Will cabs to Red Hook take just two people?

[topsailgirl]

Docking in St Thomas in acouple of weeks and want to go to St John. We want to be there as soon as we can to maximize our time there. When we get off ship, we plan to jump in a taxi and head to Red Hook for the ferry.

 

Will we have any problems getting a taxi that will leave straight away with just the two of us or are we stuck with the kind of taxis that are more van-like and wait until they are full to leave? (or maybe there are some of each kind -- just want to know if we can get off ship and get going!)

[rpurkey]

2 years ago my wife and I took a cab to red hook with just the two of us.

 

i seem to remember it being a normal car instead of the van-type cab.

not certain though.

 

we were among the first to get off the ship to beat the crowds to SJ. well worth the effort.

[Lsimon]

You will probably have problems. The whole taxi system in St. Thomas is geared towards shared cabs. If everyone took separate (non-shared) cabs there either wouldn't be enough cabs or the streets would be so congested the 20 minute ride would take an hour or more - and there is plenty of traffic as it is now. As long as you get off in time to make the ferry it doesn't matter if you are alone in the cab or there are 12 people in with you - the ferry leaves at the same time. Also - the cabs at the pier are coordinated at busy times by a dispatcher and they probably won't want to put you in a cab at a busy time to a popular destination that many others are going to.

 

If you're worried about making the ferry the solution isn't to demand a separate cab it is to get to the taxi stand in plenty of time. If you're outside the ship around 15 past the hour you should have no problem making the ferry that leaves on the hour.