The main St. Maarten cruise port is Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities at Philipsburg. Little Bay is located about a 10 minute drive from the cruise port. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'stmaartenadventure_com-leader-3','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-stmaartenadventure_com-leader-3-0');There are also cabs to take you to different destinations if you prefer to discover the island. Few facilities or commercial establishments are available nearby. Visitors will find plenty of taxis at the docks ready to take them there. But among this plethora of sandy dunes and pristine waters, we went ahead and narrowed down a list of the best beaches in St Maarten. Buses usually have a sign that says Maho beach and it takes approximately 20 minutes from the cruise port. It has BUS at the beginning of the license plate and the destination sign in the window. Expect to pay anywhere between $7 and $35 to get to a zone. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. The clear crystal waters offer the perfect chance to snorkel, especially on the rockier shores. You can take a taxi which charges about $6 per person to the beach. Clothing is optional because it is secluded and located by the French St. Martin border. It's about a $50-$60 for the round trip but it all depends on how many passengers. If you're wondering how to get from St. Maarten Airport to your hotel, I highly recommend pre-booking a private car transfer. St. Maarten cruise docks. It is popular with hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. This is the beach for you. Any advice about St. Maarten beaches starts with three of themGreat Bay Beach, Orient Beach and Maho Beach. At least when you get hungry, you are within easy reach of a restaurant, or you can go back to the ship for lunch. The sea was crystal clear light blue and the sand v clean and there was a lovely breeze. Oyster Pond is perfect if youre looking for a place that exudes tranquility. Day and night, theres always a lively atmosphere in Kim Sha Beach, St Maarten. Boasting a fantastic marine life and youd get a glimpse of it if you opt to try snorkeling. With all that said remember to carry good water shoes, lots of sunscreen, your bathing suit and enjoy your cruise vacation. The nearby amenities and close proximity to the ship make it a very popular choice for cruise guests. Orient is a community beach where people mingle, lay in the sand, watch the sunset and the adjacent hills. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sonesta Maho Beach All Inclusive Resort Casino & Spa. St. Martin is named as the French side and St. Maarten is named as the Dutch side. The beach is not far, and an affordable taxi ride takes you there. It also has the massive cruise terminal nearby. The roads are narrow and winding. 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Took a water taxi from cruise port area $7 per person round trip. This Beach is a hidden gem found behind Divi resorts and makes for a perfect escape from the crowds. Clear waters, beautiful horizon, and the quiet ambiance of the Grand Case Beach makes it a worthwhile destination. Boutique hotel situated on Great Bay Beach in downtown Philipsburg. The destruction and lack of money from tourism has resulted in most of the island being in some state of disrepair. Here are the best things to do while in Philipsburg, St. Maarten Cruise Port! Baie Rouge is what youll expect what a Caribbean beach would look like. Located at the northwestern coast of St Maarten, it is a great surfing stop for beginners due to its gentle waves. Rates include all on-property. Dont forget to bargain with the vendors. There are no full restrooms but there is a port-a-potty available and usually there is a crowd on weekends. Walk along the beach on the boardwalk to find shops, food and drink or grab a chair and umbrella (usually for a fee) and take a dip in the bay. We've found the most popular sights, attractions and shore excursions for a truly amazing day. Anyone with an interest in good beaches might instead consider a shore excursion to one of the neighboring islands, such as Anguilla, St. Barth or Saba. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love. Little Bay beach is located West of the capital (Philipsburg) making the beach a little less busy and less crowded. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If you get bored and want to try a different scene, you can visit Happy Bay beach which is just a short distance away. If walking isnt appealing, there are quite a few transportation options. Great Bay Beach is the closest beach to the cruise terminal in St Maarten. Renting a car is usually much cheaper and it's what we would do. Here you can dine at French, Thai, and Italian restaurants. Great Bay Beach Great Bay Beach is the closest beach to the cruise terminal in St Maarten. Temperatures stay in the low 80s Fahrenheit in the winter and reach the high 80s in the summer. Bicycles / scooters. The top three excursions in St. Maarten are 1) The Flying Dutchman zip-line, 2) a chairlift to the top of sentry hill and 3) racing on a multi-million dollar America's Cup yacht boat. Great beach. Charged 30 dollars(should have haggled) for two sunbeds and an umbrella plus 6 free beers! The right portion is where families and children would bond through a number of recreational activities, and the left-most area is the adult division of the beach meant for nude sunbathing. St. Barth is frequented by the rich and famous. Clear waters, beautiful beach, and powdery sandy shoreswhat more could you ask for in Divi Beach? What's the best way to see Great Bay Beach? This beachs convenience makes it a hot spot for many tourists who are looking to relax and have some fun. They have Jet-Skis rentals and water sports equipment rentals. 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. This beach is as relaxing as relaxing gets; it even offers spa services to enhance the experience. Its located on the northeastern coast of the French side. At the time of this writing, getting to Marigot is $18 and Orient Beach is $20. Its like a 3 min ride. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent and local foods can be found at Rosies Snack Bar. If you are planning an upcoming cruise for St Maarten or the rest of the Caribbean, I have an awesome product recommendation that can save you money. Asked for Miguel after reading recomendations but he wasn't around so headed off to quiet end with wider beach and Sweet Andy looked after us. It takes just a 20-minute stroll to get there, and the beach area and boardwalk. I think you can also walk around to the beach instead of the water taxi. 10 Indulgence by the Sea St. Maarten Photo courtesy of Indulgence by the Sea The Indulgence by the Sea Spa. Time to ged inspired by these 13 stunning St. Maarten beaches you can experience during a cruise vacation in the eastern Caribbean. September and November historically have the highest rainfall and are the riskiest months to go there. Juliana Airport (SXM) Hotels near Esperance Airport (SFG) Hotels near Wallblake Airport (AXA) Tours; Add a . Where they want to go often includes Philipsburg itself. Vans are also available, and prices vary depending on the number of people on board. Roatan, Honduras. There is a boat that brings people over and drops them at the dock. This beach offers a lively atmosphere that is perfect for beachgoers. Moreover, go for snorkeling and explore the underwater world. St Maarten is Dutch and to the north the French side is called St Martin. Calm and clear azure waters with an excellent view of the Ocean is what greets you at Grand Case Beach. St Maarten/St Martin Beaches Maho Beach - 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. Is your upcoming Caribbean cruise docking in St Maarten? A five-hour shore excursion with transportation to Orient Bay and Maho Beach will start at $40 per person. Probably the most crowded beach during the cruise season is Maho Beach watching the planes land and take off, never gets old. Required fields are marked *. A guide, complimentary refreshments and round-trip transportation from the . Great Bay Beach is also situated near car rentals, restaurants, bars and cafes and is a fantastic beach for swimming. It lies right in from of the city of Philipsburg. Happy Cruising!! Magens Bay has an entry fee of $5 for adults and children 13 and older. You have 3$ pp (one way) mini vans outside the cruise port to the beach. The beach also features great restaurants like the Rainbow caf, popular for freshly caught fish dishes and cocktails. Great Bay Beach is one of the closest beaches to the cruise port terminal in Philipsburg. A snorkeling excursion there costs about $75 per person including transportation. Numerous restaurants line the boardwalk; many more restaurants plus plenty of shopping lie only one block over on Philipsburgs popular Front Street. Great Bay and Orient Bay are the best St Maarten beaches near the cruise port. 2. How to Get from St Maarten Airport to Hotel? The crystal-clear waters beckon to beach bummers, and once you are in you might not get out till its time to head back. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. Log in. However, the good news is that the beaches are there and your favorite restaurants and resorts are hard at work rebuilding. coveneiet water taxi. The main appeal is the convenient Great Bay Beach, the long boardwalk that runs parallel to it and the shops and restaurants that line the boardwalk. That aspect alone would make you want to visit this spot, and it also makes Burgeaux beach one of the best beach destinations on the island. Martin. Top Excursions in St. Maarten The Flying Dutchman Zip-Line Chairlift to Sentry Hill Racing on a Yacht Central town beaches usually aren't great, but that's not the case here. Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. If you've only got six hours: Dive or snorkel the second-largest coral reef in the world. Mullet Bay may get too busy on the weekends, so we suggest that you visit during the weekdays to maximize your relaxation by the beach. Didnt swim, but its safe, I was told. They also give you free Wi-Fi so dont forget to ask for the Wi-Fi code, especially for your social media buffs. The chairs and umbrellas are $5 each. Kim Sha beach is the place to be for party-goers who want the time of their life. You only need to get to the port early. St. Maartens average weather consists of warm temperatures year round that average in the mid 80s Fahrenheit. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. All sun protection wear can be found on Amazon by clicking here. Simpson Bay Beach is a long half-moon of white sand located by a fishing village. - Best is subjective as some prefer a cab, while others favour a Jinty With its nice horizon, outstanding view, and superb restaurants to trythe Oyster pond is one of the prettiest beaches in St Maarten. Saba is known for hiking and other ecotourism activities. In Phillipsburg, one of the best things to do is shopping on Front Street or Back Street or hang out in Wathey Square. Is there anything near the cruise port? One of the more famous and controversial attractions is the Maho Bay beach next to Princess Juliana International Airport. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. There are so many things to do around the cruise port that you will never be bored but may be pressed for time. Several beaches receive far fewer crowds than Orient or Great Bay and are worth seeing for people with extra time available. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. We left our cruise ship and headed for the water taxis -7 dollars return to the beach and back. Anse Marcel is one of St. Martins best kept secrets. It gives a semiprivate vibe but is not totally secluded, still giving you a public place to stroll and bask in the sun. Royal Palm Beach Resort. Where you can relax and just enjoy the beauty. It is a must-see stop for any southern or eastern Caribbean cruise and why 2 million cruise visitors come to the port every year. Heres a list of a few more suggestion in Phillipsburg: Top 6 Car Rentals in St. Maarten Cruise Port. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Some of the ladies started harassing a guy because he said no to a massage for his wife. "Everything was great, except check in because there's no place to park immediately until after you check in and pay the fees for the parking lot. The beach is certainly grand in Sint Maarten, and within steps from the port (unlike Cayman). The island only has one major road. It takes about 20 minutes to arrive at this location. Very pretty mountains around the bay and it's great to watch the ships come and go. As a result, it is hugely popular with visitors taking photos and videos. Its not difficult to spend a day exploring this fantastic beach, be sure to pack some energy and appetite when trying out the local cuisine. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'stmaartenadventure_com-box-4','ezslot_3',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-stmaartenadventure_com-box-4-0');There are many beach bars located in Maho such as Sunset Beach Bar, Driftwood Boat Bar, and the new Sandbar Beach Bar. St. Martin/St. Known to be near the Great Bay, you could make a side trip here to experience this beachs greatness. All Inclusive. Due to traffic congestion on afternoons, remember to give yourself sufficient time to return to the ship. It is easy to spend the day going back and forth between the beach and shopping or dining. We suggest checking in to the lovely villas by the cliff, and youll surely enjoy your time with a majestic view of the blue waters. So get a taxi or car rental if you plan to see more than just the tourism district. As a former crew member for Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line I can continue my passion by sharing my experiences with readers.

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