID compliant and can be used for domestic air travel.

This is true; however, we are not going by air. We are going by sea, and that is a permissible use of the passport card. Bimini doesn't even require a passport, only a birth certificate. The passport, whether card or folder, is only required for re-entry to the US.

 

[vanmurray]

The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. The passport card is Real ID compliant and can be used for domestic air travel.

Can the new passport card be used for entry on our boats or the ferry?

 

[Sbrown]

Can the new passport card be used for entry on our boats or the ferry?

It appears so.

 

[jayasaki138]

Passports are needed for Bahamas immigration to stamp on.

 

[Sbrown]

Passports are needed for Bahamas immigration to stamp on.

The information I read said that Bahamas immigration doesn't even require a passport, that a birth certificate will do. A passport or passport card is only required for re-admittance to the US.
If you've been there before and you say they require a regular passport, I'd have to bow to your greater experience. This is part of what I found.
"The passport card's intended primary purpose is to allow cardholders to cross the United States border into and out of Bermuda, Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Passport_Card

 

[jayasaki138]

Please read Andy's first post item #8 for return back to Ft Lauderdale.

 

[Bruce]

@Sbrown, if you go to Bimini on a passport card and have an accident you may die there due to the inability to fly back to the US.

Perhaps that is stretching it a little bit but I hope you get the point and a real passport.

 

[Sbrown]

Please read Andy's first post item #8 for return back to Ft Lauderdale

I understand that as well. US customs only requires a passport card.

 

[Sbrown]

@Bruce, No disrespect, but I am not really interested in theoretical possibilities or conjecture. Any personal risks are mine to weigh. What I am interested in is whether anybody here can say 100% for sure that they know FOR A FACT, from first hand experience that a passport card is not accepted either in Bimini or upon return to the US.

Also, this:

Finally able to get an answer that settles the question. Just got this from Customs and Border Patrol:

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) INFO Center.

Please be advised the cards will work for you if an emergency arises. You will not be able to use a commercial carrier but the circumstances are different when you are airlifted by emergency responders.

Thank you again for contacting the CBP INFO Center.

Sincerely,

CBP INFO Center

 

[jayasaki138]

@Sbrown, if you go to Bimini on a passport card and have an accident you may die there due to the inability to fly back to the US.

Perhaps that is stretching it a little bit but I hope you get the point and a real passport.

My friend got back injury on the 2017 Bimini trip crossing that he needed flight back the same day for emergency treatment

 

[Bruce]

@Bruce, No disrespect, but I am not really interested in theoretical possibilities or conjecture. Any personal risks are mine to weigh. What I am interested in is whether anybody here can say 100% for sure that they know FOR A FACT, from first hand experience that a passport card is not accepted either in Bimini or upon return to the US.

If you are too cheap to care about yourself, you most likely are too cheap to make the trip. But please, regardless of how you may feel about your personal safety and ability to return to the US, buy a real passport for any family members that you might bring with you.

@jayasaki138, just pointed out a real event that occurred last year that would have been greatly complicated by the lack of a real passport.

 

[robert843]

@Bruce, No disrespect, but I am not really interested in theoretical possibilities or conjecture. Any personal risks are mine to weigh. What I am interested in is whether anybody here can say 100% for sure that they know FOR A FACT, from first hand experience that a passport card is not accepted either in Bimini or upon return to the US.

I do not know of anyone who has gone on one of our trips first hand who used a passport card but I do believe you can use one I have never seen info to yet contradict this. I feel the same way you do about this that is your personal choice on which you use as it will not affect mine or anyone else on this trips vacation if that's what you choose besides possibly yours. All @Bruce is saying is the same I would which is to really look at both options. I did the same thing back in 2015 and was really torn on which to get as there is a big money difference in the end I picked the book just as the risk wasn't worth the reward to me but really to each there own on this. From a first hand experience I made the right choice for me and my crew but its not the correct choice for everyone. If I got the card it would have cost me more money in the end and a loss of thousands of dollars. In 2015 I went to Bimini and it went off with out a hitch a card whould have been just fine. In 2016 we planned a trip to Exuma well due to weather condition forecast 4 days prior to our departure we had to move our launch date up by 2 days and due to work I could no longer make this launch date but voted to go with it even though everyone else in the group was willing to wait for me and battle the harder conditions but I told them I would fly in Nassau and meet them there if I had got the card I could not have done this and I would have been out about $2000 in non refundable lodging and slip expenses and missed an incredible trip. In 2017 we planned a trip to Abaco well I made this launch lol but due to some family changes my crew needed to fly over so at this point I would have had to upgrade everyone to a passport book anyway which means all the money spent on the cards would have been a waist. Once again not saying there is anything wrong with the card and I agree both should work just fine.

 

[vanmurray]

I have never been charged a duty for food or drink being brought in but I do think there is a dollar limit per person that can be brought in but I don't recall the number. I only know of one person in the trips ever having there food inspected but if I remember right the put a crazy amount of food being brought in on their customs form. One thing to remember most don't think about is bug spray. At night it can be hit or miss on the bugs. Also spf type lip protection with zinc is nice as well the heat and the salt will dry then out fast.

Awesome. Yeti says it will hold 39 cans! Bug spray is a great suggestion!

 

[Bruce]

Awesome. Yeti says it will hold 39 cans! Bug spray is a great suggestion!

You will have a refrigerator in the condo. No need to bring the beer cold.

I believe you asked about bringing food into the Bahamas. In 2016 one Captain was bragging about how much steak he had and his boat was inspected. He was told the limit was $100 per person per week. His grocery total was around that. He did not have any problems and was not required to pay any import fees.

The import limits are very low for alcohol. I bring mixers and buy rum for around $12 a liter in Bimini.

But as others have posted we have never had an issue bringing food or drink into the Bahamas.

 

[robert843]

Awesome. Yeti says it will hold 39 cans! Bug spray is a great suggestion!

I usually do forget to mention what @Bruce said water, soda and beer really no need to put them in the cooler or any other item that will be fine for 2-3 hours with out refrigeration save the cooler for perishables that must be refrigerated the whole time. Usually I just walk into the store as soon as I get there buy a couple cold Kalik's from the cooler and walk in to the front desk for check in after that of course after checking into customs. Its kind of tough to drink anything on the crossing so best to have a water bottle with a retractable straw or something or maybe the below.

 

[swatski]

@Bruce, No disrespect, but I am not really interested in theoretical possibilities or conjecture. Any personal risks are mine to weigh. What I am interested in is whether anybody here can say 100% for sure that they know FOR A FACT, from first hand experience that a passport card is not accepted either in Bimini or upon return to the US.

Ouch

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