A cruise passenger was recently charged $82 for what should have been a $17 taxi ride from Greece’s Piraeus port, warning other travelers about a common issue and opening a discussion about port taxi drivers.
No one wants to get ripped off, especially on vacation–on a cruise of all things. But if you want to explore a port of call on your own, it’s important to listen to stories like this so you know what to look out for.
The cruise traveler in this case shared their experience on the subreddit GreeceTravel after discovering the massive overcharge on their credit card statement. What started as a simple 30-minute ride in southern Athens turned into an expensive lesson about safety in using public transportation in a post titled “Another taxi ripoff”.
“Just got off a cruise ship and took one of the taxis lined up at Piraeus port,” the traveler explained. “The driver didn’t speak any English and tried to get me to pay in cash. He gave me a receipt that said $17.10 I pointed to the sign in back.”
The non-English-speaking driver began pointing to his phone and card reader, eventually showing the passenger that he was charging an additional 11 euros per bag for three bags. The cruise traveler stated they didn’t have any cash, so the driver processed the card payment and acted friendly afterward, even shaking hands.
“I checked my card account later and he had charged $82.14 usd,” the passenger wrote. “I’ve already emailed the taxi authority and informed my bank not to pay him.”
This Traveler Is Not Alone
This isn’t an isolated incident. Other travelers shared similar experiences in the comments:
“We were also ripped off… The driver demanded extra money for extra luggage even though it all fitted in the taxi no problems. Cost me an extra €25 in cash.”
One smart traveler avoided trouble by asking questions upfront, which is what we recommend all cruisers do when taking public transportation:
“We arrived at the cruise terminal 2 weeks ago and walked up to the taxi line. As he was putting bags in, we asked if he was going to use the meter etc. He threw our bags out and refused to take us. Ordered an uber that arrived 2 minutes later. I knew we dodged a bullet,” one user stated.
The Honest Reality
The original poster admitted that they were aware of schemes like this but also stated why they fell for it.
“Yes, I’m aware of all the ways to avoid getting scammed by taxis, I just want to have faith and trust in my fellow human beings. Lesson learned.”
One blunt commenter lacked any sympathy when stating, “disembarks cruise ship, walks straight into tourist trap/scam, posts cautionary anecdote, claims to have known better.”
Other Alternatives
Use Apps: Many travelers recommend Uber or FreeNow. “Used Uber when I was in Athens. I didn’t have to deal with tomfoolery. I just order and pay a set price that I found agreeable.”
Public Transit: For light travelers, buses and metro are cheap options. One local provided detailed directions: “you can get there by metro from Piraeus port, or by buses: no 040, express line X80… getting off in Syggrou-Fix stop, then taking the subway one stop or a taxi for about 5 euros.”
Negotiate First: “Arrange everything with the driver beforehand, meaning before taking the taxi,” advised one experienced traveler.
If You Get Scammed
- Document everything (photos of receipts, meter readings, taxi numbers)
- Contact your bank immediately to dispute the charge
- Report to local taxi authorities
Bottom Line
Even experienced travelers can fall victim to these scams. Tour guides are warning travelers too. One commenter shared: “My tour guide encouraged me to avoid those taxis, for just this reason. He told me it’s commonplace for the taxi drivers to give you one price at the outset and then charge more on arrival.”
The best defense is asking questions upfront and being willing to walk away from any taxi whose driver won’t agree to clear pricing or use the meter.
You can also just trust your gut, but when on a cruise, how reliable is that?
Read More: Travel Scams I’ve Encountered After Taking Over 75 Cruises
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