Philipsburg, St. Maarten Port Q&A
18 Philipsburg, St. Maarten traveler questions & answers
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Q: I’m taking the St. Martin Day of Fun. Are we picked up at the ship or do we find our way to the tour?
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A: Most tours are picked up at the taxi stand at the cruise port. Best tour is a 3 hour shared tour. If your still unbooked ask for Big Glenn in the Orange shirt group!(Best guide in the Caribbean)
Answered by Hurder on November 15, 2024
A: If you booked through the ship, yes. But if you booked through an outside company, see description of the tour.
Answered by joyandjerry on October 20, 2024
A: your excursion should tell you were to meet on or off the pier.
Answered by nearthebeach on October 20, 2024
A: As with many Caribbean islands car seats are not mandatory for at hire vehicles. Also often, vehicles available on the island relate to the country the island's government is associated with. Often means they conform to Euro regulations & lack the co... rrect tethers for car and booster seats made for the North American market.See More
Answered by maryred on August 22, 2024
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Answer QuestionA: There is a liquor store when you take the water taxi to the beach and shopping area, prices and selection were very good
Answered by Cruiseracer on November 17, 2023
A: At the Guavaberry Emporium on FrontStreet in Philipsburg. But almost any retailer on the island can also sell them (or Toppers Rhum) sometimes in private souvenir bottles.
Answered by maryred on April 4, 2024
A: Here's an excursion that offers a tour of Taste of Caribbean Culture & Rum Factory https://ventureashore.com/excursion/region-car-sxm-108081/st-martin-st-maarten-philipsburg/taste-of-caribbean-culture-rum-factory?linkid=2054758
Answered by CruiselineAdmin on April 4, 2024
A: Here's an excursion. that offers a tour of a French Rum Distillery https://ventureashore.com/excursion/region-car-sxm-109439/st-martin-st-maarten-philipsburg/awaken-your-palette-french-rum-distillery-and-dutch-beach-stop?linkid=2054758
Answered by CruiselineAdmin on April 4, 2024
A: We were just there a couple days ago. We took a taxi round trip from the cruise port for $16 each. The taxi area is close to the port and there is another taxi area right next to Maho Beach so you can stay as long as you like and then just grab the... next one back. We then took a water taxi from the port to Great Bay beach for shopping and dining along the boardwalk which was $6 each round trip.See More
Answered by EmptyNest93 on July 8, 2023
A: We have been to Maho Beach twice but I don't think there is a water taxi going there.
Answered by calestultz on July 9, 2023
A: We were at Moho beach in April. Water taxis dont go there. They do go to a different beach very close to where Celebrity docked. that was also a great beach people said, and close to a nice shopping area. Regular driving taxis go to Moho, tho its pre... tty far and we took a ship excursion which was fabulous! Worth going to Moho!!! Moho is to watch planes land!!See More
Answered by outtoseapatty on September 8, 2024
A: Great Bay Beach is the name of the beach you can see visible from the cruise terminal. You can walk it in about 15 minutes. Just follow the crowds. You can see the ship from the beach. Lots of locals out selling sunbeds and umbrellas, complete wit... h Rum Punch thrown in if you are lucky!See More
Answered by sandra1803 on September 1, 2024
A: Never seen a water taxi from the cruise port to Maho. Have seen excursion boats drop by so their customers can get a taste of the airplanes arriving but they stay a respectful distance from the swimming area.
Answered by maryred on July 8, 2023
Q: what is the normal rate to get to Orient Beach from the port? can we get there by order taxi or just by regular taxi?
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A: If you go to taxi stand they organise island tours and shared taxi to popular beaches all over island. I believe they have taxi rate board up there too. They are very organised just tell them what you want and they’ll sort you out.
Answered by andycha on July 5, 2023
A: Thanks for this great tip! I’ll be cruising there in March & have started to look over my options. BTW, for those of you cruising to Bermuda, they too have reasonable taxi rates for group or per person right there on the Royal Naval Dockyard/Kings... Wharf, which gives you another great option besides booking the cruiseline excursions.See More
Answered by 24MyLuckyDragon on July 5, 2023
Q: Is there a beach located at this port when we get off the ship. We want to visit a beach that is closest to the where we dock at?
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A: The beach isn’t far from port. I recommend heading to The Lazy Lizard! It’s a beach bar and food place. They’ll have a beach section with chairs and umbrellas. The food is incredible! The drinks are amazing and the owners are fabulous!
Answered by FnV on April 7, 2023
A: Yes, you can take the water taxi for a few dollars.
Answered by SiegleMedia on April 7, 2023
A: It is a 10 minute drive during traffic but as I said yes it's actually very fast walk there but if you would like a long walk and u wanna go to the beach recommend going to the lazy lizard that is abit of a walk but not that far of a walk!
Answered by jmkl23 on April 9, 2023
A: Water taxi to Great Bay beach. You can see it from the ship. Sometimes the taxi will dock on the right side and sometimes it will go to the left. If they let you off on the right, I would suggest you walk a ways down the beach. The last time we were... there the water was murky on the far right.See More
Answered by jbick65 on April 7, 2023
A: Take a water taxi over to town, there's a nice beach there. Nothing right at the port except shopping.
