In case you have trouble finding it, knowledgeable island staff will help you out and direct you to the station. Thank You:). Timing things to avoid cruise ship crowds 7:31 am. Learn the best things to do at the port of Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Maho beach was everything it was advertised with the planes. Shops, cafes, car rentals and restaurants are located nearby. Alternatively, there are water taxis available from the cruise terminal for only USD$7 round trip. There will be plenty. The planes land directly over the beach, and in the afternoon you get to see the big planes land. St. Maarten: Orient and Maho Beaches Half-Day Tour - easiest taxi company to make a reservation with? . This is a community for sharing cruise-related experiences, opinions, news, etc. The first stop was Orient Beach and it was beautiful. You might have already sensed from my description that this beach is not my kind of place. My family and friends who have seen my pictures do not think they are real. Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation! Cut-off times are based on the experiences local time. When you get off the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Vote. Snorkeling and diving equipment are available for rent as well as jet skis. Soon the sun is shining and we head to the beach for some photos. Tripadvisor | Maho/ Sunset Beach Blast leveret af Bernards Tours | St Shore Excursioneer 2023. The water taxi station is located around 300 meters away from the cruise ship's dock, and to get there, you need to walk past Sharky's bar and continue straight along the path. We are stopping at Orient Beach, where its raining as we arrive. How to: Ferry To St. John from Cruise Ship Docks (St. Thomas) The bus will drop you in Philipsburg, without an option to continue to the Cruise Facility, another $3 pp by taxi or your return ticket (wristband) on the Water Taxi. Travel by water taxi is about 5 minutes and via taxi (car) about 8 minutes via Walter A Nisbeth Road. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nassau is a beach-lover's dream port, with options for every kind of toes-in-the-sand experiencefrom a walk-to beach to one curated specifically for tourists. Take advantage of water sports facilities (own expense) such as jet skis, sailboats, paragliding and kids activities. Anyone visiting St. Maarten by cruise ship or to stay at the resorts should consider Orient Bay Beach as another one worth visiting. I agree with Karysa. ", St. Maarten, Lesser Antilles (St. Martin). The tide was in so close that there wasnt a lot of free sand space at all- although Im told theres not a drastic difference between high and low tide at Maho. On the French part (Saint Martin) is Marigot. Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation, Round-trip transportation from your cruise ship terminal, Bilingual certified local excursion guides, narrated, Complimentary refreshments - 1 (water, soft drinks, beer, and Guavaberry liqueur), Return to cruise port (with optional drop-off in Philipsburg or Marigot, downtown is about a 15-minute walk back to the pier or 4 minutes by water taxi, p/p $7.00usd cost is not included), Drivers and guides are trained in first aid. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). This is important to remember when you have to get back to the boat. Cancellations that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund. If you are looking for a beach away from the hustle of the capital city with a Caribbean feel, then Orient Bay Beach is an amazing option to consider. It is Americanized enough that it is anticipated. Pic Paradis is located between Grand Case and Marigot on the French side. St.Martin - St.Maarten Taxi Tours Ride in an air-conditioned van to Maho Beach on the Dutch side of this Caribbean island and Lucas Bay on the French side. Will they not want to give us a ride? No. For the St. Maarten Beach Bum Combo to Orient and Maho Beach, you will meet right at your St. Maarten Cruise Terminal (Philipsburg) or the St. Martin Cruise Terminal (Marigot). Step 3: Taxi From Cruz Bay To Trunk Bay: $6. How to: Ferry To St. John from Cruise Ship Docks (St. Thomas) Direction: St. Thomas to St. John # 1: Choose a Departure Time There are two ferry routes that connect St. Thomas and St. John. the beaches were great and our driver/host, was even better. You can rent 2 beach beds and an umbrella for $30, which is about 35% more than the price in early February--go figure. Locate land taxi station. When we arrived at place to start our tour, we asked which bus was ours. Fondly known as the Friendly Island, St Maarten is unique in that it is the smallest landmass divided between two nations in the world. Also, is it difficult to catch a cab back in the afternoon? Take the bus from Easton, PA to Newark, NJ. Buses usually have a sign that says Maho beach and it takes approximately 20 minutes from the cruise port. His tour did not include Maho Beach, which is the main reason I picked the tour. By Aburkhard7, November 19, 2022 in St. Martin/St. We would recommend this trip to everyone. The following are some of our articles which we believe may be suitable for you. The Philipsburg boardwalk lies between the beach and the shopping district of the city. If your only goal is to see a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? you can check the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. . Orient Bay Beach is excellent for water sport activities such as snorkeling and many individuals prefer it for swimming and sunbathing than Great Bay Beach. Fly from Philadelphia (PHL) to St Maarten (SXM) PHL - SXM. $2 per person. Otherwise, look for signs at the mall pointing toward the $5 water taxi. