Laem Chabang costa fortuna

[Czrylx]

Hi. I am planning to go to Bangkok from Laem Chabang port this December. It will be a day return trip. Is it better and cheaper if we pre book the taxi or search on the spot?

The ship (costa fortuna) will arrive on 26 and leave on 27. Can I go back at whatever time I want on 26 midnight (11pm) or 27 early in the morning?

Thank you

[Heidi13]

Haven't done R/T from the port, but did go from the airport to cruise terminal. We pre-booked a limo, not for price, but to provide an opportunity to research the provider for a hopefully reputable service and less chance of delay.

Edited December 10, 2018 by Heidi13

[John Bull]

Hi, and welcome to Cruise Critic

 

This isn't like the Caribbean.

Don't wait until you arrive.

Bangkok is 90 to 120 minutes away, but allow a minimum of 2.5 hours for the return journey.

The taxis available on-the-spot in the port are in a cartel, and the taxi-master will dictate prices.

There's no public transport, and the port is remote.

So the taxi-master will demand high  prices, knowing you have no alternative.

 

Normally there's no problem getting on or off the ship whenever you like, even in the wee small hours

 

You have three choices......

 

1.

Ship's buses - either "Bangkok on your own" or a tour.

Like all ship-sponsored transfers or tours they'll be poor value. But of course they come with safeguards, and if you obtain quotes for private bookings you can compare values.

Do bear in mind that Costa has a very mixed clientele and English will not be the primary language. If there's insufficient .bookings for English-speaking tours they'll be combined into a dual-language tour.

 

2.

For an independent tour or transfer, book a private deal in advance over the internet.

There are good and there are bad - the good are very good, but you do need to carefully check independent reviews and recommendations. If you are required to pay upfront, do check terms and conditions and only pay by credit card.

Most private cars only carry 3 passengers.

Again you can choose to book either a transfer or a tour.

 

It's easy and very cheap to book a transfer from Bangkok back to Laem Chabang once you get to the city, but most transfer operators quoting you over the internet will give a heavily-discounted two-way price compared to a one-way - so the net cost will be about the same and using their two-way service is simplest.   

 

Traffic in Bangkok can be grid-locked, but there are quick and fun options for getting around the city including the skytrain, ferries and tuk-tuks. 

This is where a transfer scores over a tour. especially a ship's bus tour.

But it does need good research and careful planning .

 

3.

Ideal, if you can find sharers via your RollCall (but on an Italian ship that's likely to be a small RollCall) would be a shared van tour with both a guide and a driver. That way you can abandon the van & use other transportation in the city when appropriate.

So if you're thinking of going down the independent route get quotes for both car and van.

First, of course, check whether anyone on your cruise already has something similar planned & is looking for sharers.

Edited to add. Ooooops. Just noticed your dates. You're way too late to fix up anything involving others

 

Finally, if ship's time in port suits, do consider overniting in a city hotel.

This will avoid a double-dose of transfers, giving you more time in the city including an evening. 

Plenty of cheap hotels and cheap eats.

But that kinda means fixing up a transfer rather than a full-blown tour.

 

It's several years since we last went, so can't help with recommendations or prices.

 

JB