You’ve spent hours planning your cruise and choosing your port day activities but have you considered your transportation in port? In many ports of call, the taxi service can be quite easy and reliable if you know how to manage the system. Some ports, have clear signs with a queue and posted “flat rates” while others are a bit more obscure and require negotiation. In this post, I’ll share 8 Helpful Tips for Taking Taxis in Foreign Ports. At the end, I’ll also share a little cautionary tale of my own that happened to me even after 30+ cruises. This event prompted me to revisit these tips for myself!
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Traveling to new destinations (and unpacking once) is one of the biggest thrills of cruising. While many cruisers choose to participate in cruise line-sponsored shore excursions where details are all planned out, others prefer to hop in a taxi and head to a popular destination and/or explore the area independently. Taxis can be a very practical way to do this. There are just a few common potential pitfalls that you’ll want to plan for and avoid.
While I will share a bit of a scary situation with you shortly, rest assured that in my over 30+ cruises, the vast majority of my taxi experiences while in cruise ports of call have been positive.
1. Find Safe and Reliable Taxis – Take Pictures!
Use your cell phone (or other camera) to take a quick pic of a few critical items. This would have really saved me in Aruba if I hadn’t skipped this step – but more on that later.
• Look for Official Taxi Stands: Avoid unmarked or unofficial taxis. In most cruise ports, taxi stands are clearly marked. If a rate sign is available, take a quick picture. If your destination is listed, zoom in and make sure you get those details and a full shot of the sign (you can always zoom in). For cruise ports with set rates for destinations this will allow you to confirm the fare with your driver so that there isn’t any confusion. Additionally, many times these signs contain a number that you can call if you have an issue.
• Check for Licensing: Licensed taxis often have clear signage, badges, or specific vehicle colors. For example, in Aruba, the licensed taxi drivers have TX on their license plates.
If an attendant (a taxi or port representative monitoring the line) is available, don’t hesitate to ask questions about your fare.
2. Negotiate (if appropriate) and Confirm the Fare First
Ask for the Price Before You Get In: This is crucial in places where meters are not used. One of the most critical pieces of information to confirm is whether your fare is per taxi or per person. You will also want to be clear if the price is in local currency or U.S. dollars. Again, please do this BEFORE you get into the taxi.
Request a Meter if Available: If the taxi has a meter, ask for it to be turned on. Although, in my experience, most taxis in the Caribbean are not metered.
3. Stay Safe and Alert
Share Your Trip Details: Let a travel companion know your destination. While it may sound corny, I usually share our general plan with a family member. We purchase the onboard wi-fi to work and stay in touch with our parents and young adult children. This makes it easy for me to casually mention that while we are in Cozumel today, we plan to spend our day at Paradise Beach.
Use Navigation Apps: Follow along with Google Maps or another app to ensure you’re on the correct route. If you do not have cell service in your port of call, plan ahead and download a map of the area for offline use. My husband is great at managing this safety tip! We were once in a taxi in NYC headed to Newark Airport when our taxi driver started taking us to JFK and then stopped on an overpass when he became confused on the directions. Since then, my husband always enters our destination in Google Maps and “follows along”. (He also does this during our in-state Uber rides as well).
Coordinate with your fellow cruisers: While I would generally discourage sharing a car with strangers, in this situation, it can save you money and add a little peace of mind. If you’re in the taxi stand and the couple next to you is also headed to the same beach, why not share a taxi? This can be especially helpful if you are traveling solo. Safety in numbers, right?
Avoid “need a ride” offers: This happens a lot at busy airports. A driver implies that they are an uber and they offer to give you a ride. This can be a scam and/or a very dangerous situation. Make sure you only use the Uber app or find your way to the official taxi stand where you can confirm the legitimacy of the driver.
4. Prepare for Language Barriers
Write Down Your Destination: Show the address or name of your destination to the driver. Some destinations may sound alike or are referred to differently within the local community. While popular tourist destinations are typically known to taxi drivers, as travelers, we shouldn’t assume. Having a written address or description/photo can be helpful especially in Europe. In rare occasions, you may need to use apps such as Google Translate to help with communication. This can be a very helpful tip for taking taxis in port.
