However, you can take the ferry to Anguilla then take the ferry to St. Martin. Check out the St Maarten/St Martin boat and snorkeling tours, rel="sponsored nofollow noopener". 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. However, due to the number of cruise visitors, US dollars are widely accepted. The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. St Maarten / St Martin has for decades been a popular port of call for cruise passengers. Its just a short walk from the cruise dock to the cruise area where you will find many facilities. Cookie Policy - It is a large cruise facility that can accomodate several mega cruise ships. Absolutely not. To start with, you will enjoy docking at St. Maarten as tendering is not necessary. The French call this part of the island Saint Martin and they call their main city Marigot. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Saint Martin. The road distance is 5 miles. The French side draw bridge will open at 8:15 A.M. Hopefully you will already have been at the airport one hour before the Dutch side bridge opens. The bus is only $2 per person and will drop you off in the parking lot. Anguilla is endowed with virgin beaches that feature pristine white sandy stretches. The cheapest way to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is to ferry which costs $20-$50 and takes 1h 10m. With more than 30 unique beaches to choose from, the island offers no shortage of places to kick back and relax with your toes in the sand and a cold drink in hand. Marigot to Grand Case should take 15 minutes, but here as well it can sometimes take longer. rene verdugo urquidez released SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. Distance to Cruise Port: 8.7 miles Distance from Airport: 2 minutes. Taxi fare from the cruise pier in Phillipsburg to Orient beach is about $30 + tip each way. Nowadays, the island reflects a blend of two cultures and mentalities that learned to live, work, and grow together. Especially considering all the cheese shops wed passed en route in the taxi. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. However, you can take the ferry to Anguilla then take the ferry to St. Martin. Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, and Pinel Island are some top choices off the coast of St. Maarten. Both beach bars on the beach are up and running for some time. Absolutely not. Finally we decided on a spot at the very far end, clear of the runway but close enough that we could make a run for it if we desperately wanted to be under the pathway of a jumbo jet. It will likely take half an hour from Philipsburg to Marigot, but one time it took us closer to an hour. Shopping: at the cruise terminal or in townTransportation: Taxis at the cruise terminal Watertaxi available to get you from the cruise terminal to town Beach: Great Bay Beach is the main beach in town. Maho Beach is located on the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin, which is divided between France and the Netherlands. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. . Because of this vibrant but peaceful history the island shows two beautiful and diverse faces and personalities. Also find all detailed information about cruise port St. Maarten and what to see and do underneath. Your ship will dock on the Dutch side of the island at Philipsburg, where all large vessels such as cruise ships dock. . Marigot is the main town and capital in the French Collectivity of Saint Martin. Cruise ships dock at A.C. Wathey Pier, in Dutch St. Maarten. if your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This is clearly a popular holiday destination, whether for people travelling only to Sint Maarten, or cruise passengers and crew like me and my pal Rachel; but I was still surprised by how Americanised the whole place felt. The roads were not meant to carry current traffic volumes, resulting slow driving times. The water taxi departs from the Captain Hodge Pier. Starting in 2007, they made a lasting impression with their customers. Sailfish and marlin are popular during the summer months, while kingfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi are highly sought after. There are plenty of busses that run between Philipsburg and Marigot. The waters surrounding St. Maarten make for some great snorkeling adventures. 1 American Airlines flight in at 2:00pm - the rest prop planes. 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. Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings lining its Front Street shopping area. 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! 2003-2021 AirportShuttles.com - All rights reserved. However, if you fancy more private and secluded beaches, you can charter a boat to the nearby island of Anguilla. One is Rodael Car Rental and the other one is Coastal Car Rental. However, you must leave the airport (which requires going through immigration) and take a cab to get to the ferry port . . You did not say what time the ship arrives however once you are in the taxi it is a 30 minute ride +/- depending upon traffic conditions which may or may not add another 15-20 minutes to your ride. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. The drive from the cruise port to Maho Beach is about 10 minutes. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isn't particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. They also have 3 hour sightseeing tours for $90. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. 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. Snorkel Gear and Scuba Diving Equipment Tips by a Pro! A hat and water are recommended! . Where is maho beach in st maarten? (See the pictures there.) 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. . June 15, 2022 rey chavez distributor weekly specials rey chavez distributor weekly specials For more packing tips, check out my article. For more information about the latest travel restrictions or port updates, please check: Also find all detailed information about cruise port St. Maarten and what to see and do underneath. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. 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. Check out, Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch. Creditcards are accepted at mosts shops. Explore St Maarten/St Martin sightseeing tours and activities. Start your shopping day at Front street in the heart of Philipsburg. Here, you will find the Pinel Island Marine Trail, a designated snorkeling route teeming with marine life. This boutique-style property offers stylish rooms with either city of views across the Caribbean sea to the cruise terminal. I drive past (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? is a turnaround day for vacationers and the airport will be busy. The French side is called Saint Martin (St Martin). Its the best place to enjoy a perfect beach day. Dutch and French Side Island Sightseeing, A great place to taste the premium quality rum and see the rum-making process. A spot of late afternoon blinding sunshine . Distance to Cruise Port: 2.5 miles Distance from Airport: 18 minutes. I will be disembarking a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This is your ticket to the beach and back; the taxi will drop you in the car park close to Maho Beach, and taxi vans regularly take passengers back from the exact same spot. We dont even recommend taking your passport. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' Hungry and thirsty when we arrived, we sat on the covered decking of the Sunset Beach Bar (check out their live webcam of the planes landing if youre curious), and ordered fries and drinks. There is also an internet cafe at the cruise terminal. 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. Prices start at $100USD per night. Limassol Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Mykonos Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Split Cruise Port Guide (Croatia), Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Dubrovnik Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Catania Cruise Port Guide (Sicily), Things to Do, Shore Excursions, The port area and Philipsburg downtown are, The roads in St Maarten are well-developed and clearly marked, so a. Dutch is the official language on the Dutch side, and French on the French side, however, English is widely spoken. There is a large taxi stand at the cruise terminal in St. Maarten. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-box-4','ezslot_5',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-box-4-0');Before I share with you the best things to do in St Maarten/Saint Martin port, I invite you to sign up below and get my insider, exclusive SHORE EXCURSION GUIDE for FREE! No need to worry. From the beach in Philipsburg you can see the ships in the distance. 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. #1. 3. . Marigot is the main town and capital in the French Collectivity of Saint Martin. That's Maho Beach, aka Airport Beach. (~2,5 hours drive distance). . Guests looking for an ultimate vacation experience, the Roof Top and Sunset suites with butler service are the resorts best accommodations. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Portland, OR. Dont be alarmed, however, as you will rarely dock with 6 other ships. St. Martin is one of the best shopping ports of the Caribbean. . Distance to Cruise Port: 0.9 mile Distance from Airport: 23 minutes. It is narrow, generally extremely crowded (especially when there are lots of cruise ships in port), and there are plenty of tacky bars offering neon-coloured cocktails, beers, and baskets of fries and chicken wings. Or walk into Philipsburg and catch a local bus heading to Maho Beach. Great Bay Beach. At the cruise terminal you will find signs that will lead you there. We advice you to book in advance. Do you have a special shop, museum, attraction or tour you would like to share? The Dutch side draw bridge will open at 9:30 A.M. Philipsburg St. Maarten has established a cruise welcome center next to the cruise dock. A round trip costs 7 US dollars. There was indeed white sand and crystal clear water, but Maho Beach is also one of the most-visited beaches in St Maarten, mainly due to the fact that its built directly next to the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport. Airplane traffic is light (only one big plane when we were there), but Maho is still fun and the bars are up and running. Fed and watered, Rachel and I headed onto the beach itself. Everyday Im hustlin They'll keep a running tab for you as long as you are there. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14761279', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights to San Juan. 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. The tide was in so close that there wasnt a lot of free sand space at all- although Im told theres not a drastic difference between high and low tide at Maho. !as they posed for group photos. What are the times for the water taxi from the cruise port to and from. It is a small island divided between two countries France and the Kingdom of Netherlands. There are a number of car rental locations near the port. This was the first four ship day for St. Maartens 2018 season. St. Maarten Two Islands Private Day TourTwo countries on one island for almost 400 years. AA has (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Contact Us - Thats right, the end of the runway sits along the edge of the water and landing planes swoop down directly overhead. For a slightly different vibe, and the opportunity to cook your own food on lava stones, head to the Palms Grill at the opposite end of the beach. We are looking to go to the beach to watch the planes land. And best of all the taxi charges are standardized by the government. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Sint Maarten has several COVID-19 testing centers on the island and many of the hotels and resorts have sample collection services for getting tested upon your return home. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Currently, we are unable to provide travel restriction information for leaving Sint Maarten. It's famous because if you're there at the right time, and if you've got the right spot on the beach, planes will fly . The most popular resorts in this area are Coralita Beach, Oyster Bay, and Dawn Beach. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, St. Maarten suffered significant damage that its still working to recover from. No, there is not a beach within walking distance of the St. Maarten cruise port. I hope my article gave you an insight into the best of St Maarten/Saint-Martin. Coastal Car Rental is right at the pier. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? There is no route to take to avoid the draw bridge. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Terminal Mobile Al. Regardless of your choice, you should include the places below on your sightseeing list: Insider tip: If you are booking a tour, make sure its organized in small groups, cruise ship friendly, and guarantees your return to the ship! 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. Anyone familiar with Villa Oyster Pearl and/or Dawn Beach? Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. 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. No matter which option you choose, our stress-free transportation service ensures a comfortable and enjoyable journey from start to . The cruise port is located on the French side of the island. As cruise port, Cancun is visited by smaller-sized ships and superyachts as Puerto Juarez Dock can handle only vessels with low draft. The journey should only take about 20 minutes, but we spent almost double that crawling along in a long line of cars. Best Philipsburg, St. Maarten excursions. It boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a couple of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. Cruise Terminal to Airport (Philipsburg, St Maarten) ? The cruise dock in St. Maarten is called the A.C. Wathey Pier. There are no direct flights from the UK to St Maartens, making it a great island to explore when cruising. Take into account that the walk to the water taxi pier can be about a 10 minute walk depending on where your ship is docked. There are hundreds of duty free stores and the discounts are great. St Maarten port is one of the fastest-growing Caribbean cruise ports and the leading cruise port in the Eastern Caribbean. You might have already sensed from my description that this beach is not my kind of place. Any content or photos on this website are copyright protected and cannot be used for commercial purposes. Just visited Dec 26th - was told by multiple people that Maho beach was washed away by hurricane Irma and all that is left is rock - and the bar at the end of the beach is gone - completely destroyed. Airplanes create quite humungous jet blasts when theyre taking off, and so it seems fairly logical that you shouldnt stand too close.