Embarkation Day (i.e., getting to the ship...)

[Alipius]

I posted this on 7th March, to a Thread which was something like: "Where do you get on in Singapore?" So, for a wider application, herewith:

The part of The Cruise which should be a delight is: getting-on-the-ship. But, boy-oh-boy: have we had some nightmares! You see it, the ship that is, and tell the taxi-driver to go there. (I know! I should have read the travel-docs; but, when there is get-on exurberance happening, a sprited fellow just doesn’t!)

When you get to where the ship is, you’re told: No: you have to go back: you have to go to what turns out to be some ancient warehouse 5Ks away (which your out-of-town taxidriver doesn’t know about) and you go around and around looking for it..... and then when all is sorted out and you are there processed by Seabourn a bus will take you back where you were two hours ago, eventually. Think Valpariso. We were lucky because we started out early on a lovely, lively Saturday a.m., and so the exasperation of the business of going about the backblocks of the hills of Valpariso sorta turned out to be fun?! (It was sunny and so, even if we did go past the same wedding church 5-6 times, and got to see them going in, and then 1.5 hours later see them all pour out out on the street.)

What about Buones(?) Airies? It has two places to which taxi-drivers take people who want to get on a largish boat: and, guess what?, the place the white ones (Seabourn etc) leaves from is not generally known, if at all.

First time: it really got nasty with out-of-town taxi fellow. Really. He was quite big and gaucho and driving up and down that four-lane two-way looking for it was a bit off-putting.

And, as for Bombay... we still talk about that the famous yellow gate! found (and only just found)after an hour's+ backward and forward along wharves.

In short, you are in the hands of a taxi-driver who may not be fully appraised of the place of which you are informing him, even if in detail. Indeed, he may not be able to read. That is: he hasn't got a clue where you want to go!

In short, again, Seabourn People: Map Please! Directions from the hotel staff don't always work. But, even a taxi fellow who can't read a word of whatever can usually follow a map, although, surprisingly, a lot of them make a big-deal out of trying to do so...

[jenidallas]

Your post reminds me of our own adventure in Singapore trying to get to Odyssey in 2014 - #6 in this story:

 

http://jetsettershomestead.boardingarea.com/2014/11/25/six-things-learned-singapore-taxis/

[wripro]

Most taxi drivers will automatically take you to the newer, closer in cruise terminal. You have to specifically tell them you want the Singapore Cruise Terminal which is stated in your documents. Or have the doorman at your hotel tell the driver.

[Pop-I]

Just got back. I would welcome jeans over khakis, leggings and chiffon dresses, and aloha shirts.

[Alipius]

Pop-I: You write re a Post on embarkation-dilemnas and the need for a map showing place of same:

 

"Just got back. I would welcome jeans over khakis, leggings and chiffon dresses, and aloha shirts."

 

Is this Post of yours a refeshment-fuelled late-evening one (and thefore quite acceptable as such) or am I really missing something here?