Underneath you will find your transportation options: The water taxi is a very popular way to go to the city centre of Philipsburg. I will be disembarking a (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 first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. And even if it happens, the island has plenty of attractions which helps spread out the masses. $45/Adult. 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. Old Street in Philipsburg | Photo: Vacation St. Maarten/Facebook, How to Indulge At the Philipsburg, St. Maarten Cruise Port | Celebrity Cruises, Symphony of the Seas | Our first Royal Caribbean Cruise | Port Day St. Maarten, St Maarten Cruise Terminal Philipsburg Cruise Ship Port St Martin, How Much Are Drinks On Viking River Cruises, Where Are Norwegian Cruise Ships Registered, Where Do Viking River Cruises Dock In Amsterdam, Can You See The Northern Lights On An Alaskan Cruise, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort- All Inclusive, What Is The Best Month To Take An Alaskan Cruise, Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Puerto Rico, Cruise Lines Departing From Mobile Alabama. Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, and Pinel Island are some top choices off the coast of St. Maarten. Try and get a seat along the railing! Papapapapaya #allofthefruitsinherebaby Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings lining its Front Street shopping area. The water taxi is wheelchair accessible. Cancun cruise port schedule 2023-2024-2025, map, address, ship terminals, hotels, tours, shore excursions. Enjoy The Beaches. Add it! 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. how to change chrome to desktop mode in mobile. Sorry, that would be a .2-acre island governed by Norway and Sweden. Simpson Bay Resort Marina & Spa. See here for more information. Help, Get answers to your questions about St Martin / St Maarten, Last Minute Hotels in St Martin / St Maarten, Browse all 24,710 St Martin / St Maarten topics . There is also an internet cafe at the cruise terminal. We have received no reports of travel restrictions in Saint Martin. If you are planning to go to the beach than youll find that most beach beds nowadays come with wi-fi access. It occupies the northern part of the island, and the capital is Marigot, a charming town known for its vibrant markets and beautiful beaches, dominated by Fort St. Louis, the 18th-century military fort offering amazing panoramic views of the island.var cid='2861769772';var pid='ca-pub-7965674744033396';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-medrectangle-3-0';var ffid=2;var alS=2021%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';} . For travel planning advice, please refer to our Rome2rio Coronavirus information page . Each airplane came in so low over the sand that it felt as if you could almost reach out and touch them as they rumbled onwards to the tarmac across the road. Find the tender platform right in the city centre of Philipsburg. However, if you fancy more private and secluded beaches, you can charter a boat to the nearby island of Anguilla. Now, any day can be a 12K kind of day. 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. At the end closest to the beach, screens displayed the timings of the next planes to land on the landing strip to the right. The government regulates taxi fares by zone and number of passengers . For $7, you can get an all day pass for the water taxi that leaves right near where the cruise ships dock. See map above to see the exact location. comes and goes as sxmlover says. However, you must leave the airport (which requires going through immigration) and take a cab to get to the ferry port . 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. Its just a short walk from the cruise dock to the cruise area where you will find many facilities. Portland, OR. Thats right, the end of the runway sits along the edge of the water and landing planes swoop down directly overhead. Absolutely not. However, you can take the ferry to Anguilla then take the ferry to St. Martin. For more information about the latest travel restrictions or port updates, please check: https://portstmaarten.com. For something more sober-minded, walk through historic landmarks like The Salt Pickers, located along the north end of the citys famed Great Salt Pond and doubling as a tranquil prelude to the relaxed ambiance of Pond Island. That's Maho Beach, aka Airport Beach. !as they posed for group photos. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. If youre hanging out for a day or two before or after your cruise leaves, Great Bay Beach is right next to the Philipsburg cruise port and surrounded by hotels, restaurants, nightlife, casinos and more. 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. The island has no human occupants, but has been inhabited in the past. 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. 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. Find a booth (see picture) to buy a ticket. Especially considering all the cheese shops wed passed en route in the taxi. They have not yet announced if they are going t o do that yet. The cutest little streets youll ever want to explore are here, plus white sand beaches that bow to the more liberal European culture. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. This can happen as early as 8:30. There are no direct flights from the UK to St Maartens, making it a great island to explore when cruising. is a turnaround day for vacationers and the airport will be busy. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. Pinel Island can be reached via a short ferry trip across Cul de Sac as well. From the deck of your ship you will be able to see this pier (longer pier with red rooftop). . Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Posted Wednesday at 09:11 PM. Should I visit Marigot on the french side or just spend time on the Dutch side for shopping and maybe a little beach time? Can anyone tell me how far the airport (SXM)is from the cruise dock? Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. For full information, please see mydisclaimerhere. Distance to Cruise Port: 2.5 miles Distance from Airport: 18 minutes. And lastly, retire ashore with sunset views from the dramatic cannons of Fort Amsterdam, finally grabbing a bite from the port-side ambiance of Chesterfields Restaurant & Bar. 