Rainclouds rarely stick around for long, and we were confident that by the time we reached the airplane beach it would have passed. The island has a tropical, warm climate all year round. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. the trip from the dock to the airport usually takes closer to 30 minutes and often much more when the traffic is bad. I'll probably just catch a Taxi from the ship. The cruise dock in St. Maarten is called the A.C. Wathey Pier. Wait, what? Amongst many others, ships of Carnival Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O, Royal Caribbean, TUI and Windstar have the island in their itineraries. . However, there are services departing from Sint Maarten and arriving at St. Martin via Anguilla. Holland House Beach Hotel is one of the nearest hotels from the St Maarten cruise port, located right on Great Bay Beach promenade in downtown Philipsburg. Check out the St Maarten/St Martin boat and snorkeling tours, rel="sponsored nofollow noopener". There are hundreds of duty free stores and the discounts are great. Ive already listed a few: Maho, Mullet, Cupecoy, Orient, Happy Bay, Grand-Case, and Pinel Island. Add it! . Here, youll also find a tourist information desk and tour booths offering tours and car rentals, as well as a shore excursion meeting place (always double-check your tour ticket, though). You might also catch a glimpse of sea turtles and stingrays during your snorkeling adventure. St Maarten Cruise Port to Maho Beach A Day Trip to the Airplane Beach Most ships will dock when they make St. Martin their port of call and therefore the following information is based on ships docking at the cruise terminal. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14734771', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ship on Dec. 27th, flying to Dallas. Over time, the Dutch and French found ways to maintain their island colonies, respecting each others cultures and heritage. . Ask for specifications at the booth. In St. Maarten, on the Dutch side of the island, the official currency is the antillean guilder. Read more about your options in the full Philipsburg, St. Maarten cruise port guide. So, if you are looking for the cheapest way to enjoy the Maho beach, then the local bus is an ideal way. Absolutely not. $45/Adult. With so many things to do and see in St. Maarten, you may need to come back and spend a weeks holiday to really enjoy the rest of the island. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14743129', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise port. Couples sat with suitcases drank their last cocktails in paradise before they headed off to the airport, and groups of friends whod just arrived were already on their fourth or fifth cocktail as music pounded from the speakers. Posted January 17, 2011. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, Can you walk from the cruise ship docking port the the famous airport. 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. There is widespread community transmission globally. Leave the piers and head to the right, where theres a row of taxis waiting to leave. Check out, Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch. On the Dutch side you have Great Bay Beach and Little Bay Beach, located right next to each other on either side of the Fort Amsterdam Peninsula. Best Philipsburg, St. Maarten excursions. The Guava berry Emporium is located on Front Street in Phillipsburg in an old townhouse, you cant miss the big liquor bottle at the entrance. This can happen as early as 8:30. Heres a list of a few more suggestion in Phillipsburg: Dont Miss: Cruise Lines Departing From Mobile Alabama. or take a land taxi into town. There is a car rental facility as well at the St. Martin cruise terminal. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Cruise ships dock at the new cruise port (the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility) located a 20 minute walk from the downtown area of Philipsburg. St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Marigot, Saint Martin Try and get a seat along the railing! St. Maarten cruise port - Top rated port guide for cruise ship passengers June 15, 2022 rey chavez distributor weekly specials rey chavez distributor weekly specials Many more are coming and cruise life is getting back to normal. