This is where you want to take a large group of friends or family for a fun hangout. Hotel & Resort, Popular Tourist Destinations That Still Have COVID-19 Travel Restrictions There are also a number of cultural hot spots to check out, including the St. Maarten Museum, Courthouse and Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation. If you are looking to dine like a local this is the place. Before beginning your tour of the place, you will go through an information corridor where you will learn about each of the birds from photograph displays. St. Maarten as most other Caribbean destination experiences the tropical monsoon climate where its hot throughout the year. Nope Harmony is still sailing tomorrow as far as we know. Take a hike through the forest and enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings including the neighboring island of Anguilla. However, these reasons arent exhaustive. A quick tour of the island with all its highlights is the best way to explore St. Maarten. The best time to visit is early in the morning when young butterflies emerge from their cocoons. Its a magnificent lookout point at the Coralita site just 10minutes from Orient Bay. Spend the day at a Tiki hut on a floating snorkeling platform in a secluded cove over a marine park. On this tour, you will learn a lot of interesting history about the island and the humorous stories on how the two nations decided on where to divide the island. You can actually get popular Tortuga Caribbean Rum Cake and more from Amazon. This is a fun family bonding adventure that you will absolutely love. For just $10 per adult or $5 per kid, you will absolutely enjoy this incredible place. Since there is so much to see in St. Maarten, a lot of times a tour of the island makes a lot of sense. Go enjoy swimming, snorkeling and exploring. Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock on the Dutch side of the island, right outside of the Dutch capital ofPhilipsburg. The Sunset Bar and Grill is located at the beach, which offers refreshments between landings. The latest watersport technology (launched in 2014) includes hover boards powered by water pressure. The island has gorgeous powdery sand beaches, charming European-style towns and green rolling hills in its backdrop. Conveniently located in Philipsburg are 12 casinos where you can try your luck at the slot machine, crap, blackjack, roulette, and many others. Tintamarre is home to numerous sea turtles and snorkelers may have a chance to see them underwater. Phillipsburg has a lot of Dutch charm to offer and there is always a festive mood on their end of the island. Then the climax of it all comes when you enter the crystal clear waters of the ocean and start galloping around. We havent gotten anything from Royal Caribbean besides delaying the boarding time by 1.5 hours. They highlight the islands beauty and give you a glimpse into the world below. The coral reef a few yards from the beach acts as a barrier that protects the pools from rough surf making it perfect for swimming, snorkeling, floating or just wading in. 100 Lighting Way Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Last updated: 06:50 AM ET, Tue August 02 2022, La Casa de la Playa, Exclusively Your Way. St Maarten Cruise excursions warmly welcomes all Royal Caribbean Harmonyof the Seas Cruise Ship Passengers to Philipsburg, St Maarten. The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. Once the Flying Dutchman course is over, get onto yet another exhilarating ride on the schooner ride, a slide running down the rest of the mountain up to the farm. Let the rich aroma of Caribbean cuisines guide you to an eatery, and grab a quick bite, before getting on with the rest of the days activities. The beach itself is white sand and has little to no vegetation because of jet blast erosion. We gave a guy $20 for three chairs with umbrellas outside a restaurant that employs him. We guarantee a full refund of your excursion deposit if your ship can not make it into the port of St Thomas, St John Private Catamaran Sailing & Snorkeling Excursion, St John & Thomas Sailing Tour : Snorkeling, Beaches and Sailing, St Thomas Catamaran Sail & Snorkel Tour Half Day, 6 Hour Luxury Catamaran Sailing to St Johns for up to 12 passengers, Snorkel in the stunning Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, Continental Breakfast, gourmet hot lunch, beer, sodas and rum drinks included, 2-1/2 hr Guided Kayak and Snorkeling in Lagoon Cas Cay, Kayak and Snorkeling Instruction by knowledgable guides, Includes all snorkeling gear, safety gear, beverage and snack, Sail from St Thomas to St John and surrounding islands for 6 passengers max, Delicious hot lunch lunch with decadent chocolate dessert and open bar, 6 Hour Island Tour with Shopping and Beach Stop, Transportation to/from Cruise ship terminal or Resort, Stops at important St Thomas historical sites for photo ops, St Thomas Luxury Catamaran Sailing & Snorkeling for up to 12 passengers, 3 hour Sailing and Snorkeling in St Thomas US Virgin Islands, Continental Breakfast, snacks, beer, sodas and rum drinks included, 1-1/2 hour Jetski Tour of St Thomas Coastline with Snorkeling, Powerful Waverunners for 1 to 2 passengers in small groups and expert guides, Snorkel at Christmas Cover or Lavongo Cay (subject to water conditions on the day of the tour0. Our itinerary was changed yesterday; they removed St. Kitts and added St. Maarten. Island tours are very