Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Centre taxi scam

[Anna]

Just got off Sapphire Princess at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. They run a blatant taxi scam there. Straight out of the terminal, the cabs conveniently waiting in front are all 'limo cabs', min cost about S$55. Many people would have no idea about Singapore taxis and would just get in. Ask for an ordinary taxi, they will tell you there aren't any. 'Oh well I'll walk 500m to the MRT' I thought, only to find at the back of the terminal there was a rank full of ordinary taxis waiting for pax. My ride cost S$17. There was a $5 'location fee' for pick up there but still way cheaper than S$55 minimum. I hate this kind of taking advantage of tourists who don't know any better. So watch out if you're disembarking a cruise at Marina Bay.

 

[Pushka]

Just got off Sapphire Princess at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. They run a blatant taxi scam there. Straight out of the terminal, the cabs conveniently waiting in front are all 'limo cabs', min cost about S$55. Many people would have no idea about Singapore taxis and would just get in. Ask for an ordinary taxi, they will tell you there aren't any. 'Oh well I'll walk 500m to the MRT' I thought, only to find at the back of the terminal there was a rank full of ordinary taxis waiting for pax. My ride cost S$17. There was a $5 'location fee' for pick up there but still way cheaper than S$55 minimum. I hate this kind of taking advantage of tourists who don't know any better. So watch out if you're disembarking a cruise at Marina Bay.

Yes, I remember that well. Just keep walking straight ahead.

Did you enjoy the cruise? Is Sapphire a newish ship?

 

[AIRwin]

I'm surprised to hear of this in Singapore... No specific info on the website either:
https://mbccs.com.sg/getting-to-the-city-airport/

 

[Isochronous]

A lot of the riverfront restaurants in Boat Quay are scams as well.

 

[moa999]

The little graphic under the Train (MRT) section does show the position of Limos versus Bus and regular Taxi.
At a guess the port charges them a higher fee for the preferred position.

Another good reason to use Uber/Grab etc

 

[AIRwin]

The little graphic under the Train (MRT) section does show the position of Limos versus Bus and regular Taxi.

Oh yes, I see it now but almost needed a magnifying glass to read the fine print...

 

[Anna]

Did you enjoy the cruise? Is Sapphire a newish ship?

Went into service in 2004 I think, so not new. Refurbished in 2018 with large tv screens put in cabins and new bedding, but still showing age. There was a lot of nickel and diming on this ship, even worse than usual . I got bronchitis on board, which I haven't had since childhood . There were good bits, eg fantastic movie selection, but overall I wouldn't cruise on Sapphire again. The activities available generally did not interest me, or clashed so that 2 good things would be on simultaneously. Also 14 nights is too long onboard for me, I realised. 7-10 nights is a good length for me. You can have too much of a good thing, well I can anyway

 

[Pushka]

Went into service in 2004 I think, so not new. Refurbished in 2018 with large tv screens put in cabins and new bedding, but still showing age. There was a lot of nickel and diming on this ship, even worse than usual . I got bronchitis on board, which I haven't had since childhood . There were good bits, eg fantastic movie selection, but overall I wouldn't cruise on Sapphire again. The activities available generally did not interest me, or clashed so that 2 good things would be on simultaneously. Also 14 nights is too long onboard for me, I realised. 7-10 nights is a good length for me. You can have too much of a good thing, well I can anyway

The dreaded kennel cough on the ship. Love_the_life will attest to the hacker I caught on QM2 and which I’m sure bothered her in Dubai even though she was very polite and caring. One of the worst I can remember and which we now know was given to me by a table mate who came to the table even when he wasn’t well, then one night he just couldn’t. Took me a month to get rid of the worst of it.

 

[rovingrabbit]

The dreaded kennel cough on the ship. Love_the_life will attest to the hacker I caught on QM2 and which I’m sure bothered her in Dubai even though she was very polite and caring. One of the worst I can remember and which we now know was given to me by a table mate who came to the table even when he wasn’t well, then one night he just couldn’t. Took me a month to get rid of the worst of it.

Its amazing how many people with bad colds and flu turn up at the dining tables and pass their bug on to those around them . I developed a very bad flu when in the ships theatre the person in the seat behind coughed on me and I felt the droplets hit me - I knew I was in trouble. Three days later when we returned to Canada I was looking for a doctor.....

 

[Rod James]

Just got off Sapphire Princess at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. They run a blatant taxi scam there. Straight out of the terminal, the cabs conveniently waiting in front are all 'limo cabs', min cost about S$55. Many people would have no idea about Singapore taxis and would just get in. Ask for an ordinary taxi, they will tell you there aren't any. 'Oh well I'll walk 500m to the MRT' I thought, only to find at the back of the terminal there was a rank full of ordinary taxis waiting for pax. My ride cost S$17. There was a $5 'location fee' for pick up there but still way cheaper than S$55 minimum. I hate this kind of taking advantage of tourists who don't know any better. So watch out if you're disembarking a cruise at Marina Bay.

Thank you for your advise .
We are sailing in Singapore soon and will be catching a Taxi as they are dirt cheap over there so would have been shocked at the final price.

 

[Bindibuys]

Sailing 2 February, so thanks for the heads up.

 

[I love to travel]

Thanks Anna friends arriving in Singapore next week so were very grateful for this info.