Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Fed and watered, Rachel and I headed onto the beach itself. comes and goes as sxmlover says. I only know two rental companies located near the cruise port. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. We advice you to book in advance. Start your shopping day at Front street in the heart of Philipsburg. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. It does have a european attitude so there will be a number of topless bathers. Id really been expecting a Dutch island. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88390607', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');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. The main St. Maarten cruise port is Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities at Philipsburg. Distance to Cruise Port: 0.9 mile Distance from Airport: 23 minutes. The French side is called Saint Martin (St Martin). This opportunity alone makes any St. Maarten shore excursion and trip incredibly fulfilling. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status within Saint Martin, please check government recommendations. You can access this beach by walking. This can happen as early as 8:30. There are a number of car rental locations near the port. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Yes, the driving distance between St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is 5 miles. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Also find all detailed information about cruise port St. Maarten and what to see and do underneath. This was a key date for the cruise tourism. . . 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! A round trip costs 7 US dollars. All rights reserved. Sint Maarten Bed and Breakfast; Sint Maarten Vacation Rentals; Sint Maarten Vacation Packages There are a few shops in the new cruise terminal. 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. We were there are Christmas Day and there were a lot of taxis and busses going out to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Kids 3 and under are free and it is cheaper than taking a cab if you wish to go downtown for shopping. Read Also: Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Puerto Rico. Locals will claim that its 37-square-mile island is the smallest in the world shared by two countries. Aside from the great climate Sint Maarten is known for its shopping! At its Great Bay is the Port of St. Maarten, a main gateway for experiencing the few blocks of historic city nearby. To be able to handle the world's largest cruise vessels , Port San Juan invested ~USD 8 million in building a 3rd dock. About 300 kilometers east of Puerto Rico in the northeast part of the Caribbean lies St. Maarten, a cruise community favorite destination. 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. Amenities include a restaurant with outdoor seating and beach lounges with umbrellas. . Nowadays, the island reflects a blend of two cultures and mentalities that learned to live, work, and grow together. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? There's no physical border or customs checkpoint between the two sides. 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. Enjoy The Beaches. . . My favorite is the guava berry colada. See map above for its exact location. For travel planning advice, please refer to our Rome2rio Coronavirus information page . For more information about COVID-19 protocols, please visit www.stmaartenupdates.com. 3. No, there is not a beach within walking distance of the St. Maarten cruise port. The buses depart at back street (one of the 2 main streets in Philipsburg). Next to the Sunset Beach Bar is Sandbar, a colourful new eatery which offers just about every kind of food you could wish for, from sushi and burgers to tacos and smores. The new year started with the return of Disney Cruises, Marella Celebration and Royal Caribbeans massive Harmony of the Seas on January 2. Absolutely not. Add it! Cruise Terminal to Airport (Philipsburg, St Maarten) ? More 1 hour Free Cancellation From $9.00 Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to St Maarten Airport 86 ', 'Should I book online before I travel? One is Rodael Car Rental and the other one is Coastal Car Rental. St Maarten the Eastern Caribbean pearl boasting stunning beaches, lush tropical nature, and kind, friendly residents is an island of diversities! The water taxis depart and arrive every 5-10 minutes and will take you over to a great family beach and the downtown area for shopping. For more information about the latest travel restrictions or port updates, please check: https://portstmaarten.com. The total cost to go and come back from the Cruise port (Philipsburg) St. Maarten to Maho Beach is 5 dollars. The crowds of people waiting for planes to land took up almost the entire middle of the beach closest to the runway. The centuries-old liquor is a part of St. Maartens culture, there are songs and stories dedicated to the Guava Berry. 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. You cant miss it. Getting a taxi, rented vehicle or any other means of transportation is easy in St. Maarten. 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. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. And best of all the taxi charges are standardized by the government. Required fields are marked *. The only thing that separates the beach from the runway is a narrow tarmac road and a wire fence, on which signs are tacked, warning people to stay back because of blasts from the jets. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. 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. One is Rodael Car Rental and the other one is Coastal Car Rental. Over time, the Dutch and French found ways to maintain their island colonies, respecting each others cultures and heritage. Cancun cruise port schedule 2023-2024-2025, map, address, ship terminals, hotels, tours, shore excursions. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isn't particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. . See All St Martin / St Maarten Conversations, Please recommend an all inclusive 5* adult only resort. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14746401', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight is at 10:30 you need to be at the airport to check in by 8:30. so it depends on what time you dock and how fast you can get off the ship. Airport: St Maartens airport is called St Maartens Princess Juliana International Airport. When we left the ship that morning the sky was overcast and there was drizzle all around; but the weather in the Caribbean can change in a matter of minutes. You'll need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to departure, arriving later than that may or may not result in your missing your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. is a turnaround day for vacationers and the airport will be busy. Now, any day can be a 12K kind of day. The St Maarten cruise terminal is located in Philipsburg, the Dutch part of the island, around 2.4 km/1.5 milesaway from the city center. Anyone have a suggestion as to an airline flying to San Juan? They also have 3 hour sightseeing tours for $90. . Contact Us - 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. Walk from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Philipsburg 8.8 km. St. Martin is the worlds smallest territory shared by two countries. For over 350 years they have been living alongside one another on this small island. The road distance is 5 miles. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Saint Martin. 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. Cruise ships dock at the new cruise port (the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility) located a 20 minute walk from the downtown area of Philipsburg. You can read more in our cookie notice more information I agree. It will likely take half an hour from Philipsburg to Marigot, but one time it took us closer to an hour. Wouldn't y. You are free to walk, but you can also take the water taxi or a regular taxi. Sat. 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. 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. It takes about 20 minutes to arrive at this location. . 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. Just make sure you keep the water on your left hand side walking to the town. if your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. For a cruise port that used to have as many as 6 cruise ships docked on weekdays before hurricane Irma, it may sound like a slow recovery. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Taxi rates are fixed and based on how many people are in the taxi.Beneath are the taxi prices (starting at the cruise terminal) for 2 passengers, each additional passenger is US$5:to Philipsburg: $8to Pelican: $15to Marigot: $18to Airport: $20to Orient Bay: $22A sightseeing taxis tour for 2 passengers for 3 hours will cost you $90 dollars and $25 extra for each additional person.