popular shore excursions and available through third parties or with Royal Caribbean. Look up Bernard's Tours, Sea Grapes, and Captain Bob Speedboat. If you choose to explore on your own, then you can take a taxi at the taxi stand at the end of the pier. The Rotary Lookout Point is another secret gem on the island of St. Martin. Take the mountainside staircase up the steep hill to get to the fort at the top. Spend your day at Great Bay Beach enjoying the shallow calm crystal clear waters. Expert cruise tips and news! Just walk up to the transport booth at the end of the pier and choose from a number of choices availed to you. Taking a tour of St. Maarten allows you to get a "taste" of the highlights and maybe set yourself up for something on a future visit. Most rental companies provide a safety briefing, map of the island, and useful information on places to see (Orient Beach is a popular gathering point and is also home to a naturalist beach). We have never been here before and its our first cruise. The eco-plantation is also home to a ropes course adventure with swinging bridges and zip lines. Enjoy exquisitely made French-Caribbean cuisines including freshly made baguettes. With great parking, the site is easily accessible. Only be ready to part with a small fortune when all is done. We do not recommend going here until it is rebuilt.Picking the right shore, Royal Caribbean cruises that stop in the island paradise of St. Maarten/St. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Pro Tip: Pass the hawkers at the beachs entrance, trying to sell you packages and get better deals once on the beach. The airport is nestled between a mountain on one end and a beach on the other. This is a nice beach for a picnic but please pack everything you need, clean up after yourselves and dont leave any valuables in your car. Showing artifacts and curved items from the Arawaks and old photographs and important memorabilia of the colonial governments of the island. Maho beach by SXM airport is fun, the planes pass a few feet over your head. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Artists in St. Martin have been inspired by the islands beauty to create some of the most stunning pieces of art you will ever see. Memorabilia from films such as Hellraiser, Alien and of course the Star Wars sagas. Then take a ride on the famous sky ride, a chairlift suspended from a flight cable hundreds of feet above the ground. One more vote here for Captain Bob. Destination & Tourism, How US Airlines Rank for In-Flight Experience It can also be done on land via buses or taxis. The surf taxi will pick passengers up from the cruise port and bring them to the beach for a surfing lesson on the sand. Airlines & Airports, Copyright 2022 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Before long, the instructors will have travelers up on the boards and in the water catching waves. Grab a beach towel, umbrella or a sun lounger and enjoy a perfect beach day at this place. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Take a catamaran from Simpson Bay to Anguilla/Shoal Bay or to Prickly Pear. All Rights Reserved. St Maarten offers an abundance of excursions and activities to delight cruisers of all ages. If you are lucky enough to find Nick and his wife, they will pose for photos and autograph any purchases you make at the gift store. A visit to St. Maarten is not complete without tasting the islands cuisine. Enjoy the thrill of the challenge as you drive at full speed embracing the beauty of St Maarten. Expect to enjoy a mixture of water sports adventures, exploration tours, delicious Caribbean-style French cuisine and a perfect beach day. The zip line course at this farm dubbed the extreme fly zone shouldnt be missed. I absolutely love cruising with my favorite ports of call being in the Caribbean. 13 Stunning St. Maarten Beaches You Should Experience, Get the big cruise headlines with our weekly cruise video update, Carnival Cruise Line Reaches Another Restart Milestone, MSC Cruises Drops Pre-Cruise Testing from U.S. Where Nick Maley otherwise known as That Yoda Guy, who was one of the creators of Yoda from Star Wars, has created a sci-fi movie memorabilia museum. Just dont lose track of time, lest your boat leaves you. St. Maarten is beautiful and any of the beach excursions are well worth the price. Marigot is also well known for its duty-free shopping,with a focus on luxury and French fashion. All rights reserved. Maho beach aligns perfectly with the runway at Princess Julia airport. If you are looking for a non-touristy one-on-one experience with nature, then this is the place to go. Lots of excit'ment. A promenade has been developed along the waterfront and is lined with a vast range of restaurants and bars. The island features some of the best beaches in St. Martin. Features & Advice, Flying With Weed: TSA Marijuana Rules Explained Marigot is full of wonderful shopping and dining choices, along with easy access to the the water. The taxis charge one fixed price and the trick here is to go in a large group of at least 8 people to lower the cost per head. Conversely, a private tour will allow you to do what you want, when you want, but with the caveat that you will pay more for it. Click here to learn more. You should definitely carry a camera to capture all this. Though the museum is small its a history buffs paradise, filled with rich island history from as early as 500BC. TravelPulse Podcast: Big