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. The southern part measures 44 km2 / 17 m2 and is Dutch. It boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. No need to worry. Instead, try off the beaten path gems like Happy Bay Beach or nearby Friars Bay Beach. Thats right, the end of the runway sits along the edge of the water and landing planes swoop down directly overhead. St. Maarten's cruise port is within an easy 5 to 10 minute walking distance to Philipsburg. Distance to Cruise Port: 8.7 miles Distance from Airport: 2 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. Walk. Prices start at $100USD per night. Re: St Martin airport beach to cruise port. You can read more in our cookie notice more information I agree. Can anyone please help re how the best way to get there and back, a taxi would be great if anyone can recommend a reputable company I could get in touch with that would be great. There might be two extremes in St. Maarten hair-raising ziplines and sleepy sunset cruises but there is so much more to the island, which really grew on me during my short stay and now ranks as my favourite Caribbean destination. The port facilities for cruises to St. Maarten offer helpful amenities like ATMs, shops, a tourist information desk, taxi and rental car information, and restaurants if youre hungry right when you get off the cruise ship. February 18. distance from st maarten airport to cruise port. All rights reserved. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Port Norfolk Virginia. 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. Distance to Cruise Port: 0.9 mile Distance from Airport: 23 minutes. I think if you can get off the ship and in a cab by 8 AM, you can probably make it. There are plenty of busses that run between Philipsburg and Marigot. Marigot to Grand Case should take 15 minutes, but here as well it can sometimes take longer. There is no direct connection from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. Marigot is the main town and capital in the French Collectivity of Saint Martin. Barcelona airport from cruise ship in 3 hours ? 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. 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. . Cruise portsCrew membersDestinationsBlogAbout me, ContactPrivacy policyTerms and conditionsDisclaimer, We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. Sat. I will be disembarking a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? rene verdugo urquidez released SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. Aside from the great climate Sint Maarten is known for its shopping! Creole Rock is a small island nestled in a protected marine reserve. 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. The Dr Wathey Pier, on a walking distance from Philipsburg, is a strategic hub for cruise vessels in the middle of the Caribbean. You might also catch a glimpse of sea turtles and stingrays during your snorkeling adventure. . . 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 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14754404', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Juan.spend the night at the airport then flying AA direct to Dallas on Dec. 28th. 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. 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. For the most part, we stayed out of the crowds but still appreciated the landings at an angle. The water taxi departs from the Captain Hodge Pier. St. Maarten has constructed a wonderful new cruise terminal. June 15, 2022 rey chavez distributor weekly specials rey chavez distributor weekly specials Here, you will find the Pinel Island Marine Trail, a designated snorkeling route teeming with marine life. In the sea, people swam and jumped in the swell whilst waiting for the next plane to land. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status in Sint Maarten, please check government recommendations. Rainclouds rarely stick around for long, and we were confident that by the time we reached the airplane beach it would have passed. 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. How to Get to Philipsburg From the St. Maarten Cruise Port Cruise ships dock at the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility around 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Philipsburg center. There is also an internet cafe at the cruise terminal. It is a beautiful resort dotted with beautiful wooden cabanas hidden among the trees. At its Great Bay is the Port of St. Maarten, a main gateway for experiencing the few blocks of historic city nearby. The journey should only take about 20 minutes, but we spent almost double that crawling along in a long line of cars. This boutique-style property offers stylish rooms with either city of views across the Caribbean sea to the cruise terminal. Great value shore excursions, prices lower than the cruise lines. Absolutely not. Water Taxi a great way to get to downtown Philipsburg for a low cost. Posted Wednesday at 09:11 PM. See here for more information. With so many things to do and see in St. Maarten, you may need to come back and spend a weeks holiday to really enjoy the rest of the island. Enjoy The Beaches. It is a large cruise facility that can accomodate several mega cruise ships. Also find all detailed information about cruise port St. Maarten and what to see and do underneath. Walk three fourths of a mile, ride in a land taxi or take a quick water taxi to the tourist district. AA has (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The main St. Maarten cruise port is Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities at Philipsburg. There is widespread community transmission globally. Find a booth (see picture) to buy a ticket. Make sure to take some home with you. The longer route will take about an hour BUT.no bridge wait time. . Simpson Bay Resort Marina & Spa. Papapapapaya #allofthefruitsinherebaby Families with kids are welcome at Sonestas sister hotel, the Maho Beach Resort & Casino, located on the same property. 