Hal said no taxis at new Hong Kong cruise port; but there were tons!

[Betty in Cozumel]

During the presentation in the main theatre about disembarkation day in Hong Kong, we were told that there would be no taxis.  They showed a photo of hundreds of people in line and said that only 3 taxis showed up.

 

We were going to take the free shuttle bus to the Diamond Hill MTR station but were told that these were for passengers who were staying on the ship.  NOT for people disembarking like us with luggage.

 

Because of this we ended up buying the ship's transfer ($15/person) to the Kowloon Express MTR station.  And of course we were last minute and got the 7:30am-7:40am time slot.  We were staying in Hong Kong for a few days so were in no hurry to leave the ship.

 

Of course when we arrived and were being walked to the bus there were TONS of taxis lined up and no one in the line.  😞

 

Was HAL scaring everyone into booking their transfers????   Hmmmm

[Donald]

The HAL people were essentially correct. There are rarely any taxis available at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong. Taxi Drivers only go there to drop off a fare - not to look for people to pick up.

The HAL people were trying to ensure that their disembarking pax did not get caught in long lines with no taxis.

 

You got lucky by catching them at a time when many pax were being dropped off.

Now, many people reading the title of your thread are going to get stuck in those long lines with no taxis.

[Ashland]

1 minute ago, Donald said:

The HAL people were essentially correct. There are rarely any taxis available at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong. Taxi Drivers only go there to drop off a fare - not to look for people to pick up.

The HAL people were trying to ensure that their disembarking pax did not get caught in long lines with no taxis.

 

You got lucky by catching them at a time when many pax were being dropped off.

Now, many people reading the title of your thread are going to get stuck in those long lines with no taxis.

Hmmm...really....not what we've found at Kai Tak...lot's of taxi's waiting (lining up) for passengers when arrived late at night for our overnight and many the next morning...with very helpful taxi attendants asking where you want to go and directing you to the next taxi in line.

[cheznandy]

Agree with Ashland, we were there last August on Majestic Princess, Voyager of the seas was in as well, loads of taxis, only took about 10 minutes for us in line, taxis just kept rolling up. Attendents were asking where you wanted to go, then gave out a card with the return address in Chinese.

[Tara Jane]

Same for us on QM2 heaps of taxis just like the airport taxis queues a long queue of taxis one leaves the next rolls up. Attendants asked where we were going wrote it in Chinese and the price. Wonderful service.  We were 8 so 2 taxis. Luggage compartment small but octopus straps did the job. Less than 10 mins from arriving at taxi rank to walking into the hotel.

[PCWalton1]

19 hours ago, Ashland said:

Hmmm...really....not what we've found at Kai Tak...lot's of taxi's waiting (lining up) for passengers when arrived late at night for our overnight and many the next morning...with very helpful taxi attendants asking where you want to go and directing you to the next taxi in line.

Ditto

[Donald]

So we have 5 posters who were lucky enough to find taxis at the Kai Tak Terminal.

Congratulations on your good luck.

How many times have you experienced this good luck in Hong Kong? Once, twice?

 

My ship (not HAL) calls at Kai Tak Terminal several times every month, where thousands of passengers try, often unsuccessfully, to find a taxi.

Although your personal one-time experience was a positive one, leading the general public to believe that they will also be as lucky as you were is probably setting them up for disappointment.

[G.M.T.]

I think one has to distinguish between disembarcation / embarcation call and a port of call.

 

The former there will be plenty of taxis, dropping off embarking passengers then up to pickup  disembaking passengers, very lucrative.

 

For the latter, very few taxis, as most passengers will be on ship's excursion, private tour or shuttle bus to shopping mall.

[Expat Cruise]

have used both terminals over the last few years 6 cruises in all. Never had a taxi issue at these terminals.  What you need to understand is Hong Kong is a modern first World City, when a cruise ship comes in the port has already called for extra taxis. Taxis are never a issue.