Cities, Big Entertainment Helping Travel How JetBlues Acquisition of Spirit Could Alter Air Travel Travel Industrys Top Advisors and Suppliers Connect at Popular Tourist Destinations That Still Have COVID-19 Travel Restrictions, How US Airlines Rank for In-Flight Experience, 19 Hidden Travel Fees to Watch Out for This Summer, Flying With Weed: TSA Marijuana Rules Explained. Taxis are readily available at the port area, as well as aroundPhilipsburg and most popular tourist areas. A visit to Marigot is a great choice for guests looking to do a bit of shopping, or enjoy French food while in town. Orient Beach is the most developed, the most popular and the busiest beach on the island andis reputed as much for its natural beauty and setting as it is for being the islands foremost swimsuit optional beach. Great Bay Beach is a 2 mile long stretch of white sandy beach that is located at the heart of Philipsburg about a 15-20minute walk from the cruise terminal. Another way to see this island is on an ATV. We provide firsthand information on each and every excursion we offer and recommend the excursions that work best for you. Covering 3060 hectares in the northeast side of the island is St. Martins Nature Reserve. Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below! The best thing about a DIY trip is that you can choose to alight at any stop that interests you and continue on your own with no questions asked. Next time I might just take the water taxi to town, or rent a car to go to the French side of the island and eat! We took the water taxi to the second stop ($7 round trip per person) and walked. Cruise Line & Cruise Ship, 11 New All-Inclusives to Visit in 2022 Drinks at Driftwood Boat Bar on the west end of the beach is cheaper than Sunset bar at the East end. The biodiversity represented on this side of the island is simply amazing. We were there in December and just wanted a beach day so skipped the official excursions. Graced with a long stretch of white powdery sand beach and crystal clear blue waters, Orient beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. It has a beautiful stretch of sand and clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling and other water sports. Youll often find crew members buying there new phones and devices as the price can be much lower than in the U.S. At the bay, the waters are shallow and the clearest you will ever see. June to December is the rainy season on the island, and this is also the Hurricane season. The highest point on St. Maarten. Docking at the island is smooth, courtesy of the large pier that accommodates up to 7 ships. This five-hour trip is offered through Shoretrips.com and costs around $105 per person. The sanctuary features many species of colorful parrots. If you go to Maho, there plenty of taxis as its a common stop. Airplanes fly right over your head. The butterfly nature reserve hosts over 100 species of butterflies from everywhere in the world. Have you tried any of the places we outlined? With that said, however, you shouldnt be discouraged from visiting the island as it has picked up its pieces pretty fast and its charm and beauty still holds. The beach features all necessary amenities for your comfort including sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, clean bathrooms, and restaurants. This popular destination in the eastern Caribbean is found in the lesser Antilles Archipelago. Visit the open market bazaar and peruse till you find what you are looking for, or that which catches your eyes attention. Enjoy the picturesque scenery of the vast blue waters, and the lush green countryside as you zoom your way down the mountain. Ports, Carnival Cruise Ship Rescues Refugees From Overloaded Boat, Carnival Cruise Ship Delayed Arrival Back to New Orleans. They changed the itinerary of the ship to where Symphony was suppose to sail too. Press J to jump to the feed. Star Wars movie fans are in for a treat in St. Maarten. These ATV excursions can be booked through most major cruise lines and cost around $100 per day. Pinel Island is one of St. Martins best kept secrets. And if you need a break, the best duty-free shopping in Philipsburg is just a stones throw away. On top of that, its home to a variety of plants and animal species including the largest collection of butterflies in the Caribbean. Lots of fun. Be one with nature, visit the great outdoors of St. Martin and enjoy a truly unique tropical paradise. St. Maarten has plenty of stables and healthy, well-cared for horses to take you on a different kind of island tour. Recommended! Take a tour of the island on top of this powerful bikes, navigating the rugged terrain on dirt paths through the forest areas, and on the rugged coastlines. March 19, 2015 9:00 PM ET. Enjoy a visually pleasing tour of the islands art galleries located on both sides of the island. Captain's Blog: Cruise Tips and Advice, Amber Nolan | If not, just leave blank, Top things to do in St. Maarten on your Royal Caribbean cruise, Anthem of the Seas Live Blog - Day 5 - St. Maarten, Royal Caribbean delays Enchantment of the Seas departure date and skips St. Maarten for Adventure of the Seas due to Hurricane Irma, Grandeur of the Seas to be first cruise ship to return to St. Maarten, Excursion Focus: Le Galion Beach in St. Martin, Restaurant Review: La Sucrire in Marigot, St. Martin, Video: Royal Caribbean Adventurist Shay Mitchell: Sailing in St. Maarten, 2022 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning Guide. Airlines & Airports, Travel Industrys Top Advisors and Suppliers Connect at Did harmony join the canceled list? We did a bus tour that had stops on each side of the island, did not go to the nude beach and did not go watch the planes take off, and it was perfect for us (my parents cant walk that far now). While I was on the phone last night for our canceled Symphony cruise (1/8 departure), a few agents mentioned harmony being down as well Im genuinely curious - not trying to deliver any unofficial news. The beach offers a full range of tourist amenities, including beach restaurants, hotels, shops and water sports. Its an amazing adventure and you get to learn about tropical plants, animals and the history of the island from friendly and charming guides. It has soft white beaches, great hiking opportunities, and plenty of snorkeling. Besides they depend on your tourism as their number one economic activity which also helps them gain funds to rebuild. We posted about the opening of this new zip line shore excursion right here. You will get to do a lot of sightseeing so have your cameras ready to capture those perfect shots of the beauty and wonder of the place. This is a must-visit island while on the French side of St.Martin. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! It runs from top of Pic Paradis (the highest point on the island) to the farm below. The village of Grand Case has retained all its authenticity, particularly in its housing. The lookout platform has information boards that are pretty helpful in capturing the protected nature reserves essence. However, if you are a more adventurous soul, there is much to see and do in both the Dutch and French side. The beach itself is a wide swath of pristine white sandy beach. Thats why you should head on over to the adjacent Mullet Bay beach just nearby, which is sheltered from the noise and activities of the airport. This cuisine wont disappoint either, influenced by French and Creole cooking, expect to enjoy a wide array of delicious, mouth-watering dishes. Our second port stop takes us to St. Maarten, but we will get to that later. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Philipsburg, St Maarten. All this combined with the varying cultures of its inhabitants makes it the perfect cruise destination in the Antilles. Visit the Loterie Farm found on one side of Pic Paradis. Here are some of the islands most unique and popular excursions for cruise passengers. Just did get back. On a cruise vacation in the eastern Caribbean, you're likely to spend time in Philipsburg, St.Maarten so let's take a look at some of the best things to do. There are plenty other things to enjoy in this cruise destination including golfing, private yacht trips, culinary tours, and nature explorations. European sophistication meets the warm laid-back nature of the Caribbean in the small and beautiful island of St. Maarten. Live the life of luxury, sophistication, and pleasure while you wine and dine like a royal in this town. We've done a lot of different things in St. Maarten over the years and never had a bad time, but that was definitely one of our best port days there. Sample popular Caribbean treats such as Johnny cakes, callaloo, conch, fish fritters, lobster, and more. We are diligently working to bring you the best tours available in Philipsburg, St Maarten. It is located on Orient Bay and is accessible by boat from the Cul de Sac. Entertainment, How JetBlues Acquisition of Spirit Could Alter Air Travel This nature reserve has a variety of lush plants, birds and marine life. Please have a look at our Recommended Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas and Itineraries. Speaking of panoramic views, check out the Flying Dutchman zip line course at the Rockland Estate which is located in historic Emilio Wilson Estate. The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. As a former crew member for Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line I can continue my passion by sharing my experiences with readers. Like Marigot,Philipsburg offers duty-free shopping to visitors at the many shops that line the two main streets downtown: Front Street and Back Street. Shoppers will find jewelry, perfumes, appliances, clothing and more for sale throughout the town. This lift will take you on a relaxing and scenic ride up the mountain. Sorry that your cruise got cancelled though ! Once a tour of the emporium is done you are welcomed to sample various rum and guava berry liquors. However, if you fancy more private and secluded beaches, you can charter a boat to the nearby island of Anguilla. Hi everyone - we are leaving tomorrow for a 7 night cruise on Harmony of the Sea. If are yet to visit Philipsburg, St. Maarten then you now have reasons why you should. Afterward, enjoy a hearty lunch on the beach and sunbathe awhile before you are whisked back to the main island. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Learn this islands incredible history at St. Maarten museum on Front Street in Philipsburg. Explore the beautiful mountainous side on the Frenchs turf and visit its capital of Marigot town. The museum also displays head casts of famous actor/actresses and historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln. Or go mountain biking and experience something new while in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
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