The residents rely heavily on tourists so I feel like the majority are super friendly and accommodating. Find a Cruise. Moreover, go for snorkeling and explore the underwater world. Had an enjoyable walk along the beach and a very good day. This cruise port is huge, handling over 20,000 people at a time and up to 6 ships at once. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. This beach is located on the French Side called St Martin and is about a 20 minute taxi ride from the cruise port. 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. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Show Prices. Its also the perfect spot if youre looking for long and extensive coastal beaches and crystal clear waters. Ships dock at the Dr. AC Wathey Cruise Facility in front of a sprawling outdoor pedestrian mall. Travel by water taxi is about 5 minutes and via taxi (car) about 8 minutes via Walter A Nisbeth Road. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient, Maho Beach Half-Day Tour 2023 - Viator This is the beach for you. Then one thing to include in your list of things to do is to visit one of the islands finest beaches. They prob stop and ask about every 5 mins so it does get annoying. Recommended Hotel Nearby: El Zafiro Boutique Hotel. Bars, restaurants, shops and other tourist shops spill out of front street along the promenade. Get sandblasted by the jets as the plane fly by. With its beautiful calm waters and sandy shores, it truly is one of the top beaches in St Maarten. Any advice about St. Maarten beaches starts with three of themGreat Bay Beach, Orient Beach and Maho Beach. This Is What You Need To Plan The Best Cruise With A Baby, How To Plan Awesome Family Cruise Shore Excursions Youll Love. There are many places to shop around and search for deals. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Holland House Beach Hotel, Also See:Best Beaches: BaliBarbados Beaches, Kim Sha Beach, Simpson BaySint Maarten, NLD 1744. There are street bars, rum shacks serving ice-cold beer, and restaurants serving delicious food. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hotel La Plantation. St. Barth is frequented by the rich and famous. 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. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Esmeralda Resort, Burgeaux Beach, Burgeaux BaySint Maarten, NLD 1744. Required fields are marked *. It has become a popular destination for people ready to enjoy the sun rise and set while relaxing with a cocktail. Maho Beach is famous because it is located so close to the airport that landing planes will swoop so close over the heads of beachgoers that some of them get knocked off their feet. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Commodore Suites, Divi Beach, Little Bay RdSint Maarten, NLD 1744. Its also a very active beach offering waters sports such as snorkeling, boat rides, volleyball, and all other common water sports. Logo Store; Find Your Roll Call; Meet & Mingle; Guidelines; Community Help Center; . How to Get from St Maarten Airport to Hotel? Related:15 Things to Do in Philipsburg, St. Maarten During a Cruise. Best Things to Do in St. Martin, According to a Local - Insider Great Bay beach is a lovely beach to sit and relax while soaking up the sun or enjoying the view of the ocean. You can rent two chairs and umbrellas for $20 and relax the day away. Renting a car is usually much cheaper and it's what we would do. You could visit the Rouge et Noir casino near the end of the beach strip. Shopping and Dining | Attractions | Getting Around | Beaches | Weather. The major cruise ships will dock in Philipsburg located on the Dutch side. Maho Beach is a 30-40 minute drive to reach, and it requires a shore excursion or taxi to get there. Anyone visiting St. Maarten by cruise ship or to stay at the resorts should consider Orient Bay Beach as another one worth visiting. Sint Maarten Beach Hotels; Sint Maarten Green Hotels; Sint Maarten Business Hotels; By Hotel Class. This white sandy beach is a sight to behold. more. It did shelve quite quickly. From there, cruise visitors can walk, take a water taxi or a taxi cab to Great Bay Beach. The Philipsburg boardwalk lies between the beach and the shopping district of the city. It also has the massive cruise terminal nearby. Running parallel to the boardwalk is Front Street, which has most of the shops in the city. Little Bay, located near Fort Amsterdam and Philipsburg, is a beach dive location with calm waters and rock beach breaks. St.Barths is only 30 minutes away from this beach, and we suggest you take a side trip there to complete your ultimate Caribbean vacation. Take a swim in the clear blue sea. It is a definite try if youre on a trip to the Caribbean. Happy Cruising!! 97% of travelers recommend this experience. If you have a cruise vacation coming up in the Eastern Caribbean it might be worth finding out more about these stunning St.Martin/St. Walk around to get the best deals on t-shirts, perfumes, cigarettes/cigars, alcohol, homeware and electronics, all duty-free. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marys Boon Beach Plantation Resort & Spa. 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: 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. This makes it perfect for swimming and snorkeling. One beach faces Saint Martin and is a perfect stretch of sandbar with shallow, calm waters perfect for families with kids. Mullet Bay has beautiful white sand with calm waters and amazing views and landscape. The calm waters on this beach justify its spot as the best beach for swimming in St Maarten. Walking to this beach from the cruise pier is easy and possible, and there is always the option of a water taxi. I think you can also walk around to the beach instead of the water taxi. 15 Best Cozumel Beaches You Should Experience, 15 Things to Do in Philipsburg, St. Maarten During a Cruise, Photos Reveal Progress at Carnival Cruise Lines New Port, Cunard Line Unveils Historical Photo ExhibitionFrom Past 100 Years, Royal Caribbean Cuts Back on Housekeeping Service, Fourth Carnival Cruise Ship Will Be Based Out of Galveston, Texas. It was easy to relax and get the drinks. Browse the shops for souvenirs and gorgeous beach wear. Quite packed thoughClose by the cruise port, just a quick $7 water taxi over to here. Reviews. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg - Tripadvisor We left our cruise ship and headed for the water taxis -7 dollars return to the beach and back. Just west of Philipsburg, this beach also pulls in its share of tourists, although it's a little less busy than Great Bay Beach. It actually runs parallel to Front Street just one street over, do not miss out on the experience. Maho Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world due to its location near the runway of the Princess Juliana Airport. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love. The Second Lady kept saying how awful my daughters hair looked and that it wasnt professional. On foot. St. Maarten Cruise: Best Cruises to St. Maarten - Celebrity Cruises Best Family Beaches in St. Maarten for an Outstanding Time St. Maarten is one of the most popular destinations for eastern and southern Caribbean cruises, so cruise visitors need to know that Great Bay Beach is one of the best beaches near the cruise port. Maho Beach is usually a favorite of visitors to the island and it is a tiny beach. This was our second visit. 285 reviews. The Best of St Maarten Private Sightseeing Tour 206 Recommended Bus Tours from $450.00 $382.25 per group (up to 10) Ultimate Eco and Sightseeing Tour 33 Recommended Power Boats from $95.00 per adult Sunset Champagne Cruise in St. Maarten 18 Recommended Sailing from $50.26 per adult Private St Maarten Island Sightseeing Tour 7 Adventure Tours from Check out the list below for the top recommended Attractions near the Cruise Port in St. Maarten/St. Sit on the pier with a great view of the cruise ships that have docked in the port. The crystal-clear waters beckon to beach bummers, and once you are in you might not get out till its time to head back. Children under 13 are free. Shore Excursions & Cruise Tours: 2023 Reviews & Ratings - Cruise Critic A snorkeling excursion there costs about $75 per person including transportation. 1. With its mesmerizing blue waters, sunny beaches, and lively nightlifeSt Maarten in the Caribbean islands is lauded as a prime vacation spot, especially for those who are in need of travel inspiration. The street is a long walk but not too challenging for anyone who is somewhat fit. Check it out and enjoy your Caribbean adventure to the fullest! We suggest checking in to the lovely villas by the cliff, and youll surely enjoy your time with a majestic view of the blue waters. Peaceful and serene. 2022 Scott S. Bateman. Recommended Hotel Nearby: La Playa Orient Bay. Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten: Find 2106 traveller reviews, candid photos, and the top ranked Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten on Tripadvisor. Known to be a part of the Natural Reserve of Saint-Martin, this island is a famous snorkeling spot. This beach is perfect for surfing and windsurfing. You can also enjoy the day at Great Bay Beach, Divi Little Bay Beach. It's a nice swimming beach with gentle surf, but there are also jet ski rentals and a pier you can sit on to enjoy the view of cruise ships and sailboats. Easily one of our favorite destinations among the best beaches in St Maarten, Baie Rouge offers long extensive shores and pristine cool waters. It is about seven miles north of the Philipsburg cruise port. Until the development of the new cruise terminal, Front Street ranked among one of the best shopping experiences in the Caribbeanalong with Playa Del Carmen, St. Thomas and Old San Juan. The beach is seven miles west of the cruise port by Simpson Bay, which has a cluster of hotels, resorts and restaurants. If you're wondering how to get from St. Maarten Airport to your hotel, I highly recommend pre-booking a private car transfer. Being on the Caribbean seaside, the beach has the advantage of calmer waters which are good for swimming and just enjoying the beach. These cliffs are eroded to create perfect small coves that create small secluded romantic beaches on their own. You will be dropped off and picked up at the pier here, you will know you have arrived when you see the map of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin mural on the ground. Then travelled back on water taxi (very good ride!) 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. St Maarten Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions 29 Best St. Maarten Excursions | 93,000+ Verified Reviews Mullet Bay (Sint Maarten) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Front Street in Philipsburg. niNice beach, water clean and lovely. Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Beach Tour Including Lunch in St. Maarten (From $139.00) Half Day Snorkeling and Beach Tour/Excursion (From $89.00) Private Sailboat Charter in St Maarten; Anguilla and Prickly Pear Cays day trip (From $160.00) 3 Island Adventure with stop at Tintamarre to swim with Turtles (From $146.00) My favorite is the guava berry colada. But all in all, both sides offer some of the greatest beaches in the Caribbean. Drivers are sometimes aggressive when fighting through traffic. St Maarten is loved by tourists and visitors to the island for its bustling night life, diverse dining options and its exciting duty free shopping experience.