Visitors should know in advance that restaurants and food stands are a bit expensive, so it pays to bring food along on the visit. Recommended Hotel Nearby: La Playa Orient Bay. However, the good news is that the beaches are there and your favorite restaurants and resorts are hard at work rebuilding. What part of the beach is the best to spend few hrs, coming via cruise plan to walk or take taxi. The beach also features great restaurants like the Rainbow caf, popular for freshly caught fish dishes and cocktails. Pasanggrahan Royal Guesthouse. Travel by water taxi is about 5 minutes and via taxi (car) about 8 minutes via Walter A Nisbeth Road. Taxi rates are set according to more than 20 zones around the island. Indigo Bay Beach is famous because of its quality attributes, making it popular with tourists. 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. Orient Beach and the town of Marigot are two popular attractions on the French side of the island. 17 Best Beaches in St Maarten (2023) Top Beach Spots! This beach is very popular with the locals during the weekends, but its also very tranquil and uncrowded during the weekdays. The beach restaurants are currently closed due to hurricane Irmas damage, but rebuilding is taking place. You can see the location on the St. Maarten map below. "Everything was great, except check in because there's no place to park immediately until after you check in and pay the fees for the parking lot. Great care must be exercised as persons have died in the past due to the effects of the jet blast. The beach is seven miles west of the cruise port by Simpson Bay, which has a cluster of hotels, resorts and restaurants. Otherwise, look for signs at the mall pointing toward the $5 water taxi. Again, look for signs point the way. Its named after a defeated captain who went after Saba and ran aground on the very same beach. Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Villas at Simpson Bay Beach Resort and Marina, Little Bay Beach, Octavius L. Richardson Rd, PhilipsburgSint Maarten, NLD 1744. Royal Palm Beach Resort. The following are some of our articles which we believe may be suitable for you. Before we get started, youre going to need to check all these beach accessories. Even better, this white-sand, two-mile beach is right in front of Philipsburg, capital of the Dutch side of the island. Philipsburg Cruise Port in Sint Maarten. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. Great Bay Beach, a long boardwalk and shopping on Front Street run side by side. Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. Then it climbs to a high point for the rest of the year. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient, Maho Beach Half-Day Tour 2023 - Viator It actually runs parallel to Front Street just one street over, do not miss out on the experience. With its beautiful calm waters and sandy shores, it truly is one of the top beaches in St Maarten. Nature lovers have additional reasons to love this beach, owing to the fact that its located near the Oyster pond marina. Clear waters, beautiful beach, and powdery sandy shoreswhat more could you ask for in Divi Beach? Its perfect for a lazy beach day. The Sunset Beach Bar is a popular destination amongst St.Maarten tourists and locals, other places in Maho are Driftwood Boat bar right on the beach great spot to catch the planes and a new bar called Sand bar. Show Prices. Required fields are marked *. The beach is great for swimming but at times can be rough so definitely one has to be cautious with children. It has BUS at the beginning of the license plate and the destination sign in the window. St Maarten has 37 different sandy beaches that you could choose from, all equipped with their own vibe and quirks. Charged 30 dollars(should have haggled) for two sunbeds and an umbrella plus 6 free beers! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Great Bay Beach isnt the best beach in the Caribbean or even the best beach on St. Maarten. This beachs convenience makes it a hot spot for many tourists who are looking to relax and have some fun. If you are planning an upcoming cruise for St Maarten or the rest of the Caribbean, I have an awesome product recommendation that can save you money. It has been quite a few years since I've been to St. Maarten. I've lived on St. Martin/St. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Its located near Maho beach, and though you can see the airplanes flying above, they are usually far away and therefore less noisy. 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 of the more interesting beaches on St. Maarten is Cupecoy because of its white sand, sandstone cliffs and small caves along the shore. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. St. Maarten cruise port - Top rated port guide for cruise ship passengers They guarantee a low waiting time of 10 minutes or less. You can rent two chairs and umbrellas for $20 and relax the day away. Alicia's Inn. Check it out and enjoy your Caribbean adventure to the fullest! Great Bay Beach (Philipsburg) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. We were family of 5 with late teens, beautiful day off a cruise ship. Each offers truly unique characteristics and there's a . There are hundreds of duty free stores and the discounts are great. You only need to get to the port early. Little Bay Beach. Cupecoy is a half hour west of the port and requires a taxi or rental car to get there. St Maarten/St Martin Beaches Maho Beach - This famous beach is one of the main St Maarten attractions and is located a 25-minute drive (14 km/9 miles) from the cruise ship terminal. Outside of Philipsburg, two of the most famous attractions on the island are beaches. A St. Maarten bus is often an SUV. Browse the shops for souvenirs and gorgeous beach wear. Show Prices. Water taxis to Maho Beach from the cruise port is easy to find and cost about $20. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Princess Heights Luxury Condo Hotel. 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. Oyster Pond is perfect if youre looking for a place that exudes tranquility. Its wide shoreline makes it a perfect spot for beach picnics and playing games on the shore. St. Maarten Beaches Near the Cruise Port - Caribeez Didnt swim, but its safe, I was told. Driving around parts of the Dutch side, especially around Simpson Bay, adds some risk of traffic jams and late returns to the ship. The Philipsburg St. Maarten cruise port has three major attractions: the massive John Craane cruise terminal, the nearby city and Great Bay Beach right beside it. It was easy to relax and get the drinks. This beach offers chairs and umbrellas by the shore, which is perfect when youre in the mood to get a tan and bask out in the sun! For tourists who want a quiet and relaxing vacation, this is the place to be. Maho Beach is also known as the airplane beach and is the most famous and favorite spot for locals and tourists. This is the beach for you. Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. An invisible boundary divides the 37 km island into two countries. Known to be a favorite spot among celebrities, this outstanding beach showcases a plethora of restaurants, hotels, and shops by the oceanfront, making it convenient for the tourists to go souvenir shopping. They should eat and drink at Emilio's, Come y Calla, Freedom Fighters Ital Shack, and Sunset Caf. 10 Best Attractions near the Cruise Port in St. Maarten/St. Martin It offers convenient access and plenty to do right there by the port. We've found the most popular sights, attractions and shore excursions for a truly amazing day. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. With all that said remember to carry good water shoes, lots of sunscreen, your bathing suit and enjoy your cruise vacation. The sunset in Cupecoy Beach is astounding, and we suggest you spend it at the bar while waiting for the vibrant ambiance at night. Great Bay Beach Great Bay Beach is a beautiful beach that stretches 2 miles (3.22 km) long that looks like a postcard from every angle. Once we got the the beach there are people there trying to rent you lounge chairs. Maho Beach is usually a favorite of visitors to the island and it is a tiny beach. All Rights Reserved. Burgeaux Beach, located in the southwest heart of St Maarten, is the spot for surfers. Central town beaches usually aren't great, but that's not the case here. We rented chairs with wonderful service from Jimmy from the love boat restaurant and beach service , chair rental and service right on the beach with food and reasonably priced drinks were exceptional.. could not have asked for a more pleasant day til, Convenient swimming with shopping and restaurants. The beach itself has suffered significant erosion due to the jet blast. Deals. Didnt feel too crowded and it was a great beach for kids to play and swim. We were approached by multiple people right as we got off the water taxi and decided to pay $30 for two beach chairs, free wi-fi and five free drinks. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But once found, its truly worthwhile. Though it's not nearly as . 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. Here are the best things to do while in Philipsburg, St. Maarten Cruise Port! Great Bay Beach is the closest beach to the cruise terminal in St Maarten. Orient Bay is the most popular beach in St. Martin. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love. Expect to pay anywhere between $7 and $35 to get to a zone. Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten: Find 2106 traveller reviews, candid photos, and the top ranked Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten on Tripadvisor. Little Bay Beach is just right next to Great Bay Beach only separated by the Fort Amsterdam Peninsula. The best beach near the St. Maarten cruise port is just a quick walk or taxi ride away. 10 Best Attractions near the Cruise Port in St. Maarten/St. Martin Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Great beach. St. Maartens average weather consists of warm temperatures year round that average in the mid 80s Fahrenheit. What is the best beach to go to from Cruise Ship - St Martin / St Asked for Miguel after reading recomendations but he wasn't around so headed off to quiet end with wider beach and Sweet Andy looked after us. Have in mind last taxis back to cruise port depart around 5.30-6 PM, so if your ship departs late in the evening there's no point spending 7$ pp. Water sports are also an option for the group who looks for day thrills. You can access this beach by walking. How To Get From The Cruise Port To Great Bay Beach, What Costs Are Involved In Visiting Great Bay Beach, How To Get From The Cruise Port To Orient Bay Beach. #2 Best Value of 7 Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Orient Bay Beach is the most popular beach in St Martin, so expect there to be a crowd. Its a beautiful beach with a great variety of fish in its ecosystem, and we suggest trying out the snorkeling activities for fun! TThings to do near the St. Maarten Cruise Port. Hence, the island of St. Maarten is one of the worlds top cruise port destinations. Here are 10 attractions near the cruise port to make planning easier for passengers. St Maarten port is one of the fastest-growing Caribbean cruise ports and the leading cruise port in the Eastern Caribbean. This is an active beach with water sports ranging from kayaking to paddle boarding. Mullet Bay (Sint Maarten) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Cruise visitors will arrive at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities just outside of Philipsburg on Great Bay. Took a water taxi from cruise port area $7 per person round trip. The coral reefs offer snorkelers a peek into St. Maarten water inhabitants. Very busy day when we went and so lots of sunbeds-a bit crowded together. Want to have that french au naturel ambiance? Then travelled back on water taxi (very good ride!) Thats where Europeans set up shop and schooling for local children over a century ago. Magens Bay has an entry fee of $5 for adults and children 13 and older. 