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. You can rent the ATV on your own, or you can book one of the off-road tours that will take you through the rugged terrain of the island and stop at the islands main landmarks. St. Maarten Cruise Port and Things to Do for Cruise Travelers. The Amsterdam of the Caribbean A church in the vicinity contains a stone fascia with open-air side walls and a ceiling, which is the form of a hull of a ship. There's no physical border or customs checkpoint between the two sides. Philipsburg is located on the Dutch side of the island (Sint Maarten). All rights reserved. A scenic half-hour taxi ride from port is Marigot, the main town on the French side. Fly or sail: Your guide to traveling between St. Maarten Airport and The cutest little streets youll ever want to explore are here, plus white sand beaches that bow to the more liberal European culture. I hope my article gave you an insight into the best of St Maarten/Saint-Martin. Both the Dutch side and French side of the island have so much to offer in the way of beaches. we will be on a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' Families with kids are welcome at Sonestas sister hotel, the Maho Beach Resort & Casino, located on the same property. It is a small island divided between two countries France and the Kingdom of Netherlands. Anyone familiar with Villa Oyster Pearl and/or Dawn Beach? There are 105+ hotels available in Port de Galisbay. time and distance to orient beach - St. Martin/St. Maarten - Cruise When you disembark from your ship, start walking towards the shops and look for the large Water Taxi sign on the left. Tourism dollars help contribute to the rebuilding and preservation of the beaches and businesses that were affected by the hurricane. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. However US dollar are widely accepted. Having sat in many a hot sticky vehicle on other Caribbean islands like the Dominican Republic or Antigua, I was expecting an uncomfortable journey, but considering the length of time we spent sat inside a vehicle that morning, it was surprisingly ok. Alternatively you can catch a water taxi from inside the cruise port, which is slightly more expensive. St Maarten/Saint Martin off-road island tours are a great way of exploring the island, especially if you look for adrenaline and adventure. At the cruise terminal you will find signs that will lead you there. Or walk into Philipsburg and catch a local bus heading to Maho Beach. The processing time for the application takes about 12 hours to process, so make sure you do it a day or two before your flight to ensure its approved in time. You can pick up a taxi (or bus) at the roundabout to take you back as well. Boston to St. Maarten Star Pride departing 26 Oct 2023. . There are great sites to visit and memories to make. A constituency country controlled by the Dutch, St. Maarten occupies the southern half of an island whose northern half, St. Martin, is controlled by the French. St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Philipsburg For more information about COVID-19 protocols, please visit www.stmaartenupdates.com. 5. The public ferry leaves from the port of Marigot on St. Martin (the French side of the island), while SXM Airport is on St. Maarten (the Dutch side). Total cost to go and come back from the Sint Maarten cruise terminal (Philipsburg) to "airplane beach" (Maho Beach): $5.00 USD Total time: approximately 30 minutes to go and 30 minutes to return FINAL TIP: Just make sure you return with lots of time before your ship leaves! A-OO A-OO A-OO!! Simpson Bay Resort Marina & Spa. However, of course, this is when there are most cruise liners docking and so more people. Dont forget to subscribe below and get my exclusive SHORE EXCURSION GUIDE FOR FREE!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'adventourbegins_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-leader-2-0'); This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. The Dutch side is called Sint Maarten (St Maarten) and occupies the southern half of the island. This was the first four ship day for St. Maartens 2018 season. There is also an internet cafe at the cruise terminal. distance from st maarten airport to cruise port Starting in 2007, they made a lasting impression with their customers. My name is Katarina and welcome to my cruise & travel blog! Pbx: +1-721-542-0108 visitstmaarten @ shta.com The port offers plenty of shopping opportunities and access to the island's town and Great Bay Beach. This was a key date for the cruise tourism. Find all the transport options for your trip from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay right here. Distance to Cruise Port: 5.8 miles Distance from Airport: 8 minutes. It is also an option to walk from the cruise terminal to Philipsburg city center, but take in mind it will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes. St Maartens cruise port is in the capital city- Philipsburg which has space for a whole load of cruise ships to dock at once. The government regulates taxi fares by zone and number of passengers . For those looking for a different kind of beauty, the Caribbeans finest butterfly farm and a guided local artisan tour are fine ways to spend the day. There are lots of beaches nearby. 