NY Port taxi question

[yiayiamz]

I will have a ride to the port but I will need a taxi when we return. Is there a dispacher or do we just try to hail a cab? In some ports there is a dispacher who puts you in line for a taxi. It is much more organized that way.

[MalkyM]

There is someone just outside the main doors who will give you a ticket for the taxi line. The dispatcher (a lady when we arrived off the Dawn) will then call your number and allocate a cab. Although it was bedlam at the time of disembarkation, it didn't take us more than 5 minutes to get a cab. Enjoy your cruise.

[Dolphins]

You will have no problem getting a taxi if your ship is the only one at the facility. It could be a problem if other ships are in port. We docked once when there were 3 other ships docked north of us and the cabs never got to our ship. We had to drag our luggage down to 12th Ave. and hail a cab on the street.

[MalkyM]

Dolphins - you've got a good point there. We were the only ship docked at the time so I guess we were extra lucky in finding a taxi almost straight away. Don't fancy the luggage dragging bit at all!!

[smallone]

Where is just outside the main doors, is it on the ship or at the terminal. Have never been to NY so I am clueless.

[Dirtyoldad]

You will walk from the ship into a very large inside hall where you will search for your luggage. You can then either have a porter help or carry your own bags straight out of the terminal where there ia a roadway and cabs will be waiting for you.

[yiayiamz]

Thanks a lot for the information. On Jan. 9th we will be the only ship. How did you enjoy sailing on the Dawn?

[Whiteowl]

We had major problems getting off the ship, being non US citizens. The ship docked late at 9.30 (due to bad weather the day before) and all non US citizens were taken to the Stardust Theatre (all 1,000 of us). There we waited for 2 hours while US immigration got their act together. There was a lot of bad feeling towards NCL about the way we were being treated with no information being given as to the reasons why we were being detained. Eventually we were led, row by row off the ship into another long queue in the terminal building for 30 mins. When we finally arrived on the pier head it was ablolute chaos. The next passengers were all arriving as we were trying to exit. There was no control or direction being given by NCL or the port authority. Eventually we got a ticket for a taxi and waited another 45 mins. We did not leave the pier until 2.30. Our original intention was to shop in NY but by this time our only choice was to head for the airport.

 

By the way, JFK is pathetic It has very limited, poorly maintained facilites compared to Heathrow & Gatwick in the UK. They both have excellent facilities for shopping, eating, drinking and socialising.

 

While overall we enjoyed the cruise, other posters have mentioned the poor service in Venetian and Cagneys. We also suffered poor service in Cagneys with incorrect meals and cold food. Given that this is the premier restaurant, it was very poor service.