Answered by jcb91777 on April 7, 2023
A: Great bay beach is right near the ship and in downtown philipsburg. Gonna spend some time downtown and the beach after my excursion. Plus the yoda guy museum is right there on Star Wars day too can’t beat that.
Answered by cscharal on April 22, 2023
A: Orient Beach on the French side, but it is a distance from the port, which is on the Dutch side. We just take the water taxi from the port over to Great Bay beach, you can see the ships. We rent a chair and umbrella for about $25 for the day and get... a bucket of beer. Waiters on the beach, it’s our favourite day on a cruiseSee More
Answered by deboftheseas on April 6, 2023
A: I think you can’t go wrong with Great Bay beach. It is near the port. You can see it from the ship. It is about a 15 minute walk or you can get a taxi.
Answered by willwork4cruz on April 7, 2023
Q: Bit confused.Looking to book the Jeep Safari excursion which starts at 0900hrs (the same time NCL Sky docks).How would that work (& if not viable, why is the excursion being offered for my cruise)?.Any help or advice would be gratefully received.Cheers
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A: 3rd party excursions are not directly tied into your ship's schedule, no matter the platform ordered through. (Social media sites like here get a commission or finders fees but are not the booking agent.) The responsibility to confirm your ship is go... ing to be in port for the entirety of the tour will be between you and the actual company providing the service. Ship's time does not always = local timeSee More
Answered by maryred on March 12, 2023
A: you'll want to clarify with the benefit, then. it can take some time, my experience is at least 30 min, to have ship cleared to disembark passengers. A company that does these excursions knows that too. they should have info
Answered by snowbirdcruzer on March 12, 2023
A: NCLARRY - Cheers for the reply. it's not an NCL excursion, as there's bugger all left with them. it's excursions offered by this app (I think run by Shore Excursions Group?) - hence my confusion / concern over timings.
Answered by MalChunks on March 11, 2023
A: If it’s being offered as a Norwegian excursions you will be fine. Your excursion ticket will tell you where and what time to meet.
Answered by NCLARRY on March 11, 2023
Q: Any idea:(1) Cooking class while in port?(2) Where purchase Pure White Hennessy?Thank you in advance
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A: You can definitely find Pure White Hennessy in St. Maarten at local shops right outside the port.
Answered by gmochs on December 30, 2022
A: I am not sure about the cooking class but pure white Hennessey is usually sold on board if you can't find it at a port
Answered by DRHoesten on December 29, 2022
A: you can find Henny just about anywhere... happy sailing
Answered by Cherish78 on December 30, 2022
A: Infinite Island Tours has a cooking class while in port. Yippee!!
Answered by imccallusa on January 26, 2023
A: You can definitely get it in Nassau.
Answered by wendyatsea on December 30, 2022
A: no, check with your cruiseline, there are different rules depending on where you are going, your vaccination status, and which cruise line you are on. Many restrictions have been eased and it seems to change daily.
Answered by mnewton54 on September 12, 2022
A: It is best to check with your cruise line as opposed to depending on responses in forums like this. Things are ever-changing and well-intentioned people may inadvertently provide inaccurate information. (Trolls may do it on purpose.)
Answered by jeffreyschill on September 13, 2022
A: I think it depends on the cruise line but, I think there are still restrictions there.
Answered by ChillDude97 on September 21, 2022
A: no. airplane , airports , wear masks
Answered by DavidStroud1 on September 13, 2022
Q: We purchased the ship’s excursion - horseback ride along the coast and in the ocean. Anyone on here do this? Is it super rocky and steep?
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Q: Has anyone done the ATV tour? Any advice would be appreciated since it's not an excursion offered through our ship, we'd be purchasing through Trip Advisor.
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A: I booked an ATV tour in St. Maarten last August through Shipmate. There was a small confusion with pickup but it was quickly sorted. However the ATV tour was really great. I would definitely recommend!
Answered by Glamazon84 on April 23, 2022
A: We did one of these tours in St. Kitts. One thing we were glad we brought was handkerchiefs to wrap around our face so we didn’t breathe in the gas fumes from the people ahead of us.
Answered by Cruzegal17 on April 23, 2022
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Answer QuestionA: walking is easy unless you have mobility problems, just follow the people walking towards the beach and shopsits not that far .
Answered by Robbodog on February 25, 2023
A: Arrivals are posted to itineraries based on Ship's Time. Ship's Time does not always = local time, & the Ship'sTime for your ship can differ from the 1 dock next to it. Best to deal w/ local vendors that can respond to in terms like their tour starts... 1hr after the ship arrives @ dock. That mean the company watches the port schedule & wouldn't let you book for a tour that's bad for your particular ship.See More
Answered by maryred on February 25, 2023
A: Keep in mind. After the ship arrives it has to be cleared by customs before you can go ashore.
Answered by deedradel on February 25, 2023
A: It only takes 10-15 minutes (brisk walk) to the area where the pick up would be).
Answered by blu2knite on February 25, 2023
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