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. The Dutch side is called Sint Maarten (St Maarten) and occupies the southern half of the island. 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. The northern part, measures 52 km2 / 20 m2, is French. 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. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Port Norfolk Virginia. The centuries-old liquor is a part of St. Maartens culture, there are songs and stories dedicated to the Guava Berry. They also have 3 hour sightseeing tours for $90. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isn't particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. There is no direct connection from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. 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). I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Explore St Maarten/St Martin sightseeing tours and activities. You easily can get to the port by taxi, or water taxi (from the town centre). 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. Ive already listed a few: Maho, Mullet, Cupecoy, Orient, Happy Bay, Grand-Case, and Pinel Island. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. Docking at the island is smooth, courtesy of the large pier that accommodates up to 7 ships. A round trip costs 7 US dollars. Privacy Statement - Wallblake House is a heritage plantation house and museum annex in The Valley, Anguilla in the northeastern Caribbean. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. 2. They'll keep a running tab for you as long as you are there. Round-trip transfers are the complete package, taking you to and from the airport. Birds eye view of the real-life rainbow fish , Number 15 more, St Martin / St Maarten Destination Experts. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. (At the end nearest the car park is also, FYI, a public bathroom. Its about a half-hour walk to get from the Philipsburg pier to the center of town. How far away is the airport from the docking piers in st. marrten. more, St Martin / St Maarten Destination Experts. The roads were not meant to carry current traffic volumes, resulting slow driving times. Theres two more on the Dutch side you should visit, if you have the time, and at least 5 more on the French side. Leisure Car rental provides clean and well-maintained vehicles in all categories. The walk is 100-200 meters long , and in case you have difficulty in walking, there is a small trolley that can take you there for free. But eventually the tide came in so close that there was nothing else for it but to pack up and move on. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. St. Lucia Key West San Juan Curacao Aruba Barbados. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Saint Martin. 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. . . This is where you catch the watertaxi to the centre of Philipsburg. Steve D the beach is back. With just a couple square miles of beachfront blocks, exploring the downtown area of Philipsburg can be an especially easy thing for those looking to get to know the day. The French route it is just too much travel time and distance. Creditcards are accepted at mosts shops. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isnt particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. Tour buses and a 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. Best time to visit: As with most Caribbean islands the best time to visit is between the months of November to March as this is when the weather is the driest. The sun was scorching hot and getting into the cool water melted away the crazy sweaty energy of the beach bar. You cant miss it. Shopping: at the cruise terminal or in town Transportation: 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. Some (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I only know two rental companies located near the cruise port. Adults (16+) Children (2-15) So, if you are looking for the cheapest way to enjoy the Maho beach, then the local bus is an ideal way. 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 . 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!!! The most popular and convenient one is the Great Bay beach. About 300 kilometers east of Puerto Rico in the northeast part of the Caribbean lies St. Maarten, a cruise community favorite destination. Sailfish and marlin are popular during the summer months, while kingfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi are highly sought after. 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. Amongst many others, ships of Carnival Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O, Royal Caribbean, TUI and Windstar have the island in their itineraries. The Seabourn Pride docks at 8 am but now I'm thinking of simply flying to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You need to carry off your luggage and be the 1st people off the ship. Because of this vibrant but peaceful history the island shows two beautiful and diverse faces and personalities. After you have bought your ticket you will receive a paper bracelet as proof of payment and you proceed to the pier. It boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. le Tintamarre is a small island with an area of approximately 0.8km2. ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); Despite the occasional conflicts they had in history, French and Dutch nations have lived together on this tiny piece of land for over three centuries. 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. Kind of like never standing at the back end of a horse. Just visited Dec 26th - was told by multiple people that (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It is able to dock seven cruise ships at one time. It does have a european attitude so there will be a number of topless bathers. Leisure car rental service recently won the WTA awards as the best St. Maarten car rental company for 2020. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Fed and watered, Rachel and I headed onto the beach itself. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Resort Beach Day. Official Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Saint Martin, Official Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Sint Maarten, Top of the art penthouse on the beach - 4000 sq. 