Tourists visiting Dominica this cruise ship season will be getting better services from taxi drivers.
This is according Public relations officer of the Dominica Combined taxi association, Curtis Labassiere.
He said the setting up of a new dispatch system is expected to assist with the smooth flow of business.
“Preparations are still ongoing,” Labassiere said. “We are preparing our taxi operators to make sure they deliver a proper service and sell Dominica properly.”
He said his association is working in partnership with the Discover Dominica Authority to make sure all systems are in place for the season. “I think we are more prepared for this season even though it will not be a great season like three years ago,” he stated. “We are setting up a new dispatch system and that should help.”
The 2012/2013 cruise ship season officially began on Monday and Dominica is expected to receive fewer calls for several reasons.
According to reports just about 176 calls are expected here.
The first cruise ship is expected to come to Dominica’s shores in about two weeks time.
There used to be a notice board outside arrivals at Melville Hall giving the taxi fares to major destinations such as Reau, Portsmouth etc. This gives confidence to visitors, esepecially those who visit for the first time. If that sign is no longer there we should put it back at once in a prominent spot.
Someone should take a look at the taxi service at the airport in Antigua. Tourists and locals can get a taxi knowing they are not being ripped off. The fares are set throughout the island. Taxi drivers are all pleasant and knowledgeable. It is an excellent hassle-free service.
Taxi’s and buses should also be inspected to make sure they are actually in safe enough condition to carry visitors – i.e. brakes and tyres especially.
Once someone knows they can safely get a taxi, and pay a standard fare, then there will be more customers, instead of so many tourists just hanging around in Roseau because they are afraid of being overcharged.
Dominica is a beautiful island (Roseau does not give the slightest impression of this beauty) we just need tourists to see more of it, accompanied by a knowledgeable, friendly driver.
Dominica has the worst taxi service ever! and I am not saying that to bring a bad light but to show that we as locals can never step into town and jump into a taxi. and if we do, it will be some exorbitant cost. Every country/island that I have visited, i was able to go to a taxi stand and get a cab to take me home.
It appears that the taxi service operates only for tourists and airport route. I am sure if the Haitians started a local taxi service on Island then the locals will be crying. Buts it about time that I can go to town whenever and be able to get a taxo to take me to Newtown or Goodwill or any surrounding areas any time of the day and early evening hours. Here is an idea for someone to start it off.
For your information there is a taxi stand outside of the tourist information center at the bay front. Secondly let me inform you that we as taxi operators are very well trained in areas ranging from first aid to Dominica’s history.We have just concluded a five week refresher program so I think you need to inform yourself. As for the pricing most locals maybe including yourself do not want to pay for the professional service given to you by your local taxi operator. I have been there trust me. So when you are bin town and you need a taxi just check by the tourist information at the bayfront.
great idea. even the dollar and 2 dollar cab to.i hope the haitians are reading this .where i live in ny the haitian are all over with their dollar cab.every body hopes on and each pay $2.00 to his or her destination .MAKING COMMUTE SO MUCH EASIER
You obviously do not travel a lot!
there is mallys taxi office in roseau that goes every where so i dont know where u get your information from
Ya right!!?? Your association gonna make all the money this season….Sing for your supper still….Stop desciminating and pressing the poor taxi drivers. Too much happening with that cruise taxi business..Is one set to eat..
How about getting them to slow down and drive carefully and considerately?
people if they donot have the knowledge please lend a hand and educate them and you will benefit too
true vibes
Most of them taxi man dont have courtesy,all they like is the Dollar and a C–lass under there front seat !!!!
Not all taxi drivers are Cruise taxi operators
there is a difference between a taxi operator and a bus driver
According to the cruise industy’s reports only 105 cruise ships calls are scheduled for Roseau between 1 Oct 2012 – 31 March 2013. The site “cruisetimetables.com” details, by ship’s name and arrival date,the following number of calls:
Oct. 2012 – 3, Nov. 2012 -16, Dec. 2012 -24,
Jan. 2013 -22, Feb. 2013 -19, March 2013 -21.
We will only see two days when we have three ships in port at the same time, 12 Dec.(AIDALuna, Silver Whisper, Windsurf) and 23 March (Azura, Silver Princess, Thomson Dream). Incidentally, we will have our fair share of “budget” ships during this season such as “Mein Schiff 1″ (9 calls), AIDALuna” (9 calls) and “Thomson Dreams” (7 calls), whilst the more exclusive, but much smaller “Windsurf is scheduled to make 7 calls.
I don’t know wh/where the figure of 176 calls comes from but it should be challenged. If either the DDA or Min. of Tourism disagrees with the data shown by “cruisetimetables.com” we should be told, giving us the names of the ships and dates missed out by this authorative source.
The information you have shared as provided by CruiseTimeTables is correct. However, not all cruise lines are registered with CruiseTime Tables. Therefore the produced by the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA) is also correct since it is based on the number of cruise ships that have confirmed bookings to the island from October 2012 to April/May 2013.
Having said that, many external shocks could cause some ships to cancel their bookings and likewise could cause others to make impromptu stops at the island.
Notwithstanding, I am very appalled by the state of the cruise ship facilities at the Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth, Roseau Cruise Ship berth and Woodbridge Bay Port. I am equally apalled by the state of unpreparedness of the destination in general, lack of adequate shopping, dining and entertainment facilities, poor delivery of good customer service, inadequate police presence, the hustling of cruise ship passengers by some taxi drivers, vendors, and, vagrants in general…Inadequate tourist informationa and the laissez-faire attitude of the tourism department…
The taxi drivers have a major role to play in ensuring that general visitor experiences while on island either meets or exceeds their expectations if the want to see improved visitor satisfaction and expenditure… every effort to improve their service delivery must therefore be encouraged… wish you guys well… and please remember the story of the dog and the bone … hope you get the story…
Poor quality service, lack of knowledge of the plant and animal life on the island and poor communication skills are all contributors to our dismal ratings in the tourism maket.Courtesy goes a long way.
well I am a taxi operator and I may not have all the answers but I know I can give a very good account of myself as well as a very large number of my taxi operator friends.
Please send me your name and number, we have visited your island on several occasions. We have met with mr Abel , a very competent taxi driver. We will be there in January 2013.
Regards
Sandra.