Carry a Cruise Ship Card: In case of confusion, showing your ship’s name can help you return to the port, and remember, there may be more than one terminal in the area. In fact, at many ports, you must show your cruise ship card to get through the gate in your taxi when returning to the ship. However, don’t assume your taxi driver will automatically know where “Harmony of the Seas” is docked.
Related Post: Pack the Perfect Day Bag for Europe
5. Carry Small Bills and Cash
Have Local Currency Handy: Not all taxis accept credit cards. In fact, when traveling, you should assume that they do NOT accept credit cards. As mentioned above, confirm the expected currency prior to entering the taxi.
Avoid Overpaying: Smaller bills help prevent “no change” situations. I like to quickly search in advance to see what the almighty Google has to say about the typical taxi fare for our destination. However, this pre-cruise research should not take the place of reviewing the taxi rate sign at the port. Rates change and online forums may not always have the current information.replace
Tip Appropriately: Research if tipping is customary or included in the fare!
Related Post: How Much Cash Should I Bring On My Cruise?
6. Be Cautious When Returning to Your Cruise Ship
Allow Extra Time: Traffic and long lines at the port can delay your return. It’s also helpful to confirm when you arrive at your destination if taxis are readily available when you want to leave or if they need to be scheduled.
Set a Return Time Alarm: You may lose track of time if you are sipping margaritas on the beach. Set a quick alarm so that you have plenty of time to make it back to your ship well before “all aboard”.
Know Your Ship’s Location: Ports can have multiple terminals; make sure you know which one is yours.
7. Alternatives to Taxis in Port
Your final helpful tip for taking taxis in port is to know that there are other options if you are a little anxious about taking a cab in your cruise port of call-. Great options can include cruise line-offered shuttle buses and organized excursions.
Organized Excursions: You are not obligated to pay the cruise line price for excursions if you’d prefer to stick to a “planned and organized port day”. There are also many reputable excursion companies, such as Shore Excursions Group and Viator, that may offer similar port experiences at more competitive prices. ,
Public Transportation: If you’re feeling a little adventurous look for a local bus! This is one of our favorite ways to get around islands such as St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Public transportation can be an affordable and safe option in many cities, and you get to experience a bit of local life! It’s a good idea to research this option ahead of time because public transportation is not as clearly marked in cruise passenger areas. It’s understandable that they would rather you take a $30 taxi than a $4 bus!
Related Post: 8 Tips for Planning Your Cruise Port Excursions
Helpful Tips for Taking Taxis in Port – A Cautionary Tale
Again, most of our taxi in port experiences have been very positive. However, on our recent day in Aruba, things went very differently! The taxi stand outside our cruise ship was very clearly marked and there was a sign posted with set rates. We were planning to go to Eagle Beach and the posted rate was $15 (per taxi). There was a notation that on Sundays and Holidays, there would be a $2 increase in the posted fare. Since we were in Aruba on Sunday, we made mental note of this addition and planned for a $17 one way fare to the beach!
There wasn’t a line of cruisers at the time, so we quickly hopped into the first taxi in line without a care in the world. We promptly arrived at the beach – it was about a 10-minute ride. We handed our driver $25 (we thought this was a nice tip) and prepared to hop out of the mini-van. This is where the day got CRAZY. The driver said that it was $15 PER PERSON and started yelling at us. I calmly told him that the sign posted clearly said that it was per taxi with a $2 extra fee for Sunday. He continued yelling at us and even calling us names. Not wanting to cause a scene, my friend offered him additional money. The driver looked at the cash, snatched it up. He then yelled for us to get out of his van and off his bleepidy bleep island!
As you can imagine, we were shell-shocked. We have NEVER experienced anything like this in 20 years of cruising. Of course, this was the time when I was in a rush and didn’t follow my own advice above. Most notably, I didn’t take a picture of the rate sign, and I didn’t take a picture of his license plate, etc. I had gotten careless and didn’t follow my own advice! It was a great reminder to follow these helpful tips for taking taxis in ports!
Related Post: Top Tips for Your First Cruise: Cruise like a Pro!
Conclusion – 7 Helpful Tips for Taking Taxis in Ports
Despite my cautionary tale, taxis can be a great way to explore your cruise port of call. Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be exploring your port of call in no time and without a care.
• Encourage readers to combine these tips with a sense of adventure.
What are your favorite taxi tips when cruising?
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