Caution – Taxis at Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port
After debarking from the second leg of our Liberty of the Seas cruise in April, we made a huge rookie mistake. Normally, we request an Uber driver to pick us up from the port or a car service if the price is right, but we disembarked early and saw over ten taxis waiting for passengers and the airport was less than 10-minutes away. We thought we hit the taxi jackpot and might be able to catch an earlier flight if we took one of these empty taxis. The friendly atmosphere of the cruise and our eagerness to reach the airport likely led us to learn a tough lesson the hard way.
A gentleman kindly took our luggage and loaded them into a taxi van as we walked towards the bank of empty taxis. We entered the taxi, which was not very clean and a bit muggy inside but thought the temperature would change once the taxi pulled out into traffic. We usually try to make light conversation during the drive but are conscious of not distracting the drivers. Our driver did not say a word, and it felt like we were children who had just been reprimanded by a parent.
The taxi pulled out, and the vehicle remained stuffy and stale. The driver was probably going at least 20 miles per hour over the speed limit and did not slow down when taking the ramp to the airport. I wore the seat belt but had to hold on to the door to keep my seat. My husband and I were looking at each other, eager to get out of this cab. We pulled up to the airport terminal, and my husband tried to swipe his credit card to pay the driver. However, the card reader was not working, and we did not notice this until we were trying to pay. Meanwhile, the driver was taking our luggage out of the trunk and shoving it to the side of the road, not even on the sidewalk, so it was rolling away. We questioned the driver about the payment machine for the fare, and he said, “Oh, that does not work,” and my husband immediately asked, “What do you mean it does not work? How much is the fare?” The driver replied, “Oh, I don’t know, let’s say $25, and I need cash.” This did not go over well since the fares were displayed on the window, and we had gone less than five miles. My husband said, “Who carries cash anymore, are you serious, and how do I know that is the true price?” The driver just shrugged at him. To diffuse the situation, I pulled $30 in cash out of my wallet and told my husband to get out of the cab, pay him, and let’s just go into the terminal—lesson learned. The driver could tell my husband was annoyed, and as we turned to go inside, we took a picture of the taxi to report the poor behavior. The driver came running at us, telling us to take our money back. We declined because he expected us not to report him if he gave us our money back.
We understand people need to make a living, and we always ensure we tip service employees well, but the state of the vehicle, driver behavior/attitude towards us, unprofessional driving, and dishonesty were reprehensible. He was clearly trying to make as quick of a trip as possible to get back to the port and make several more trips. Who knows if he would have turned on the meter for the rest of them?
We write this post to warn other cruisers coming into the Fort Lauderdale cruise port to be wary. Here are some tips to avoid such situations:
- Use Ride-Sharing Apps: Stick to ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, where you can track your ride, know the fare upfront, and pay through the app (However, we have a story on this, too).
- Check the Taxi Meter: Ensure the taxi meter is running as soon as you start your ride. If the driver refuses to turn it on, consider finding another taxi.
- Carry Some Cash: While most services accept card payments, it’s always good to have a small amount of cash for emergencies.
- Take Note of Taxi Details: Before getting into the taxi, take a picture of the taxi’s license plate and the driver’s ID, usually displayed on the dashboard.
- Report Unprofessional Behavior: If you encounter any issues, report the driver to the local taxi authority or the company they work for.
Safe cruising, sea slugs!