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. I only know two rental companies located near the cruise port. But whilst the Silver Wind was still in port, another 3 ships docked in St Maarten Regal Princess, Eurodam and Anthem of the Seas. As the Caribbean is known to be tropical climate and some prefer to skip the walk, there is multiple types of transport available to get to "town", as St Maarteners call it lovingly. 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). Kids 3 and under are free and it is cheaper than taking a cab if you wish to go downtown for shopping. comes and goes as sxmlover says. Rental Car this can be a great way to see the island, especially if you have more than a group of 3 people. le Tintamarre is a small island with an area of approximately 0.8km2. 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). For $7, you can get an all day pass for the water taxi that leaves right near where the cruise ships dock. . 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. Cabin Prices. 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. In this article, read about: Visit also our cruise guides to St Thomas, San Juan, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia,Falmouth, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Labadee, Bermuda, Barbados. The most popular resorts in this area are Coralita Beach, Oyster Bay, and Dawn Beach. 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. Thank you for reading and Happy Cruising! The fare is 2 to 3 US dollar. Leisure car rental service recently won the WTA awards as the best St. Maarten car rental company for 2020. Cookie Policy - Here, youll also find a tourist information desk and tour booths offering tours and car rentals, as well as a shore excursion meeting place (always double-check your tour ticket, though). Advertising - I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. A round trip costs 7 US dollars. Walk from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. Where is maho beach in st maarten? 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. It takes approximately 1h 10m to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay, including transfers. The Guava berry Emporium is the spot to taste and sample this locally made liquor. The distance between St Maarten Airport (SXM) and Port de Galisbay is 3 miles. It is within sight of the ship, in the city centre and there are lots of facilities. Its about a half-hour walk to get from the Philipsburg pier to the center of town. The island has long been a top destination for cruisers and it looks like thats going to continue into the future! . The walk is 100-200 meters long (depending on the location of your cruise ships dock), and in case you have difficulty in walking, there is a small trolley that can take you there for free. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Terminal Mobile Al. Because of this vibrant but peaceful history the island shows two beautiful and diverse faces and personalities. 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. To be able to handle the world's largest cruise vessels , Port San Juan invested ~USD 8 million in building a 3rd dock. However, you can take the ferry to Anguilla then take the ferry to St. Martin. Amenities include a restaurant with outdoor seating and beach lounges with umbrellas. The Airplane Beach in St Maarten is not what I was expecting. We dont even recommend taking your passport. Tour buses and 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. Source: Viator.com, Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch, St Maarten/Saint Martin off-road island tours are. 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. Once you get there, youll spot a small roundabout with plenty of taxi vehicles waiting for the cruise passengers to take them to Philipsburg city center or elsewhere. Enjoy The Beaches. Getting a taxi, rented vehicle or any other means of transportation is easy in St. Maarten. Flights Holiday Rentals Leave the piers and head to the right, where theres a row of taxis waiting to leave. (~2,5 hours drive distance). 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. The restaurants and bars are huddled at opposite ends of Maho Beach, although the entire thing is so small that it only takes about ten minutes to walk from one end to the other. No matter which option you choose, our stress-free transportation service ensures a comfortable and enjoyable journey from start to . Coastal Car Rental is right at the pier. Notify the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? In my blog, I share with you my insider tips & knowledge and about cruise ports, shore excursions, cruise destinations, and crew life onboard a cruise ship! Best Philipsburg, St. Maarten excursions. Help, Re: Cruise Terminal to Airport (Philipsburg, St Maarten) ? Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. 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. 