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. St. Martin is one of the best shopping ports of the Caribbean. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88437021', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Mullet Bay. You might also catch a glimpse of sea turtles and stingrays during your snorkeling adventure. Traffic is crazy that time of year. . Photo courtesy of Rene Cicero.St Maarten cruise terminal. Below is the list of the main Philipsburg attractions: See the list of the best Philipsburg toursif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'adventourbegins_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-banner-1-0'); rel="sponsored nofollow noopener", Check out St Maarten/St Martin beach tours and activities. #1. The zip line course at this farm dubbed the extreme fly zone shouldnt be missed. Want more tales from the Caribbean? if your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Cabin Prices. Philipsburg St. Maarten has established a cruise welcome center next to the cruise dock. 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. Just watch the video below filmed on January 11, 2017. Dont be alarmed, however, as you will rarely dock with 6 other ships. For the most part, we stayed out of the crowds but still appreciated the landings at an angle. Locals will claim that its 37-square-mile island is the smallest in the world shared by two countries. I only know two rental companies located near the cruise port. Other popular beaches are not within walking distance, but if you are willing to take a taxi we can recommend Dawn beach, Mullet Bay Beach or Orient Beach. There is no route to take to avoid the draw bridge. 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 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. Our St. Maarten tours and excursions do not stop there, as many of our shore tours include traveling to the French-controlled portion of the island to experience both paradise destinations by visiting two countries in one day. Last updated: March 1 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. The Amsterdam of the Caribbean distance from st maarten airport to cruise port. . 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). 3. To the original poster,I didn't mention the "bridge" on the "longer route" because it's daily opening is not a given as the boat traffic @ Sandy Ground is far less than the bridge on the shorter route (Simpson Bay) as I've gone through there days on end and it never opened.And chances are it will not open 12/27 IF you take that route.IF it does, the time open will be very short as compared to Simpson bay. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Cancun Airport has four passenger terminals (total 62 gates) of . Rainclouds rarely stick around for long, and we were confident that by the time we reached the airplane beach it would have passed. St. Maarten Two Islands Private Day TourTwo countries on one island for almost 400 years. Currently, we are unable to provide international travel restriction information for Saint Martin relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19). This was a key date for the cruise tourism. Rental Car this can be a great way to see the island, especially if you have more than a group of 3 people. Why You Should Use Public Transportation to Maho Beach from the Cruise Port Snorkel Gear and Scuba Diving Equipment Tips by a Pro! To be able to handle the world's largest cruise vessels , Port San Juan invested ~USD 8 million in building a 3rd dock. Cookie Policy - We went to a beach just past the airport call Mullet Bay - if you want you can actually walk to runway to watch landings - for us, we skipped it because the only flights in / out were small inter-island planes. There are water taxis, vehicles, trams, buses and even ATVs at the transport stand. Your ship will dock on the Dutch side of the island at Philipsburg, where all large vessels such as cruise ships dock. The cruise dock in St. Maarten is called the A.C. Wathey Pier. Its capital is Philipsburg a major commercial hub and a cruise port that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships of all sizes due to its great infrastructure and port facilities. 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88299225', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ship landing in St Martin on 16th Jan 2018. Book a shared arrival transfer from Princess Juliana International Airport to your hotel, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip in St Maarten, or St Martin. 1 mile from the cruise terminal. But dont let the facts get in the way of enjoying this enticing cruise destination that goes by the name of Saint-Martin on the northern French side and Sint Maarten on the southern Dutch side. . The cruise port is about 1 km away from the centre of Philipsburg. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. 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. A hat and water are recommended! Some tours include beach time, so make sure you bring proper clothing. . This post was sponsored by the island of Sint Maarten, Recommended Reading: Can You See The Northern Lights On An Alaskan Cruise. The road distance is 5 miles. It will likely take half an hour from Philipsburg to Marigot, but one time it took us closer to an hour. . There are taxis right in town to take you . Upon getting off the ship, a hundred meters further, youll spot Harbour Point Village a lively area full of duty-free shops, jewelry stores, market stalls, bars, and a restaurant. Distance: 4 km Duration: 1h 10m What companies run services between St Maarten Airport (SXM), Sint Maarten and Marigot, Saint Martin? This is where you want to take a large group of friends or family for a fun hangout. Guests looking for an ultimate vacation experience, the Roof Top and Sunset suites with butler service are the resorts best accommodations. Pay attention to the signs, pals! Maho is only about fifteen minutes from downtown Phillipsburg. Currently, we are unable to provide domestic travel restriction information for travelling within Saint Martin. There is fun for all ages offered by the zip line courses, hikes and boat trips offered here.