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A popular way to spend the day on St Maarten when coming by cruise, is to spend a day at Great Bay Beach. If you wish to explore St. Thomas on your own Taxis are fairly priced and can literally take the cruise ship traveler to all highlights, beaches, main sites and attractions. St Maarten is known to be a “Shopper's Paradise” with excelent dutty-free prices.
Visit Topper's Rhum Distillery for Handcrafted Rums
St. Maarten is a favored stop for many major cruise lines, offering a blend of Caribbean charm and cosmopolitan vibes. With that said, however, you shouldn’t be discouraged from visiting the island as it has picked up its pieces pretty fast and its charm and beauty still holds. Besides they depend on your tourism as their number one economic activity which also helps them gain funds to rebuild. There are plenty of small islands to explore near St. Maarten and what better way to do so than on a private yacht/catamaran tour around the island.
Eastern Caribbean Cruises - Island Hopping in St. Maarten - CruiseCritic.co.uk
Eastern Caribbean Cruises - Island Hopping in St. Maarten.
Posted: Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Souvenir Shopping
It has a beautiful stretch of sand and clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling and other water sports. While still on the French side, visit the most popular beach on St. Maarten, Orient beach. Graced with a long stretch of white powdery sand beach and crystal clear blue waters, Orient beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. A quick tour of the island with all its highlights is the best way to explore St. Maarten. The tour can be done through a boat excursion around the island’s coastline with brief stops in major tourist areas.
Taxi Services
There are picnic areas at this shoreline so you have plenty to do on this secret gem courtesy of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten. There are many snorkeling and diving spots around St. Martin which have clear warm waters that allow light to sip through making them perfect for this activity. Most of the snorkeling is done on Simpson Bay found on the Dutch side or Mullet Bay beach adjacent to Maho beach. 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.
Ship-operated excursions and local tour operators operate combo excursions, including snorkeling, hiking trails, trips to nearby islands, water sports, and rum tasting. And no trip to St. Maarten would be complete without experiencing an aircraft landing at Maho Beach. When arriving at the St. Maarten Cruise Port, you’ll get stunning views of Philipsburg, white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, and lush hills in the background. You’ll find duty-free shops, bars, restaurants, market stalls, and clothing stores.
Taxis are readily available at the cruise port and throughout the island, making it easy to get around. Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island, offers stunning panoramic views. The area is accessible by a hike or a four-wheel drive, and it's a must-visit for those who appreciate natural beauty and scenic vistas. The journey to the top is as rewarding as the views, with lush vegetation and potential wildlife sightings. Cruise ships dock at Harbour Point Village – a lively area full of duty-free shops, jewelry stores, market stalls, bars, and a restaurant. We seek to maximize the quality offered to tourism customers and, at the same time, to maximize the quality of life of our community, St. Maarten.
Several shore excursions include rum tasting as part of the itinerary. Fort Amsterdam is a historic landmark located on the west side of the Great Bay in St. Maarten. The Dutch built the fortifications in the 1630s to protect the island from potential invaders and pirates. The fort offers visitors a glimpse into the island’s colonial past and provides breathtaking views of Great Bay. Taxis are generally not metered, but drivers must follow official rates for travel on the island.
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. But whilst the Silver Wind was still in port, another 3 ships docked in St Maarten - Regal Princess, Eurodam and Anthem of the Seas. The port of St. Maarten boasts two enormous docks that can accommodate up to seven cruise ships at once. The port village offers duty-free shops, many tourist opportunities, and a large staff to answer questions and facilitate many requests.
The Guava Berry Liquor is made from the rare guava berry fruit, which is native to the island and known for its rich and distinctive flavor. During the tasting, you’ll have the opportunity to sample different varieties of the liquor, with several fruit flavors. The Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary is a fun, family-friendly attraction. The sanctuary’s knowledgeable staff provide informative talks and feeding sessions, offering insights into the behavior and conservation efforts for these beautiful creatures. Perched on a hill overlooking Marigot, Fort Louis is a fascinating historical site dating back to the 18th century. Climb to the top of Fort Louis for panoramic views of the town, Simpson Bay Lagoon, and the surrounding coastline.
You can access it by car (go to Friar’s Bay, and from there follow the directions) or by boat. Philipsburg’s city beach is the closest beach to the St Maarten cruise terminal (around 2 km away, a minute walk). The best way to get there is to take a water taxi at the cruise terminal that will take you directly to the beach. A beautiful calm beach located in the southwest of the island, around 14 km/9 miles from the St Maarten cruise terminal (a 30-minute drive). The best way to get there is by taxi or renting a car (there is a large parking lot near the beach). The Star Wars museum is located in the Philipsburg downtown area, on Front Street, close to the main city attractions and a 15-minute walk from the St Maarten cruise terminal.
The fort provides an elevated vantage point for breathtaking views of Great Bay and the Caribbean Sea, making it a popular spot for history enthusiasts and photographers alike. The bus system in St. Maarten is an efficient and cost-effective way for visitors to explore the island. Unlike the structured public transport systems found in many countries, St. Maarten’s buses are more informal. They are typically small vans rather than large buses and do not operate on a set schedule. However, they are frequent and cover most of the island, making them a reliable option for getting around.
The beach features all necessary amenities for your comfort including sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, clean bathrooms, and restaurants. Phillipsburg has a lot of Dutch charm to offer and there is always a festive mood on their end of the island. Enjoy shopping beautiful jewelry, sampling exotic rum drinks made from rare guava berries or hit the Casinos and try your luck. Getting a taxi, rented vehicle or any other means of transportation is easy in St. Maarten.
Oranjestad – the capital and cruise port of Aruba – is a very neat city, clean, well kept that embraces you with a sense of relaxed safety. Founded in the 18th century by John Philips on behalf of the Dutch navy, Philipsburg has flourished over the years and is now a thriving city and cruise terminal. As the St. Maarten cruise port has experienced rule under several countries over the centuries, there are various cultural elements present all over the island. You’ll find large swaths of Dutch heritage and culture, in addition to French and British notes. St. Maarten Cruise Port is generally wheelchair-friendly, with accessible ramps, elevators, and designated parking spaces.
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