However, due to the number of cruise visitors, US dollars are widely accepted. That was very silly of me. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isnt particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. $45/Adult. Creditcards are accepted at mosts shops. The driest months are February and March, while the rainy season lasts from June to November. The journey should only take about 20 minutes, but we spent almost double that crawling along in a long line of cars. 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. St. Martin is the worlds smallest territory shared by two countries. And best of all the taxi charges are standardized by the government. Rotary Lookout Point A beautiful viewpoint is part of the French Nature Reserve offering scenic views of the east coast of Saint Martin and Lucas Bay. (But its still pretty fun to be in the sea when a plane comes in to land.). 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. I will be disembarking a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Leisure Car rental provides clean and well-maintained vehicles in all categories. You might have already sensed from my description that this beach is not my kind of place. You can book an excursion to Anguilla via your ship or local tour operators. 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. . In St. Maarten, on the Dutch side of the island, the official currency is the antillean guilder. Some (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Id love to connect with you via Instagram @katarina_adventourbegins, Facebook @Adventour Begins, and Pinterest @katarina_adventourbegins. 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. Cab was $9us each way per person - they fill a van with a bunch of people (there was 13 of us that caught the same taxi - 11 from the UK and my wife and I) - and they will arrange a time to come back and pick you up (it is about a 30 min drive, so plan return time accordingly). Tourism dollars help contribute to the rebuilding and preservation of the beaches and businesses that were affected by the hurricane. St Maarten port is one of the fastest-growing Caribbean cruise ports and the leading cruise port in the Eastern Caribbean. I'll probably just catch a Taxi from the ship. Mere steps from where the cruise ships dock in Philipsburg is the extremely popular St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge, which gives normal folk the thrill of racing in an actual Americas Cup regatta. 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. Taxi fare from the cruise pier in Phillipsburg to Orient beach is about $30 + tip each way. Anguilla is endowed with virgin beaches that feature pristine white sandy stretches. A round trip costs 7 US dollars. The most famous of all the beaches on the island is Maho Bay Beach thanks to its proximity to the airport. Both beach bars on the beach are up and running for some time. 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. One price will do you for the day and youll get a great view of the harbor. 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. is a turnaround day for vacationers and the airport will be busy. After you have bought your ticket you will receive a paper bracelet as proof of payment and you proceed to the pier. Tour guides usually wait for cruise ship passengers here, but make sure you come on time because this area can be extremely busy, and might be challenging to find your tour meeting place.google.com/maps/. Heres a list of a few more suggestion in Phillipsburg: Dont Miss: Cruise Lines Departing From Mobile Alabama. A-OO A-OO A-OO!! You are free to walk, but you can also take the water taxi or a regular taxi. Starting in 2007, they made a lasting impression with their customers. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Both can be found on the French side of the island and are a little more laid back than some of the islands other beaches. Traffic is crazy that time of year. Amongst many others, ships of Carnival Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O, Royal Caribbean, TUI and Windstar have the island in their itineraries. 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. 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. Taxis you will see passengers lining up at the pier for taxis, by destination and fare type. 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. #1. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. See map above for its exact location. Should I visit Marigot on the french side or just spend time on the Dutch side for shopping and maybe a little beach time? Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. . 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. Its just not a good idea. The Dutch later built Fort Amsterdam as a military outpost in Philipsburg for protection from intruders. It is a small island divided between two countries France and the Kingdom of Netherlands. February 18. . Here, you will find the Pinel Island Marine Trail, a designated snorkeling route teeming with marine life. 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. To get around the island you will need a vehicle and luckily transport is readily available at the end of the short pier. The port is a popular cruise-ship stop. Find a booth (see picture) to buy a ticket. The organized boat tours normally take you to the islands best snorkeling sites and off-the-beaten-path places of incredible beauty. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Terminal Mobile Al. 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. Ask for specifications at the booth. Get around town by utilizing either the Philipsburg Ferry Terminal down the street, or a modest bus line whose only downfall is waiting on a lax schedule. 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 price is very reasonable and affordable for everyone. Any content or photos on this website are copyright protected and cannot be used for commercial purposes. The St Maarten cruise terminal is located in Philipsburg, the Dutch part of the island, around 1.5 mi away from the city center. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. 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. This is where you catch the watertaxi to the centre of Philipsburg. Id really been expecting a Dutch island. There are plenty of beachside chair and umbrella rental services for a relaxing day watching the turquoise waters of the bay lap against the sand. GOOD LUCK. Kids 3 and under are free and it is cheaper than taking a cab if you wish to go downtown for shopping. Notify the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You can read more in our cookie notice more information I agree. There are TWO throughfares to get you from the port to the airport.The short route will take approximately 45 and MUST cross a DRAWBRIDGE that opens DAILY around 8 0r 9 for traffic in and out of the Bay/Lagoon..small boats to mega yachts.IF that bridge is opened BEFORE you cross you will have an additional 1/2hr to an hr wait..depending on boat traffic.that time of year can be busy because lots of yachts are wintered there. But eventually the tide came in so close that there was nothing else for it but to pack up and move on. comes and goes as sxmlover says. Best Philipsburg, St. Maarten excursions. 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. There are plenty of busses that run between Philipsburg and Marigot. If you stay near the airport, you might be OK with taking taxis to your destinations . Tintamarre Island is an uninhabited island which has been recognized as an important bird area. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. 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!!! Why You Should Use Public Transportation to Maho Beach from the Cruise Port 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. . 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. And use your heads! Find all the transport options for your trip from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay right here. It is a large cruise facility that can accomodate several mega cruise ships. Wow, I think that is tight. Wait, what? 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. See St Maarten cruise port on Google maps, Check out St Maarten rent-a-car deals and offers, See the list of the best Philipsburg tours, 3. If you are going from the Dutch into French side and back there is no border control or anything like that. Find all the transport options for your trip from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay right here. St. Maarten's cruise port is within an easy 5 to 10 minute walking distance to Philipsburg. There are no direct flights from the UK to St Maartens, making it a great island to explore when cruising. Its the best place to enjoy a perfect beach day. 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. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? Advertising - It runs from top of Pic Paradis to the farm below. ', 'Should I book online before I travel? How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. 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. Hi, the 27th is on a Saturday ---your docking time WILL BE KEY. Distance to Cruise Port: 8.7 miles Distance from Airport: 2 minutes. Where is maho beach in st maarten? Sat. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. You cant miss it. As previously mentioned, Mullet Bay was fantastic. 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! 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.