Cruise Passenger Warns Others After $150 Costa Maya Taxi Scam
If you're sailing on MSC Seascape's weekly Costa Maya stop on its 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas, be wary of taxi drivers who try to redirect you away from Krazy Lobster with claims about seaweed or dirty beaches. The fair rate is about $5 per person each way for the 10-15 minute ride. If a driver refuses to take your group size, walk past the port gates, where other cabs reportedly won't fight you on occupancy and will charge the standard rate.
What jumps out here is the math: a $5-per-person, 10-15 minute ride turned into a $150 charge because a driver claimed Krazy Lobster's beach was dirty — and the guest found it wasn't. That's not a pricing dispute, that's a manufactured excuse, likely tied to a kickback from whichever private beach or resort benefits. The second guest's report of taxis holding out for full six-person capacity at the port gate, while cabs just beyond the gate charge the standard $5, tells me this is organized, not opportunistic. Both accounts come from MSC Seascape passengers, but Cruise Hive notes this pattern repeats across Costa Maya regardless of cruise line. My take: know the fair price before you land, and don't let anyone talk you out of your dinner reservation.