Semi-Live limited Gem Dec 13, 2019 NY-Florida overnight, GSC & Nassau

[OceanBlueWaters]

Love your "semi" reviews and always followed!  🙂

Question:  I always had a problem catching a cab across the street from Pier 88 when going home.  Why?  It should be simple. 

The cabs were lined up, but they refused me (1 person to Port Authority).  The guy "directing taxi lineup" came back and asked why I was still there.  I said "this guy" does not want to take me to Port Authority.  He checked and came back to me and said "yup, he doesn't want to take you" on on he went.  Huh? WTH!  Isn't that illegal?

 

I eventually found someone who would take me (after many curse words that came out of my mouth which also scared ME. LOL!).  I took a photo of the 1st cab driver's cab who refused me.  He saw me taking photo and already loaded a bunch of people in his cab, but came back to me and asked if I wanted to go.  There was no room! 

 

Can you please explain the "rules/laws" of cab drivers across from the Pier?  Hopefully someone else can relate to my experience and know how to react if they run into this situation.

 

Thank you and welcome home!

[njhorseman]

2 hours ago, OceanBlueWaters said:

Love your "semi" reviews and always followed!  🙂

Question:  I always had a problem catching a cab across the street from Pier 88 when going home.  Why?  It should be simple. 

The cabs were lined up, but they refused me (1 person to Port Authority).  The guy "directing taxi lineup" came back and asked why I was still there.  I said "this guy" does not want to take me to Port Authority.  He checked and came back to me and said "yup, he doesn't want to take you" on on he went.  Huh? WTH!  Isn't that illegal?

 

I eventually found someone who would take me (after many curse words that came out of my mouth which also scared ME. LOL!).  I took a photo of the 1st cab driver's cab who refused me.  He saw me taking photo and already loaded a bunch of people in his cab, but came back to me and asked if I wanted to go.  There was no room! 

 

Can you please explain the "rules/laws" of cab drivers across from the Pier?  Hopefully someone else can relate to my experience and know how to react if they run into this situation.

 

Thank you and welcome home!

Assuming this was an actual NY City yellow taxi, it was illegal for the driver to refuse to take you to Port Authority Bus Terminal. Since taxi fares are not per person, but rather per taxi, it shouldn't matter that you were one person or four people. My guess is the driver was hustling tourists by not turning the meter on and instead charging a per person fare...or turning the meter on but charging the meter fare to each individual . If someone does that to you again, take down their medallion number (it's on the roof light and the license plate ) and report them to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Edited December 23, 2019 by njhorseman

[MLA]

36 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Assuming this was an actual NY City yellow taxi, it was illegal for the driver to refuse to take you to Port Authority Bus Terminal. Since taxi fares are not per person, but rather per taxi, it shouldn't matter that you were one person or four people. My guess is the driver was hustling tourists by not turning the meter on and instead charging a per person fare...or turning the meter on but charging the meter fare to each individual . If someone does that to you again, take down their medallion number (it's on the roof light and the license plate ) and report them to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

This is why I generally use Uber in NY

[jaja]

Just a note...while waiting outside on Saturday for my car service..I was approached by 3 people asking if I needed a ride ! The hustlers were out in full force.  Have no idea where their cars were..or who they were...

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, OceanBlueWaters said:

... Can you please explain the "rules/laws" of cab drivers across from the Pier?  Hopefully someone else can relate to my experience and know how to react if they run into this situation ... 

 

Hi - yellow taxis are strictly regulated & subject to various laws in NYC; but, there are/will always be a few bad apples ... I/we ran into them and Jan (@jaja) ran into them at/near the cruise terminal, breaking & bending the rules.  As NJH said, take down their T&L hack license info, a smart/iPhone photo, plus driver info (if you can) as many fleet vehicles are leased out to multiple drivers & kept on the road 24/7 ... not necessary owner-driven.  Most out-of-towners really don't have time and/or wanted to be bothered with filing a complaint and/or deal with the hassle - the crooks get away with it, again.

 

One of the effective strategy is, never tell the driver and/or even the dispatcher, of where you are going ... especially on a short trip, like going to the bus terminal or Penn Station, or even across town if staying in a nearby hotel on the East Side, etc.  First, get the luggage loaded & watch, then - get into the backseat (everyone) then tell the driver where you are going - address & other details, some will set/input into their GPS aid (Waze seemed to be popular/used by Carmel, our preferred "car service").  

 

At that point s/he has no choice or option to refuse, and must take you there, by law or else - say, I will report this to T & C, repeat it if s/he try to act/play it dumb.  As a last resort, call 911 on the spot - the driver do not want to risk getting his license suspended, ticket(s) or citations written up by TLC inspectors or other trouble either, time is money for all - and will just go ahead & drive. 

 

On a short ride and for a nice/friendly/helpful driver - I don't mind and advise tipping a little extra, above & beyond that 15 to 20% - that should bring a smile resulting in a win-win situation.  If you get off the ship earlier, odds are good that the driver can pickup a fare immediately after dropping you off - and possibly come back to the end of the taxi line to pick up a "fare" to the airport, etc. 

 

Last Saturday, DW didn't want to spend 5 to 10 minutes waiting outside in the cold for Carmel, so we took a yellow taxi - did as described & ask the driver to take the LGA Airport route to get us home (the longer/faster way by 2 minutes would be an extra 2 or 3 miles ... I know, from using Waze myself when driving) and he got a nice fare, toll & tip for it.  But, he is going back empty - and if he decided to join the queue at LGA's taxi line for a fare back into Manhattan ... on a "slow" Saturday morning, could be idling & inching there for easily 1/2 hour to an hour at the taxi "holding" lot.  

