In Reply to: Padang Bai Harbour posted by krisd on Saturday, 1. May 2010 at 11:13 Bali Time:
to Bali and there were no taxi,s even at Benoa harbor!
There will be plenty of transport available cars/minivans but they will have to negotiate the price!
the cruisers will come in by tender to a fenced off security area,the drivers(or bosses)that have paid a premium/tax will be inside the compound with all the tour buses and not really allowed to approach you for transport,but you can approach them
inside the compound the price for transport will be quite to very high.
if they go outside the compound there will be cheaper drivers waiting to get a customer who paid no tax but your parents will have no protection from the hoards of street sellers that will mob them outside! (everyone who goes on a cruise is mega rich to them)
if they are used to persistent street sellers then its best to go outside the compound and grab a cheaper driver.
If not a driver inside the compound will do it for an inflated price.
Best bet,same as i did was to arrange a driver to be at the harbor to meet them,this will be much cheaper to do before they arrive and can be driven around all day for the price of one journey on the day.
If you arrange your own driver remember he will be waiting "outside" the secure compound with a sign and not inside!
Also some drivers who operate around Kuta/legian are reluctant to go all the way to Padang Bai for a pick up as they are afraid they will miss the customer.
There are plenty that will do it though for the normal daily rate.
If you book a driver ahead make sure your parents have his mobile number so he can be TXT when they arrive!
It can take hours to get everyone off a ship!