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. He makes it the same way I do, mango, pineapple, passion fruit and lots of rum. Not sure if they are operating after Irma. Id like to have spent more time with him, just looking into his blue eyes made me think he could cure Toms cold! However with ideal conditions it would be a very nice place to relax. This is clearly a popular holiday destination, whether for people travelling only to Sint Maarten, or cruise passengers and crew like me and my pal Rachel; but I was still surprised by how Americanised the whole place felt. By Staying Focused, January 14, 2018 in St. Martin/St. The waves are too strong here for snorkeling, so eventually we got bored and went elsewhere. Best Things to Do in St. Maarten on a Cruise (2021) The trip was worth more than what we were charged. We want to watch the planes land at Maho Beach. Recommended Posts. Put your round-trip return ticket somewhere where it won't get blow away. It will cost around $6 per person. A five-hour shore excursion with transportation to Orient Bay and Maho Beach will start at $40 per person. . It is popular with hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. Saint Martin has many other things to do besides visiting Maho Beach. there can be long wait for buses as there is no set schedule, and they make many stops on the way. He would to top a house and say "this is a nice house", "thus is a funeral home", "this is horses next to water". Great Bay Beach is the closest beach to the cruise terminal in St Maarten. This is the most affordable option. The water taxi picked us up right at the pier, and it was a quick 25-30-minute ride to the small island, and we arrived at 2pm. The price for an entire day is $7 per person at the time of this writing. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Mullet Bay looks the closest but I have heard it is easier to get a return taxi to the cruise port from Maho. We always suggest you depart the resort at least 2 hours prior to your ship's scheduled departure time. American Airlines Aircraft landing over Maho Beach The rule of thumb, always give your self time to get back to ship no matter what you do. Both beaches were great and we can scratch Maho off our bucket list. Not great for swimming or tanning. Taxi would return you to the Cruise Facility. BTW, for what it is worth, the beach is just fine. Orient Beach the water is very clear and you can purchase 2 chairs for about $10, a welcome drink and wifi. Wish our guide gave more information about the wonderful island. distance from st maarten airport to cruise port English-speaking certified driver and guide! 5 1/2 hr tour covering both Dutch & French highlights of the island. The place where we stopped charged $10 for 2 chairs and an umbrella but everyone received a complimentary drink. Whenever a plane appeared, twinkling in the distance of the now completely vivid blue sky, the throngs would gather tighter together, all vying for the best spot. All in all it was a fabulous day! We had a group of 6 and everyone enjoyed it. . From there, cruise visitors can walk, take a water taxi or a taxi cab to Great Bay Beach. No, it is not necessary to take along your passport or driver's license unless noted by your cruise line or listed in the Restrictions or Notes tab for the excursion. 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. We drive through Phillipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side of the island. Some excursion operators quote prices as low as $15 per person for a transfer from the cruise port to Maho Beach. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. Taxi Ride to Maho Beach St. Maarten : r/Cruise - Reddit . Water Taxis in St Maarten are sometimes used for cruise ship passengers going to and from the center of Phillipsburg and the cruise ship docks. . It's around 20 dollar from cruise port to main beach (Maho Beach). :), You convinced me not to rent a car. We had to do the fence grab on a big jets take off, unbelievable. Small bills so no one has to worry about change. Mahoe beach was pretty amazing, I was able to call the tour provider, Twin Island Excursions, to advise of our arrival at St Maarten. This spot is a unique beach in St. Maarten, where travelers flock to experience the thrilling rush of airplanes flying extremely close overhead. Pretty pretty Funchal Powered by Invision Community. Hungry and thirsty when we arrived, we sat on the covered decking of the Sunset Beach Bar (check out their live webcam of the planes landing if youre curious), and ordered fries and drinks. Along the way, enjoy complimentary beer, soda and water, and listen to your guide detail the rich culture and history of this divided Caribbean Island. By As a result, it is hugely popular with visitors taking photos and videos. Where Do Cruise Ships Dock at St. Martin? | USA Today Refreshments. Actually, Maho Beach can be a lovely place to swim, depending on the surf. Take a taxi from the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? $2 for a bus is music to my ears. There are several beach