Cobra852:
Also no longer a need for their boats to be US Coast Guard compliant since they won't be operating from US ports. (which means less and cheaper maintenance required).
I don't see how this is a good thing.
As far as moving to the Bahamas it will change my plans in the future. I can catch another liveaboard from Florida for about the same price as flying to the Bahamas + the Blackbeard price. It wont be camping at sea either.
FREEPORT WEEKLONG TRIPS: $879.00 Port tax 40.00 per person.
Boards in Freeport, Grand Bahamas each Saturday at noon and disembarks the following Friday at 9 am.
and the prices aren't dropping
I checked into this, and you're right the move didn't lower prices. What it did do is keep prices from rising. Here's what Blackbeard's site gives for reasons for the move:
Blackbeard's Cruises will begin full time operation from Freeport, Grand Bahamas effective all trips departing Dec 28, 2005 and thereafter. It's a new year and a new beginning for the pirate and our diving buddies!
Here are just a few reasons why we've made this decision:
The expense of doing business from Miami has forced us to either drive up prices to cover costs or relocate in order to continue to offer great diving and great prices! Port taxes on all trips departing from Freeport will only be 40.00 per person. (The port taxes in Miami for 2006 were slated to be 65.00!)
Travel from Miami in the winter can be a bit rough across the Gulf Stream from west to east and back at week's end. Flying into Freeport eliminates the 6-8 hours of crossing and gets divers in the water on Saturday instead of Sunday.
Freeport is a great port! We will still offer a night in Bimini midweek. The last night will be spent in Freeport at week's end. Passengers are free to explore the island in Freeport. When in Miami, they were stuck on board waiting until customs came to clear them into the country on Friday morning!
I've used Blackberard before, and am booking another trip with them for next winter. They wouldn't have been in business this long, with many repeat customers if they didn't take good care of us and provide quality service.