We are on a 12 night cruise out of Baltimore on Enchantment of the Seas - we are B2B and will get off on February 25. Will do trip report in Afloat forum after return home, but just wanted to comment on our experience visiting SXM on Thursday, yesterday, off ship, compared to our stop in St Croix on Wednesday. On St Croix the taxi drivers at the port in Frederiksted were very unhelpful and a little surly - no one wanted to work with us on what we wanted to do, even though we were willing to pay within reason for the service. Even when we finally found a driver (using connection with a snorkel shop to get a driver to take us on the route and times we wanted), he whined and moaned the whole time about how bad things were generally and personally, and how he should not have agreed to help us because he could have done other trips. On Thursday we arrive in SXM, hasten to taxi stand after ship is cleared. We are just two wanting to go to Divi Little Bay (where we like to hang out and have easy snorkel day - great day at Divi btw although kind of cool in morning). Not best fare for driver waiting at port. Dispatcher calls guy to take us - he is friendly and smiling - no complaints, no whining, nothing negative. We chat and have great ride. The set fare is $6 per person and he just asks for the $12. I give him $15, thanking him for being so friendly - great guy. When time to leave, there is taxi at Divi taxi stand - he takes us back to port - he also is very friendly and we have nice chat. He just asks for the $12 - and I give him $15, too. Just had to comment about how great people generally are on SXM. Our experience this port of call with the taxi drivers is consistent with our experiences with drivers on SXM for decades.

Just a small part of why ‘The Friendly Island’ ……….

A valued member of this forum often speaks of his first cruise stop and a friendship he developed with a specific driver on the island lasting well over twenty - plus years and how he is now Godfather to one of the driver’s children .

First impressions are so often the most lasting.🙂🙂

I have met many very nice taxi drivers and consider a few of them friends of 30 years now.

Our Taxi Drivers are always awesome and quite friendly .

Thanks for the report and the shout out. It's always great when people are quick to praise, as many only seem to comment if something is bad. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

We noticed the same on St Thomas/St John as well on recent visits. Folks much more surly and disenchanted than we experience on many many tripa years ago. I don't think they are as happy/Content to be in the tourist services business as their parents.