Taxi drivers have been working flat out in a bid to meet demand during the public transport strike of the last two days.

Commuters trying to get to work, students on their way to school and cruise ship passengers unable to get about have been relying on the Island's cab drivers as their only means of getting from A to B when private vehicles, ferries and buses were not an option.

Many people have struggled, but cruise ship passengers have been among the hardest hit as they found themselves stuck in remote areas of the Island with no means of getting about.

On Tuesday afternoon numerous cabs were called to Horseshoe Bay after it was reported that scores of sun seekers, believed to be up to 150 tourists, were waiting for taxi rides.

And yesterday morning, queues formed at Dockyard where passengers of the Nordic Empress were hoping for a cab in the hope of seeing some other part of the Island. The cruise ship arrived into Dockyard on Tuesday and was supposed to move to Hamilton yesterday, but was unable to switch ports because of the strike action by Marine and Ports.

Passengers said they had spent two days in Dockyard, but were desperate to get out and see other parts of the Island.

And similarly, passengers on board ships in St. George's and Hamilton were faced with the same frustrations. However, for those in the East End, they faced greater difficulties as the Causeway has been closed at night following Hurricane Fabian, meaning any journeys they took out of the area had to be completed during daylight hours.

Peter Karl, from New York, was among those queuing in Dockyard yesterday. He said: "We are waiting outside by the taxi stand, hoping that a taxi will come by soon. But we have been here for half an hour and nothing has come by, so far. We are hoping to go to Hamilton, since we are stuck here in Dockyard and unable to switch ports. Everyone on the ship wants to get about the Island.

"There are about 70 people waiting, so I guess a lot of taxis are needed. We are a little disappointed that the ship has not been able to stick to its agenda, but we are making the most of it."

And Anthony Riccardelli, also from New York, said his friends had been waiting for a cab in Dockyard for a little while without success.

"There are at least 70 people waiting in line," he said.

"I'm disappointed, as far as my vacation is concerned, because we have not been able to get about as easily as we thought, but if there is a strike, I understand. I'm disappointed we didn't get to switch to Hamilton. We went there by cab on Wednesday and it cost $40 each way. That was $80, when really it should not have cost us anywhere near that. And today, we should have been going for free on board the ship."

Taxi driver Jacqueline Smith said she and her husband had been very busy during the past two days of the strike action, and the majority of customers had been cruise ships passengers. She said: "There does not seem to be too many taxis in Hamilton, but I'm doing well. I think most of the taxis are in St. George's and at the airport.

"But people don't seem to be complaining. They seem to be patiently waiting for cabs and I haven't heard anything negative. I have been everywhere - people want to be taken from one side of the Island to the other. I think they are enjoying seeing things they wouldn't otherwise have seen.

"We as taxi drivers are certainly not complaining."

And a spokeswoman for Radio Cabs said they had been very busy and cab drivers were calling in with information on where more cars were needed.

"We have the traffic officers at the docks and they call us to tell us how many cars are needed," she said.

"We have been feeding it over the air and the closest drivers turn out, but we have been very busy."