3. Our St. Maarten cruise excursions and island tours allow you to experience all the wonder of the Dutch part of the twin island, complete with water sports, hiking and biking, marine life, and quaint history in the capital of Philipsburg. Cabin Prices. It takes approximately 1h 10m to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay, including transfers. Tour buses and taxi rank are located nearby to get there, you need to turn right and keep walking to the exit of the terminal area until you reach a small building housing a tourist information desk. rel="sponsored nofollow noopener"if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-leader-1-0'); If you want to have an adrenaline-packed day filled with water activities and island exploration, you should go for one of the numerous boat tours offered by your cruise line and independent tour operators. Visit also our cruise guides to St Thomas, San Juan, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia,Falmouth, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Labadee, Bermuda, Barbadosif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); 25 Top Shore Excursion Packing List Items, What to Pack for a Cruise Top 50 Cruise Essentials. The journey is way too long to walk it, and costs around $15-20 per person depending on how many are in the car. All you have to do is to provide the tour operator with the ship name, arrival, and departure time upon booking a tour. This price is very reasonable and affordable for everyone. In 2017 a woman from New Zealand was killed when she was thrown backwards by a jet blast from a Caribbean Airlines flight which was taking off. Having worked in the cruise industry for over 7 years as Concierge and Shore excursions staff (Rivages du Monde, Viking River Cruises, Royal Caribbean International), Ive gained priceless, inside knowledge about the ports of call and have become a shore excursions expert. Contact Us - See here for more information. The nicest beaches in St. Maarten are Majo Beach, located at the end of the airport runway, and Orient Beach, located on the French side of the island. This boutique-style property offers stylish rooms with either city of views across the Caribbean sea to the cruise terminal. Travel down Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard with a transfer thats easy to count on, choosing between a modest sedan or a spacious chartered bus to see the vibrant culture of the Arawak people, or consider one of many meet-and-greet services ranging from luxury limousines perfect for arriving to beachside resort restaurants in brilliant fashion, or go with a casual local personal driver who can offer the natives perspective of surrounding landmarks as well as exotic natural flora. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Reply Jan 30th, 2010, 03:53 AM # 3 Barbara1 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 686 Likes: 0 Received 0. Although gutted by the French in the late 1790s, it was rebuilt by the British and today has been fully restored, with its kitchen complex, stables and slave quarters intact. Its the best place to enjoy a perfect beach day. Anyone have a suggestion as to an airline flying to San Juan? The port facilities for cruises to St. Maarten offer helpful amenities like ATMs, shops, a tourist information desk, taxi and rental car information, and restaurants if youre hungry right when you get off the cruise ship. Dutch and French Side Island Sightseeing, A great place to taste the premium quality rum and see the rum-making process. Aside from the great climate Sint Maarten is known for its shopping! Currently, we are unable to provide travel restriction information for leaving Sint Maarten. The water taxi is wheelchair accessible. St. Maarten has constructed a wonderful new cruise terminal. Your email address will not be published. St. Maarten Two Islands Private Day TourTwo countries on one island for almost 400 years. How to Get to Philipsburg From the St. Maarten Cruise Port Cruise ships dock at the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility around 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Philipsburg center. more, St Martin / St Maarten Destination Experts. As part of the islands COVID-19 response, all travelers to the island by air must complete a mandatory electronic health authorization application or they will not be able to board their flight. The best way to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay without a car is to ferry which takes 1h 10m and costs $20-$50. Visit the Loterie farm, St. Maarten zoo, the Butterfly farm or be blown away at one of the worlds most dangerous airports for example. Is Marigot worth visiting? Barcelona airport from cruise ship in 3 hours ? For full information, please see mydisclaimerhere. The St. Maarten cruise terminal does not provide free wi-fi, but youll find that wifi is often included with a purchase at one of the cafes and restaurants at the cruise terminal. You can book an excursion to Anguilla via your ship or local tour operators. Wallblake House is a heritage plantation house and museum annex in The Valley, Anguilla in the northeastern Caribbean. . Once was enough for me, and there are plenty more peaceful beaches on the island which are way more up my street. There are plenty of busses that run between Philipsburg and Marigot. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Your ship will dock on the Dutch side of the island at Philipsburg, where all large vessels such as cruise ships dock. You'll need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to departure, arriving later than that may or may not result in your missing your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Dont be alarmed, however, as you will rarely dock with 6 other ships. The itinerary of this particular tour allows you to visit both the French and Dutch parts of the island and consists of numerous stops including Simpson Bay Lagoon, Marigot, Friars Bay, Happy Bay, Grand Case, Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, Pinel Island, Mulle Bay, Maho Beach As you can see, you also get to see the whole island! Cruise for 9 nights departing in October 2023 | Cruise code departing from Boston . The Dutch call their part of the island Sint Maarten and its capital is Philipsburg. The Dutch side draw bridge will open at 9:30 A.M. And the area directly in the path to the runway was naturally where people gravitated towards; everyone needs the money shot of themselves with an airplane zooming low behind. How to Get from St Maarten Airport to Hotel? Stress Free! Required fields are marked *. I had previously had an image of a fairly peaceful wide open white sandy paradise with crystal clear water, palm trees, and every now and again, an airplane zooming low overhead. They have not yet announced if they are going t o do that yet. Along the south shore of Saint-Martin Island, the city of Philipsburg is an oasis of the Caribbean and a major connector for the neighboring island of Anguilla. This island is an extremely popular stopping point for cruise ships, and whenever we ported here there were at least three other ships parked up at the same time, although none of them were anywhere near full capacity. It makes for a cool picture, but for those looking to relax in solitude, this isnt the beach for you. Sint Maarten Cruise Port Hotels - tripadvisor.com And use your heads! . Now, any day can be a 12K kind of day. Papapapapaya #allofthefruitsinherebaby More 1 hour Free Cancellation From $9.00 Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to St Maarten Airport 86 Sign up here. Both beach bars on the beach are up and running for some time. At St. Martins cruise terminal you will find international and local shops, tourist information, cafes and restaurants and a (water)taxi service.The cruise dock is about 1,5 km or 1 mile from the city centre of Philipsburg. I only know two rental companies located near the cruise port. The sun was scorching hot and getting into the cool water melted away the crazy sweaty energy of the beach bar. But eventually the tide came in so close that there was nothing else for it but to pack up and move on. See St Maarten cruise port on Google mapsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-medrectangle-4-0');St Maarten cruise port (on the left) and Philipsburg (on the right). There were so many people that the waitstaff were ran off their feet, carrying gigantic trays from table to table and struggling to keep up with all the orders. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Port Norfolk Virginia. On St Martin, the question is not distance but driving time. Coastal has some no-so-good reviews and that worries me. Traffic is crazy that time of year. Cruise portsCrew membersDestinationsBlogAbout me, ContactPrivacy policyTerms and conditionsDisclaimer, We use cookies to improve your experience. At its Great Bay is the Port of St. Maarten, a main gateway for experiencing the few blocks of historic city nearby. Any content or photos on this website are copyright protected and cannot be used for commercial purposes. See All St Martin / St Maarten Conversations, Please recommend an all inclusive 5* adult only resort. There are no direct flights from the UK to St Maartens, making it a great island to explore when cruising. Even more encouraging news arrived a couple of weeks later when five cruise ships visited St Martin on Christmas and Boxing Day Marella and Independence of the Seas , Grandeur of the Seas, Azamara Quest and Jewel of the Seas . Once you get there, youll spot a small roundabout with plenty of taxi vehicles waiting for the cruise passengers to take them to Philipsburg city center or elsewhere. I think I'll try and find a flight a'round noon or 1 pm. St. Martin is the worlds smallest territory shared by two countries. The driest months are February and March, while the rainy season lasts from June to November. Allow at least 1/2 hour to get