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. There's no physical border or customs checkpoint between the two sides. Some other suites feature a swim-out pool, while the signature Azul restaurant boasts the most breathtaking views. The island has no human occupants, but has been inhabited in the past. In the height of the season they often open the Dutch side bridge at 9 AM and 9:30 AM which really backs up the traffic. Find all the transport options for your trip from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay right here. Sailfish and marlin are popular during the summer months, while kingfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi are highly sought after. This is where you catch the watertaxi to the centre of Philipsburg. 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. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Resort Beach DayFor guests not wishing to make the trek to the French side of the island, there's su. The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. and note the bridge openings. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Welcome to the St. Maarten cruise port guide. There are great sites to visit and memories to make. and both beach bars are operating. St Maarten/St Martin lies within the hurricane belt, so heavy tropical storms and hurricanes may occur in September and October. This opportunity alone makes any St. Maarten shore excursion and trip incredibly fulfilling. The rusting cannons of Fort Amsterdam guard the many cruise ships that make a port of call in St. Maarten. Add it! Great Bay Beach, a long boardwalk and shopping on Front Street run side by side. . They'll keep a running tab for you as long as you are there. $31/Adult. Both beach bars on the beach are up and running for some time. . The sky might have been blue by then, but the sea was ragingly choppy and the tide swept me off my feet several times before I could even think about getting further out into the water. My name is Katarina and welcome to my cruise & travel blog! Birds eye view of the real-life rainbow fish , Number 15 Just make sure you keep the water on your left hand side walking to the town. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 1h 10m. 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. 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. 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 were so many people that the waitstaff were ran off their feet, carrying gigantic trays from table to table and struggling to keep up with all the orders. 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 . Marigot is the main town and capital in the French Collectivity of Saint Martin. With its European influences , St. Maarten is just begging to be explored from the land or sea via cruise ship. The cruise port was visited by 6,8 million cruise tourists in 2008-2009, 7,9M (2014-2015) and 1,5M (2015-2016). There is fun for all ages offered by the zip line courses, hikes and boat trips offered here. is a turnaround day for vacationers and the airport will be busy. #ihavethisthing. the trip from the dock to the airport usually takes closer to 30 minutes and often much more when the traffic is bad. Anguilla is endowed with virgin beaches that feature pristine white sandy stretches. You might be cutting it very close with airport check-in being 2 hr's prior.With a plan it might be doable. On Monday, December 4, 2017, Viking Sea was the first cruise ship to call at the island of St Maarten since the passing of hurricane Irma earlier in September that same year. 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. The bus is only $2 per person and will drop you off in the parking lot. There are a few shops in the new cruise terminal. 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. Starting in 2007, they made a lasting impression with their customers. Cruise for 9 nights departing in October 2023 | Cruise code departing from Boston . Dutch and French Side Island Sightseeing, A great place to taste the premium quality rum and see the rum-making process. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. Visit the Loterie Farm found on one side of Pic Paradis. 3. Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings lining its Front Street shopping area. This was the first four ship day for St. Maartens 2018 season. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88391878', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maho beach every day. Cruise Terminal to Airport (Philipsburg, St Maarten) ? However, due to the number of cruise visitors, US dollars are widely accepted. The drive from the cruise port to Maho Beach is about 10 minutes. 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. And even if it happens, the island has plenty of attractions which helps spread out the masses. We have received no reports of travel restrictions in Saint Martin. Nowadays, the island reflects a blend of two cultures and mentalities that learned to live, work, and grow together. The northern part, measures 52 km2 / 20 m2, is French. Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, and Pinel Island are some top choices off the coast of St. Maarten. Pinel Island can be reached via a short ferry trip across Cul de Sac as well. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. It is famous for being adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport, and is a popular site for tourists and planewatchers, who visit the beach to watch aircraft on final approach landing at the airport, passing only a short distance above their heads. 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