Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available to rent. The sand is indeed white, waves are crystal clear, and gives you a fun experience with the planes in the sky. Surfing is also one of the best things to do in St Maarten; Mullet bay has northern winds, making it an excellent spot for surfers. Great Bay Beach is also situated near car rentals, restaurants, bars and cafes and is a fantastic beach for swimming. A St. Maarten cruise has great appeal simply because the island has one of the best cruise ports in the entire Caribbean. This hidden gem is seldom crowded because its tricky to find. They have Jet-Skis rentals and water sports equipment rentals. St. Martin/St. It has been quite a few years since I've been to St. Maarten. The Happy bay beach is also known as the best snorkel spot in St Maarten. It takes about 20 minutes to arrive at this location. Again, look for signs point the way. The beach is certainly grand in Sint Maarten, and within steps from the port (unlike Cayman). There are hundreds of duty free stores and the discounts are great. But they mainly represent low-end casual in one group and high-end seafood and steak in the other. Baie Rouge is what youll expect what a Caribbean beach would look like. I've lived on St. Martin/St. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg of 2023 (with Prices Here are some of the best activities in St. Maarten. St. Maarten Beaches + Things to do near St. Maarten cruise port :: st The coral reefs offer snorkelers a peek into St. Maarten water inhabitants. This beach is about 30 minutes from the cruise port via taxi along Airport road. Its like a 3 min ride. The swell is never too high thanks to its coral reefs. Authentic name brands like Armani, Versace, Gucci are just some designer brands you will find. "All of St. Maarten has been hit hard by a hurricane followed by a pandemic. Browse the shops for souvenirs and gorgeous beach wear. Now, its a silent part of the busy beach leading to the cruise ship terminal, where tour operators await with open-air trucks to carry passengers to activities (USD cash accepted). Maho Beach is usually a favorite of visitors to the island and it is a tiny beach. These are near the cruise port terminal for ease of access on the island. They also give you free Wi-Fi so dont forget to ask for the Wi-Fi code, especially for your social media buffs. The island has a small number of narrow winding roads, so car rentals even for a day are quite commonso common that traffic jams are frequent. Great Bay Beach (Philipsburg) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. This beach is very popular with the locals during the weekends, but its also very tranquil and uncrowded during the weekdays. Sint Maarten as called by the Dutch and St. Martin by the French, is a 37 sq mile island that features all the charm of the Caribbean. Alicia's Inn. 5 Best Beaches In St. Maarten For Snorkeling It has restaurants and bars, where you can get a bite or a drink from. Drivers are sometimes aggressive when fighting through traffic. September and November historically have the highest rainfall and are the riskiest months to go there. 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You can take a tour of the nature reserve nearby as you explore the majestic beauty of the place. Here are 10 attractions near the cruise port to make planning easier for passengers. It is about seven miles north of the Philipsburg cruise port. And that brings up So get a taxi or car rental if you plan to see more than just the tourism district. 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. The sunset seen from Cupecoy is majestic, with views of Saba in the distance. The residents rely heavily on tourists so I feel like the majority are super friendly and accommodating. Heres a list of a few more suggestion in Phillipsburg: Top 6 Car Rentals in St. Maarten Cruise Port. The price for an entire day is $7 per person at the time of this writing. St. Thomas/St. John Beach Guide - Cruise Critic coveneiet water taxi. But traffic outside of the Boardwalk and Front Street is often heavy. 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. For tourists who want a quiet and relaxing vacation, this is the place to be. St. Maarten cruise docks. The French side shows more signs of wear (being hit hard by the 2017 hurricane) compared to Philipsburg. Feel free to browse our website for more content on St Maarten, the Dutch Caribbean and rest of the Caribbean by using the search bar located at the top of this page. Getting To Maho Beach From The Cruise Port - Fastest Way! The sunset is also breathtaking, like on most beaches in St Maarten. The beach also features great restaurants like the Rainbow caf, popular for freshly caught fish dishes and cocktails. You could visit the Rouge et Noir casino near the end of the beach strip. One of the best beaches in St. Maarten is Mullet Bay Beach. Additionally, there is a clothing optional area on this beach. Philipsburg is big enough and developed enough to spend most of the day on foot. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg - Tripadvisor Little bay beach is located adjacent to Little Divi Resort. Then travelled back on water taxi (very good ride!) With its beautiful calm waters and sandy shores, it truly is one of the top beaches in St Maarten. You also get the use of their facilities. Great Bay Beachs location is ideal if you want to enjoy the beach as well as take advantage of the excellent duty free opportunities available on the island. The sea was crystal clear light blue and the sand v clean and there was a lovely breeze. The water is calm, no waves. There are many places to shop around and search for deals. Gizmos bar located on the beach has AMAZING . It's about a $50-$60 for the round trip but it all depends on how many passengers. The water taxi ride costs about $4 per person. Sit on the pier with a great view of the cruise ships that have docked in the port. Jet ski, paraglide or sail at Orient Beach, then grab a snack at one of the many bars and restaurants there. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Shopping in St. Maarten: Where to Go & What to Buy - Celebrity Current What Attractions Are At Orient Bay Beach? Start your shopping day at Front street in the heart of Philipsburg. The island has gorgeous powdery sand beaches, charming. Where they serve fresh fish and lobsters for lunch among others. Day and night, theres always a lively atmosphere in Kim Sha Beach, St Maarten. Note that it is clothing optional. Discover 9 Top Cruise Accessories Youll Absolutely Love + 5 More For Kids! Recommended Hotel Nearby: Princess Heights Luxury Condo Hotel. From the comfort of your lounge chair under the sun . Taking a bus is a less expensive option. Great Bay Beach is a fun beach and everything you will need will be there------the beach---water sports---bars--restaurants----long & wide and close to the docks and along one of the best shopping streets in the Caribbean. Vans are also available, and prices vary depending on the number of people on board. Other than the makeup of the countrys population, St. Maarten is also popular for its beaches. Friars Bay beach is a hidden gem amongst the best beach spots in St Maarten. Dont miss out on the golden opportunity to explore the aquatic beauty underneath the surface. Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. Rates are $8-10 per person one way. St Maarten Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions Great food and lots of cold drinks to keep you refreshed while lounging in the sun. Car rentals. Known to be near the Great Bay, you could make a side trip here to experience this beachs greatness. Take a water taxi to the island and enjoy the amazing beaches and scenery. St. Maarten. You get 2 Beach Loungers and 1 umbrella and 6 beers all for approximately $25-$30 depending on which restaurant or bar you go to. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. 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. INDULGENCE BY THE SEA Photo courtesy of Indulgence by the Sea LITTLE BAY BEACH ST. MAARTEN TREASURE SEEKER Photo courtesy of Treasure Seeker WATHEY SQUARE Photo courtesy of Vacation St. Maarten WATER UFO ST. MAARTEN Photo courtesy of Water UFO SUNSET BAR AND GRILL Great for: Beach time, diving, snorkeling, water sports. But it is one of the most convenient beaches in the Caribbean for cruise port visitors because it is within walking distance of the docks. Therefore, depending on the time of year that you visit expect there to be a crowd. Anyone visiting St. Maarten by cruise ship or to stay at the resorts should consider Orient Bay Beach as another one worth visiting. The terminal has useful signs that point people to where they want to go. There is also a small souvenir flea market nearby, just keep walking straight in pass Back Street, its hard to miss. St Maarten is Dutch and to the north the French side is called St Martin. Little Bay beach is located West of the capital (Philipsburg) making the beach a little less busy and less crowded. Maho Beach Arguably the most popular beach that travelers on cruises to St. Maarten visit is Maho Beach, which is known for having the area's longest stretch of hotels and resorts. 1. Easily one of our favorite destinations among the best beaches in St Maarten, Baie Rouge offers long extensive shores and pristine cool waters. Temperatures stay in the low 80s Fahrenheit in the winter and reach the high 80s in the summer. Numerous restaurants line the boardwalk; many more restaurants plus plenty of shopping lie only one block over on Philipsburgs popular Front Street. Its turquoise blue waters hit the shorelines and leave a gushing atmosphere at its wake. Travel to Maho beach and watch jumbo jets fly overhead to land at the nearby airport. Maho Beach is a bucket list item for most tourists visiting St. Martin. St. Maarten cruise port - Top rated port guide for cruise ship passengers TThings to do near the St. Maarten Cruise Port. Top 5 Best Beach In St Maarten For Snorkeling Happy Bay Beach Happy Bay is a small beautiful beach that is located in the Northwest of the island between the Bay of Grand Case and Friars Bay. Its surrounded by perfect vistas of the ocean and lush hills. Hence, the island of St. Maarten is one of the worlds top cruise port destinations. The best restaurants on the island are mainly concentrated in two areas. Kim Sha is a popular starting point for dive and excursion boats. There are no full restrooms but there is a port-a-potty available and usually there is a crowd on weekends. 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 boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. All sun protection wear can be found on Amazon by clicking here. Hawkers in front of the cafes will sometimes offer them for free to visitors who buy food and beverages. Our Cousin is a very active- independent young man that is in a wheelchair- I think it's going to be fine, but wanted to check? St. Martin is named as the French side and St. Maarten is named as the Dutch side. Worth it even if you take just a dip. We walked from the port to the beach area around 20 mins and walked along the beach front stopping in and out of shops on routewe must have been offered sunbeds by at least 10 different people..most were polite enough when you said no but most were quite persistent and it was pretty irritating one after the other continuously. Expect to pay anywhere between $7 and $35 to get to a zone. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Beach bumming is the main activity here, but you can also try the locals favorite guava berry rum Coladas served at the little bars nearby. Had an enjoyable walk along the beach and a very good day. St. Maarten Cruise: Best Cruises to St. Maarten - Celebrity Cruises Copyright Family Destinations Guide 2023. Very energetic walkers can hike 2.5 miles to the other side of the bay to Little Bay Beach and the small ruins of Fort Amsterdam. Great Bay Beach is also a family beach which is kid-friendly so that the whole family can enjoy. Kids can play on the sand and enjoy a splash in the calm water. 17 Best Beaches in St. Maarten Top Public Beach Spots! Around The Caribbean is a resource for persons who want to learn more about the Caribbean islands. Cupecoy Beach is located on the southwestern tip of the island and is the last beach on the way to the French side. Here you can dine at French, Thai, and Italian restaurants. Our content provides helpful and meaningful tips to individuals who want to relocate or travel to the region. Walking to this beach from the cruise pier is easy and possible, and there is always the option of a water taxi. 30 Things to Do in Philipsburg, St. Maarten During a Cruise This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Its arguably famously known as the bikini beach as it entertains many lively parties and holds huge crowds of party people. Get sandblasted by the jets as the plane fly by. It did shelve quite quickly. Say Maho! when the planes fly over your head; its a tradition on the island! Taxis, which also are usually SUVs, have a T at the beginning of the license plate. The Guava berry Emporium is the spot to taste and sample this locally made liquor. 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. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. An exclusive shore excursion to Orient Bay costs about $70 per person. 2022 Scott S. Bateman. Cruise visitors will arrive at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities just outside of Philipsburg on Great Bay. This cruise port is huge, handling over 20,000 people at a time and up to 6 ships at once. Time to ged inspired by these 13 stunning St. Maarten beaches you can experience during a cruise vacation in the eastern Caribbean. You can even take a short taxi ride into Maho to watch the planes take-off and land. With palm trees leaning in, Do some hammock napping with your family. water warm and lovely, beach clean. When you get hungry, visit the popular Chez Raymond for grilled foods and drinks. Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Villas at Simpson Bay Beach Resort and Marina, Little Bay Beach, Octavius L. Richardson Rd, PhilipsburgSint Maarten, NLD 1744. The locals are also friendly and charming to the tourists, making Divi Beach a warm place to stay at. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Atrium Beach Resort and Spa St Maarten a Ramada by Wyndham, Also See:Beaches in BermudaBest Beaches in JamaicaPhuket Beaches, Guana Bay, PhilipsburgSint Maarten, NLD 1744. There is a large Westin resort located on this beach. Located about 20 minutes by taxi from the cruise terminal, this white sand beach is surrounded by lush green landscape. Two beach bars are located at either end of this beach being Sunset bar and grill and Driftwood boat bar respectively. Carry snacks and drinks though there are vendors on the beach. If you get bored and want to try a different scene, you can visit Happy Bay beach which is just a short distance away. I trust that you have found this information useful if your plans are to visit a beach while on a cruise to St Maarten. Children under 13 are free. They are Philipsburg on the southern coast and Simpson Bay on the southwest coast because they have the cruise port and the airport. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We had a lovely day off the ship relaxing on the beach which wasn't busy at all even with 2 ships in. Maho Beach is a 30-40 minute drive to reach, and it requires a shore excursion or taxi to get there. Cruise Port to Maho Beach, St Maarten - Tripadvisor Visit this beach to enjoy a great beach break on its soft white sands and when you get hungry grab a bite at the nearby restaurants. However, the good news is that the beaches are there and your favorite restaurants and resorts are hard at work rebuilding. Though it's not nearly as . Marigot Marigot is the capital of the French collective of the island. Family Destinations Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As a famous tourist island, this place is accessible and will give you the well-deserved vacation you need. Very busy day when we went and so lots of sunbeds-a bit crowded together. Some jet skis nearby filling up with fuel every 10 minutes which smelt terriblenot very safety conscious either as they were floating about in the water while filling up. If you are going to be traveling to Maho beach its best to pack up and head back to the port latest 3:30 pm if your ships leaving at 5 pm. Before we get started, youre going to need to check all these beach accessories. This beach is as relaxing as relaxing gets; it even offers spa services to enhance the experience. You can also enjoy the day at Great Bay Beach, Divi Little Bay Beach. You can rent two chairs and umbrellas for $20 and relax the day away. Youll still see some damage even along the boardwalk of Great Bay Beach in Philipsburg. I have recently completed an informative course by cruise specialist, Emma Cruises which you should check out titled How To Cruise For Less. niNice beach, water clean and lovely. We left our cruise ship and headed for the water taxis -7 dollars return to the beach and back. Have a sizzling barbeque with family and friends. Dawn Beach offers spectacular views of sunrises. Kim Sha beach is the place to be for party-goers who want the time of their life. The powdery soft sand and coconut trees backdrop give it a magical atmosphere.