Public Bus

[h_blond2]

Are the public buses fairly easy to flag down (specifically from 7 Mile Beach)  or do we need to be at a specific bus stop?

[TravellingBritNY]

Buses will stop if you wave at them.  Often if they see someone walking down their route they will honk their horns.  If you wave and look like you want to get on they will stop.

[cb at sea]

So easy, are their buses!  We were picked up right off the tender port.  They dropped us at Seagrape beach access (Public Beach), where they have restrooms, chair/umbrella rentals, watersport rentals, food/drink.  Lovely day!  Just keep an eye on the return traffic....leave extra time to return to port.  The beaches are narrow, so you can see the road from the beach!  Walk to the road, and the next bus will stop for you!  So easy!

[TravellingBritNY]

I believe that the buses do not run from the tender port - you need to walk about 5 minutes to the bus depot.  It is a very easy and safe walk, though - bus fares are $2.50 per person each way.

 

The minibuses that are at the cruise port are actually taxis.

[h_blond2]

Thank you for the replies!

[zachary16]

Yes - we've taken a bus there twice now and had to walk from the port to the main terminal, which wasn't far. I think they will stop anywhere you want them to. And then you can flag one down as you would a cab for the ride back. It was all very easy. 

[travelling_txgal]

We visited last week. The public "bus" (which is more like a van) waits near the port entrance, across from the shopping plaza and loads riders until it's filled. We rode, very tightly packed, to Seven Mile Beach via Calico Jack's. We were charged $6 pp. When we were ready to leave we walked outside of Calico Jack's and got on one of the many waiting buses. 

[JaniceB]

Do you know if Calico Jacks will be open in May?  Thanks for the bus infor trying to decide on transportation.

[bookbabe]

7 hours ago, travelling_txgal said:

We visited last week. The public "bus" (which is more like a van) waits near the port entrance, across from the shopping plaza and loads riders until it's filled. We rode, very tightly packed, to Seven Mile Beach via Calico Jack's. We were charged $6 pp. When we were ready to leave we walked outside of Calico Jack's and got on one of the many waiting buses. 

 

That was actually a taxi.  It’s tough to tell, since they look a lot alike, but if you get on at the port and it’s more than $2.50pp, then it’s a taxi doing a shared-ride shuttle run.

[Gatorzzzz]

We walked to the bus depot, told someone where we wanted to go and were pointed to the right bus. We told the driver where we wanted to go and when he dropped us off he told us to stand by the side of the road (we were actually dropped off at bus stop sign) and wave down any bus. 

$2.50 each way pp.

Really easy. 

[stunned]

On 2/16/2019 at 10:42 AM, Gatorzzzz said:

We walked to the bus depot, told someone where we wanted to go and were pointed to the right bus. We told the driver where we wanted to go and when he dropped us off he told us to stand by the side of the road (we were actually dropped off at bus stop sign) and wave down any bus. 

$2.50 each way pp.

Really easy. 

How can you tell the bus from a taxi for ride back from beach?

[OCruisers]

 Taking a taxi is the easiest way!  

[CruiseIreland]

2 hours ago, stunned said:

How can you tell the bus from a taxi for ride back from beach?

I fretted about finding the 'public bus' but in reality, they're all over the place. They honk at people walking and, if I doubt when approached, just clarify the price.

[Gatorzzzz]

2 hours ago, stunned said:

How can you tell the bus from a taxi for ride back from beach?

 

The busses have a colored circle with a number in it.  Plus, they run a schedule.  I really think that if you take the bus out, you'll figure out how is works to getting a ride back.

Edited February 21, 2019 by Gatorzzzz
Typo

[stunned]

Thank you - yes we will take the bus - always a good way to meet local residents and learn.