to the airport. and that is Christmas week, so it might even take longer. On Monday, December 4, 2017, Viking Sea was the first cruise ship to call at the island of St Maarten since the passing of hurricane Irma earlier in September that same year. 9. The organized boat tours normally take you to the islands best snorkeling sites and off-the-beaten-path places of incredible beauty. What a rush to grind a winch and trim a sail as official crew members of the same Stars & Stripes catamaran that carried Dennis Conner and his crew to victory in the Americas Cup. There is fun for all ages offered by the zip line courses, hikes and boat trips offered here. Maho is only about fifteen minutes from downtown Phillipsburg. Privacy Statement - No need to worry. You easily can get to the port by taxi, or water taxi (from the town centre). You can access this beach by walking. Cancun cruise port schedule 2023-2024-2025, map, address, ship terminals, hotels, tours, shore excursions. From the beach in Philipsburg you can see the ships in the distance. The water taxi departs from the Captain Hodge Pier. There is no route to take to avoid the draw bridge. Marigot to Grand Case should take 15 minutes, but here as well it can sometimes take longer. Whether you book a shore excursion with the cruise line, a third party vendor, or a local tour operator, there are numerous locations in the area to spot a variety of marine life. 4. Especially considering all the cheese shops wed passed en route in the taxi. There are a few popular snorkeling/scuba diving sites you should check out: Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch is one of the top-rated shore excursions suitable for cruise ship guests, and the return to the cruise ship is guaranteed. Id love to connect with you via Instagram @katarina_adventourbegins, Facebook @Adventour Begins, and Pinterest @katarina_adventourbegins. It does have a european attitude so there will be a number of topless bathers. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isnt particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. Popular landmarks include the island heritage of Saint Maarten Museum, home to views of traditional Arawak artifacts ranging from poetry to photography, attached the nearby Guavaberry Emporium offers views of the islands famed tradition of alcohol making. . . Sorry, that would be a .2-acre island governed by Norway and Sweden. Upon getting off the ship, youll spot Harbour Point Village a lively area full of duty-free shops, jewelry stores, market stalls, bars, and a restaurant. Plenty of crew from our ship had decided to visit that day as well, and we passed about thirty galley guys and their supervisor yelling GALLEY GALLEY GALLEY!!! - Wikipedia. This is where you want to take a large group of friends or family for a fun hangout. The most popular and convenient one is the Great Bay beach. ft of luxury, "STUNNING VIEW OF BEAUTIFUL CARIBBEAN IT'S MAGICAL" 3/27/23-4/15/23 AVAILABLE, St Maarten Airport SXM to Saba University School of Medicine, St Maarten Airport SXM to Hotel Christopher Saint Barth Gustavia, St Maarten Airport SXM to Charles de Gaulle Etoile, St Maarten Airport SXM to le Saint Barthlemy Saint Barthlemy, St Maarten Airport SXM to Baltimore Airport BWI, St Maarten Airport SXM to Dublin Airport DUB, St Maarten Airport SXM to Cartagena Airport CTG, St Maarten Airport SXM to Antigua Guatemala, St Maarten Airport SXM to Austin Airport AUS, St Maarten Airport SXM to Denver Airport DEN, St Maarten Airport SXM to British West Indies, St Maarten Airport SXM to Budapest Airport BUD, St Maarten Airport SXM to Caracas Airport CCS, St Maarten Airport SXM to Cottonwood Heights, St Maarten Airport SXM to Georgetown Airport GEO, St Maarten Airport SXM to Cape Liberty Cruise Port. Prices start at $100USD per night. The new year started with the return of Disney Cruises, Marella Celebration and Royal Caribbeans massive Harmony of the Seas on January 2. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14735143', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight depending upon many conditions at the airport. As the Caribbean is known to be tropical climate and some prefer to skip the walk, there is multiple types of transport available to get to "town", as St Maarteners call it lovingly. The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. We dont even recommend taking your passport. #1. Car Rental near the Cruise Pier - St. Martin/St. Maarten - Cruise The information provided by this website is subject to change and therefore information can be inaccurate. For the most part, we stayed out of the crowds but still appreciated the landings at an angle. comes and goes as sxmlover says. Ooh la la. It runs from top of Pic Paradis to the farm below. About 300 kilometers east of Puerto Rico in the northeast part of the Caribbean lies St. Maarten, a cruise community favorite destination.