 

In short, on your next trip leaving the pier - load the luggage, get inside the cab/passenger compartment first - then, give the driver the address or where you are going.  S/he has no choice and chance to say no - will go as directed.  Tip the driver a little extra for a win-win, afterall ... a can of soda onboard NCL cost over $4 these days.  

 

Happy holidays to you & glad to know the "semi" live reviews got a cheerful audience, sharing little tips & tricks ... sometimes, it go a long way in stretching those cruise dollars. 

[All-ready2cruise]

Thank you so much for your wonderful review and this new info is great too, much appreciated.  Although I live less than an hour from a US airport, I normally take a YYZ flight even when flying to a US port, however, my next few cruises, I will leave from NE US ports so this info is a great addition for me.  

 

Thanks again and have a wonderful holiday season. 

Cheers,

Connie

[mking8288]

15 hours ago, jaja said:

Just a note...while waiting outside on Saturday ... approached by 3 people asking if I needed a ride ... no idea where their cars were..or who they were...

 

Hi, Jan - what matter is that you got home safely & quickly ... Alex & Mark from the M&G got back to their home in Queens by 9 am (OMG) just as we're being "escorted" by the porter to leave the terminal ... approached by these "folks" trying to make a living fool out of us, yeah, right.  One of them flashed an "Uber" logo/image on the smartphone - something that anyone can do easily, quickly.  One can buy online a "ready to use" Uber/Lyft driver's kit to make their cars "official" looking.  Some of the discussions/tips/comments should be in the East Coast sub-forum for NY, useful & helpful for others ... 

 

DW said, she woke up in the middle of the night, wondering why she didn't feel the bed/room moving, squeaking & tilting ... LOL.   Happy holidays to you and everyone else. 

 

 

[dexddd]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

 

Hi, Jan - what matter is that you got home safely & quickly ... Alex & Mark from the M&G got back to their home in Queens by 9 am (OMG) just as we're being "escorted" by the porter to leave the terminal ... approached by these "folks" trying to make a living fool out of us, yeah, right.  One of them flashed an "Uber" logo/image on the smartphone - something that anyone can do easily, quickly.  One can buy online a "ready to use" Uber/Lyft driver's kit to make their cars "official" looking.  Some of the discussions/tips/comments should be in the East Coast sub-forum for NY, useful & helpful for others ... 

 

DW said, she woke up in the middle of the night, wondering why she didn't feel the bed/room moving, squeaking & tilting ... LOL.   Happy holidays to you and everyone else. 

 

 

She didn't feel the bed moving and squeaking because you are a night owl and was up listening to marine traffic and watching kroozcams.

[dexddd]

Yes, plenty of hustlers across the street.  Like vultures.  We've used Uber last two trips and very easy but they'll still hustle you.

 

Arranging transportation to and from airport is DW's only job for our trips.  She can really rock that app on her phone.

[dexddd]

23 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Going on MSC, huh but no free WiFi for DS/DD 🤭  Yeah, running to the shopping mall later, 70% off sales ... FedEx/UPS delivered the rest and even USPS was on overtime yesterday. 

 

My 😜 apologies for the food, some of it looked better than actual taste, the worst being our Cagney's meal ... supposed to be a medium Porterhouse steak, tiny sides. Good news in that we didn't gain weight, ate fish while they are still free. The smoked salmon bagel got smaller, for "my" convenience in eating light. 

 

No interactions with Heidi but the folks on Deck 13 were nice & all.  Sent way too much treats. As usual, slippers too small to fit my big feet & same for the bathrobes, still nice & appreciated, DW used the lotion & shampoo. 

 

I wonder what they are charging this week for duty-free cigarettes with the USVI stop along the way. 

 

Have a merry & wonderful Christmas ahead.

 

 

That's quite the haul.  I'd be wrapping the Duc up for my least favorite SIL.

 

Did they lower price for own branded water?  Probably huge savings VS buying Aquafina or Panna, for your convenience, of course.

 

Yes, next trip MSC Mera in March.  Supposedly wifi starting April free in YC but we'll miss it by a bit.  DD can go no wifi but DS starts to get the tweaks.

 

Happy Holidays!

[jaja]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

 

Hi, Jan - what matter is that you got home safely & quickly ... Alex & Mark from the M&G got back to their home in Queens by 9 am (OMG) just as we're being "escorted" by the porter to leave the terminal ... approached by these "folks" trying to make a living fool out of us, yeah, right.  One of them flashed an "Uber" logo/image on the smartphone - something that anyone can do easily, quickly.  One can buy online a "ready to use" Uber/Lyft driver's kit to make their cars "official" looking.  Some of the discussions/tips/comments should be in the East Coast sub-forum for NY, useful & helpful for others ... 

 

DW said, she woke up in the middle of the night, wondering why she didn't feel the bed/room moving, squeaking & tilting ... LOL.   Happy holidays to you and everyone else. 

 

 

Yes--and not only did I get home safe...it actually was one of the quickest disembark and ride home I ever had!!  Was not a walk off..but  as in my house in NJ by 10:00 !!!!  

Holiday wishes to you and Mrs....and again thanks for all you great info!

Jan