Table Of Content
Guavaberry rum is unique to St. Maarten and is made from guava berries that grow in the island’s rainforests. A few distilleries on the island make their own version of this uniquely flavored Caribbean rum. Several shore excursions include rum tasting as part of the itinerary. Fort Louis is a historic fort located on the French side of the island of St. Maarten.
Great Bay Beach
A water taxi, $4 one way, continually runs from the cruise terminal to different spots at the beach promenade or you can walk ( 10 min.) or take a land taxi into town. PLAYFUL POSSIBILITIES ON LAND AND ON WATER Whether on land or water, the choices are endless for cruise passengers to spend their time on or around our delightful island! Like all Caribbean islands, St. Maarten offers plenty of fun water activities. Most beach resorts have snorkeling gear for hire and rentals for water sports.
Simpson Bay Beach
Located just a few meters southeast of Orient beach, this beach features crystal-clear, warm, shallow waters that are great even for kids. Other than beach bumming, water activities, shopping, and dining, St. Maarten is also a place that inspires. Enjoy a visually pleasing tour of the islands art galleries located on both sides of the island. Artists in St. Martin have been inspired by the island’s beauty to create some of the most stunning pieces of art you will ever see. To start with, you will enjoy docking at St. Maarten as tendering is not necessary.
Pinel Island
St. Maarten Cruise Port is located on the southern end of the island of Sint Maarten (Saint Martin). The cruise pier terminal is in Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side of the island. The island’s northern side is the French side, usually called Saint Martin.
11 Best Things to Do in St. Maarten for Cruisers - Cruise Critic
11 Best Things to Do in St. Maarten for Cruisers.
Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
For cruise passengers
9 Best Things To Do In St. Maarten During A Day In Port - TravelAwaits
9 Best Things To Do In St. Maarten During A Day In Port.
Posted: Tue, 05 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Located in Philipsburg and Marigot, art galleries offer a glimpse into the island’s culture. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or looking for a meaningful souvenir, exploring the local art galleries is well worth it. The Philipsburg Courthouse will be part of your walking tour, even if it’s informal. In addition to the charming building, you’ll find picturesque churches and hotels with interesting architecture. This unique exhibit showcases movie memorabilia from iconic films like Star Wars, Superman, and The Terminator.
This tour takes in the popular beaches of Maho Beach, Mullet Bay, Marigot and more. There’s also an hours stop to relax at Great Bay and tickets cost £75 per person. The Dutch side of the island is busier and better developed and is known as Sint Maarten. The French side is bigger yet more understated and is referred to as St. Martin – confusing or what!
Water taxis
Knowing how to plan a cruise day can be overwhelming with so many activities and shore excursions. This guide will give you all the information you need to make the most of your time at the St. Maarten cruise port. The Dutch side is called Sint Maarten (St Maarten) and occupies the southern half of the island. Many visitors like to see the spectacular airplane landings on Maho Beach, also known informally as “Airport Beach”. You can do so by island tour (make sure this stop is included in the itinerary), by taxi or bus.
The Best Things to Do in St. Maarten on a Cruise Day in Port
Grab a tube and hold on as you slide through the forest careening and bending at every curve to get to the bottom. We posted about the opening of this new zip line shore excursion right here. Grab a beach towel, umbrella or a sun lounger and enjoy a perfect beach day at this place. Lazy around under the clear blue skies and warm weather sipping on cold cocktails. However, being that this is a French beach, be ready to encounter naturalists in its optional clothing section. Take the mountainside staircase up the steep hill to get to the fort at the top.
How do I get from Maho Beach to the cruise port?
Maho beach aligns perfectly with the runway at Princess Julia airport. Speaking of panoramic views, check out the Flying Dutchman zip line course at the Rockland Estate which is located in historic Emilio Wilson Estate. Then take a ride on the famous sky ride, a chairlift suspended from a flight cable hundreds of feet above the ground.
Built in Philipsburg’s charming old architectural style, the Village contains duty-free outlets, souvenir shops and market stalls as well as bars and a restaurant. Weighing over 220,000 gross tons each, and having a capacity of more than 6,000 passengers and crew, two such vessels can be accommodated on Pier 2 (445 m). Additionally, Pier 2 has two booths for passenger screening which expedites disembarkation.
A Golden Eagle Sailaway (Royal Caribbean) is an optional catamaran (sailing boat) tour to St Maarten Beach (snorkelling-swimming-sunbathing). The return is to Philipsburg, where are included sandwiches and cold drinks served on the boat. "4x4 St Maarten and Beach Escape" (Royal Caribbean) is an optional Jeep driving tour across the island. The tour is through Grand Case (to Marigot), with stops for scenic overlooks and strolling along the route.
It can get hot and humid in St. Maarten, which makes the island perfect for beach lovers. Philipsburg (population around 2,000) is located on a narrow stretch of land between the Great Salt Pond and Great Bay. It functions as a commercial center of Saint Martin Island, whereof St Maarten encompasses the southern half. St Maarten Island has total area 34 km2 (13 mi2) and is one of the Dutch islands in the Lesser Antilles archipelago - together with Saba Island and Sint Eustatius. The other "Dutch Antilles" islands are in the Leeward Antilles - the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao).
This extensive guide delves into every aspect of St. Maarten, ensuring your trip is as enriching as it is enjoyable. St. Maarten has plenty of stables and healthy, well-cared for horses to take you on a different kind of island tour. Covering 3060 hectares in the northeast side of the island is St. Martin’s Nature Reserve. The largest part of this reserve, about 2900 hectares is offshore and includes the coastal outline and the water.
The best way to get there is by taxi, on a shore excursion, or by car. A charming beach that boasts clean, turquoise waters, and soft sand. This famous beach is one of the main St Maarten attractions and is located a 25-minute drive (14 km/9 miles) from the cruise ship terminal. It consists of a small stretch of white sandy beach located next to the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport.
Opting for a local rental company can be a unique way to support the local economy and may also offer a more personalized customer experience. The water taxi system in St. Maarten is a popular and efficient means of transportation, especially favored by tourists for its convenience and scenic route. These water taxis primarily operate between the cruise ship terminal and downtown Philipsburg, providing easy access to the heart of the city's shopping and dining areas. This mode of transport is not only quick but also offers a picturesque view of the coastline, making the journey part of the St. Maarten experience. If you want to soak up some local history, Fort Amsterdam is a must-see place! You can also hike up to the fort – it takes around 30 minutes (2 km) from Philipsburg city center.
Minivan Buses to Maho leave from Emmaplein every ten to twenty minutes and take averagely 30 minutes to reach the beach. Emmaplein is a five to ten minutes walk from the cruise pier, at the start of Front Street. Start your shopping day at Front street in the heart of Philipsburg. You can either take the watertaxi right to the center of this street or walk from the cruise terminal which will take you about 20 to 30 minutes. For a cruise port that used to have as many as 6 cruise ships docked on weekdays before hurricane Irma, it may sound like a slow recovery.
No comments:
Post a Comment