5 Best Beaches In St. Maarten For Snorkeling Are you looking for a unique experience by the beach thats accessible and convenient? Little Bay has perfect calm crystal clear waters resultant from the protection offered by the peninsula. A St. Maarten cruise has great appeal simply because the island has one of the best cruise ports in the entire Caribbean. It is quite a bit more quiet these days. St. Maarten Cruise Port and Things to Do for Cruise Travelers. The beach has rental chairs and umbrellas available for rent for the day. Maarten . But they mainly represent low-end casual in one group and high-end seafood and steak in the other. Best Caribbean Cruise Destinations and Ports of Call - Thrillist St. Barth is frequented by the rich and famous. Front Street in Philipsburg. Juliana Airport (SXM) Hotels near Esperance Airport (SFG) Hotels near Wallblake Airport (AXA) Tours; Add a . Recommended Hotel Nearby: Holland House Beach Hotel, Also See:Best Beaches: BaliBarbados Beaches, Kim Sha Beach, Simpson BaySint Maarten, NLD 1744. One of the best beaches in St. Maarten is Mullet Bay Beach. Few facilities or commercial establishments are available nearby. 1 mile away from Friars Bay Beach is a walking trail that takes you right into the heart of the open beach and the black rock formation. It is larger than Maho beach and it a good option for beginner snorkeling as you can see fishes near the shoreline. The Guava berry Emporium is the spot to taste and sample this locally made liquor. Little Bay, located near Fort Amsterdam and Philipsburg, is a beach dive location with calm waters and rock beach breaks. You can access this beach by walking. It is generally not as interesting as the nightlife around Maho and Mullet Bay, a characteristic feature of the Dutch side, long after the U.S. military built the Princess Juliana airstrip by 1947 and development ensued in the 1960-70s. Roatan, Honduras. They can rent umbrellas and chairs for a reasonable price and a lovely view of the bay. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Note that the beach is on the French side and therefore clothing is optional. Some excursion operators quote prices as low as $15 per person for a transfer from the cruise port to Maho Beach. The only problem was the ladies that would walk up and down the beach selling stuffed animals, massages , and hair braiding. It is very close to the cruise terminal and you can get there either by water taxi for $7 with a return ticket or pay $5 for a one way. Friars Bay beach is a hidden gem amongst the best beach spots in St Maarten. After youve gone hiking, a replenishing meal is a definite try in the famous beachside restaurants in Friars bay. The sea was crystal clear light blue and the sand v clean and there was a lovely breeze. You can also enjoy the day at Great Bay Beach, Divi Little Bay Beach. You also get the use of their facilities. When the clock hits at the time of sunset, thats where the flashing lights, livid atmosphere, and the nightlife starts. 2022 Scott S. Bateman. The beach strip has enough to offer during the day, though, and stores galore towards Achter Straatan enduring shopping destination! 1. It's perfect for a lazy beach day. It has restaurants and bars, where you can get a bite or a drink from. Shopping and Dining | Attractions | Getting Around | Beaches | Weather. This beach is located on the French Side called St Martin and is about a 20 minute taxi ride from the cruise port. Anyone with an interest in good beaches might instead consider a shore excursion to one of the neighboring islands, such as Anguilla, St. Barth or Saba. Here, you could try the local cuisine and fill your appetite with the delicious food in the numerous restaurants available in the place. The water taxi stand at the cruise port is just a quick walk north of the docks. Visitors will find plenty of taxis at the docks ready to take them there. View of cruise ship and stores. The fact that its semi-secluded makes it a good spot for relaxation. This course provides detail tips and techniques on how to save money while cruising onboard, onshore as well as the importance of insurance. A snorkeling excursion there costs about $75 per person including transportation. With its beautiful calm waters and sandy shores, it truly is one of the top beaches in St Maarten. The top three excursions in St. Maarten are 1) The Flying Dutchman zip-line, 2) a chairlift to the top of sentry hill and 3) racing on a multi-million dollar America's Cup yacht boat. Shops, cafes, car rentals and restaurants are located nearby. Where they serve fresh fish and lobsters for lunch among others. Drop off at the resort and walk in between the buildings to get to the beach behind it. 285 reviews. The liquor is a rare combination of aged rum, sugar cane, and wild guava berries found in the central part of the island. They can walk a hundred more feet to reach many more restaurants and the ports extensive shopping district, most of which falls along the lengthy Front Street. Car rentals. Gizmos bar located on the beach has AMAZING . It is located right at the heart of Philipsburg. The water taxi takes you to a dock right at the public beach. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available to rent. Best for Crown Bay Cruisers: Emerald Beach (Lindbergh Bay Beach) Why go: Home to the Emerald Beach Resort, Lindbergh Bay has all the things you want in a beach, while being located close.