bars such as Waikiki Beach, Kakao, Perch Bar & Grill, Bikini Beach and Kontiki Beach in this area. St. Maarten Shore Excursion Reviews - Cruise Critic We passed Princess Juliana International Airport and arrive at Maho Beach. Cupecoy is a half hour west of the port and requires a taxi or rental car to get there. If guests wish to stay downtown and return to the ship on their own it is about a 15-minute walk or 4-minute water taxi ride. First our driver was amazing! Port Philipsburg (locode ANPHI) is the country's principal port and largest city, with population around 2,000. And the area directly in the path to the runway was naturally where people gravitated towards; everyone needs the money shot of themselves with an airplane zooming low behind. The beach is great for swimming but at times can be rough so definitely one has to be cautious with children. Highly recommend. There is a large Westin resort located on this beach. Water taxis to Maho Beach from the cruise port is easy to find and cost about $20. MULLET BAY (Sint Maarten) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor Everyone should experience Maho Beach. !as they posed for group photos. Alternatively, you can take a public transportation which costs USD $2.50 to go and USD$2.50 to return. Will we see planes land while we are at Maho Beach? Can you take a water taxi to Maho Beach from cruise port? Beaches In St Maarten Near Cruise Port (The Ultimate Guide) I have been there before and rented a car, It is very easy to get around, you have a map and you just follow it, you get lost you just ask for directions. Good to know, ya know.). Check out the Philipsburg, St. Maarten cruise port viewing reviews and 3861 photos from real travelers. We were on the fence about it but I'm convinced a taxi is the way to go. Bonaire, but at this point I just wanted to have something solid that I didn't have to worry about, so I booked a water taxi through the cruise line. How to Go By Ferry From Nassau to Paradise Island - Cruise Maven This excursion is excellent for someone who wants beach time and to see the planes on Maho Beach. Great care must be exercised as persons have died in the past due to the effects of the jet blast. However, kindly note that this one is the furthest on this list from the cruise port. You can hang out at the beach or sit at the restaurant. We regularly stay at The Towers at Mullet Bat, adjacent to AUC, and will often walk over to Maho in the morning to grab a newspaper and perhaps a pastry. This is a popular spot to catch great views of Simpson Bay. About $20-30 per person. 3) Le Galion Beach 4) Maho Beach to see a plane come in 5) Phillipsburg stop before heading back to the ship. A 5-hour guided tour through the Dutch and French parts of St Maarten, Cross over to the French side of the island and explore Lucas Bay, Receive free beer, water and soda during the entire tour, Includes pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal, Covered by Viators worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship, You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup, Saint Martin, 79 Juancho Yrausquin Blvd, Sint Maarten, Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, No heart problems or other serious medical conditions, This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers. . We hurried up the pier, past the diamond and liquor shops out to the street. Our driver was a perfect '10'. Maho beach was fun , because of the Airplane traffic and the over experience. Grand Case Beach Club or La Playa Orient Bay? Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! Is your upcoming Caribbean cruise docking in St Maarten? Meet your local guide at the cruise port in Philipsburg and climb aboard your comfortable van for a half-day exploration of St Maarten. Is it close to the pier? Maarten. After a day at the beach the shuttle will let those who wish off in town and take the rest back to the cruise ship dock. Drenched, full of sand, I was laughing as Tom helped me back up. After having breakfast on the ship, walk outside the pier area past the St Maarten port sign on the right towards the walkway on the left that says "Water Taxi." The ferry charges $4 for one-way and $8 round-trip. I didnt find any app for St. Maarten taxis. Pic Paradis (Peak Paradise) Tours & Tickets, Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving Spots in St. Maarten, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort Tours & Tickets. The best beach near the St. Maarten cruise port is just a quick walk or taxi ride away. The beach has rental chairs and umbrellas available for rent for the day. It lies right in from of the city of Philipsburg. They were aware of the Harmony arrival times and told us the tour will be waiting for us to arrive. I can provide a contact for taxi if you like that costs 15. We found our tour driver who introduced himself as Duce. It was a nice combo. Round-trip transportation from your St. Maarten cruise ship terminal! From there, cruise visitors can walk, take a water taxi or a taxi cab to Great Bay Beach. Wife didn't like the noise and crowds but it was so fun and funny to watch nuts from around the world along the runway. WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME! The airplanes make their approach directly above the beach. This beach is located on the French Side called St Martin and is about a 20 minute taxi ride from the cruise port. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isnt particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. . Divided in 1648, French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten coexist peacefully with no border crossing or customs procedures. Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experiences start time will not be accepted. Look for a bus with a 'Maho' or 'Mullet Bay' or 'M'Bay' sign in the window. International brands such as Little Switzerland and Diamond International are easily accessible. Where are the car rental places in relation to the port? Maarten. St Maarten has one major road and it is not uncommon for there to be huge traffic congestion especially on afternoons. How much is water taxi to main beach from cruise - Maho Beach The pick up and return to the dock was timely and easy. About 4 hours 30 min. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Allnecessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket. Remember especially if you are traveling via taxi or bus to give yourself ample time to get to your cruise ship. Also, on the return, be aware that there is a drawbridge that could add some time (don't want to miss the ship.) Fed and watered, Rachel and I headed onto the beach itself. Will use Shore Excursioneer again. The Maho Beach was great for the planes but intimidating to swim at this time of year. Followers 0. If you weren't going to tip then maybe pretend you aren't from the US so they thought you had a different tradition. Its wide shoreline makes it a perfect spot for beach picnics and playing games on the shore. Simpson Bay use to be the capital of the Dutch side, but since it tends to flood, business was moved to Phillipsburg. I would look behind the Court House for a sign labeled Bus Halte. Leave the piers and head to the right, where theres a row of taxis waiting to leave. There's parking inside the Caravanserai (sp?) I signed up for Maho Beach, Orient Beach, and Marigot. The airport has one of the shortest runways in the Caribbean. Even better, this white-sand, two-mile beach is right in front of Philipsburg, capital of the Dutch side of the island. Airplanes create quite humungous jet blasts when theyre taking off, and so it seems fairly logical that you shouldnt stand too close. Members; 2 January 9, 2013; Tampa, FL #1 Share; Our first stop is the Oyster Bay Resort, a beautiful turquoise painted resort around what use to be a bay full of oysters. The tours was amazing. driving to spain through france covid; food truck commissary lancaster, ca; 355 taper tip graphite iron shafts. Philipsburg - St. Maarten - Cruise Port Advisor See All St Martin / St Maarten Conversations, Please recommend an all inclusive 5* adult only resort. 30 Things to Do in Philipsburg, St. Maarten During a Cruise It's about a half hour drive and there are plenty taxi's at the port and Maho Beach to get you back and forth. A aquarium taxi from the cruise . Guests will be at Maho Beach in time to see the planes come in for a landing. (But its still pretty fun to be in the sea when a plane comes in to land.). The French capital Marigot is very impressive, Very good tour, good tour guide -Douce, nice clean van. As we cross into the French side of the Island, Duce explains a bit of the history of the island, and how the Dutch and French decided to share the island rather than fight about it. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Can you take a water taxi to Maho Beach from cruise port? From $ 40.00. The best time to go is in the early afternoon when the larger jumbo jets land. Visitors who take a 20-minute hike from Cole Bay Hill will reach Cove Bay, located between Cole Bay and Little Bay. Porto corner-shrine Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. It's about a $50-$60 for the round trip but it all depends on how many passengers. Round-trip transportation from your St. Maarten cruise ship terminal! As such many individuals are fascinated with plane spotting in this area. See the famous plane spotting at Maho Beach! Harmony of the Seas Day 4 Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin? Did not like the 45 minutes stop at flea market. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. How long is the bus ride vs. taking a taxi to Maho/Mullet? Additionally, when we met up with the original driver, he was unknowledgeable about any of St. Maarten's history. Feel free to browse our website for more content on St Maarten, the Dutch Caribbean and rest of the Caribbean by using the search bar located at the top of this page. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88316489', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise port to go to Maho beach. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-111092452', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maho Beach can be a lovely place to swim, depending on the surf. We have considered renting a car as well. Report inappropriate content emory2001 Orlando, FL Level Contributor 343 posts 30 reviews 25 helpful votes 4. You can be just as close to the planes at most airports as you are to the planes at Maho if you are out in the water. . 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. distance from st maarten airport to cruise portbellissimo grande hotel bed bugs. Water taxis to Maho Beach from the cruise port is easy to find and cost about $20. Things To Do Fun Fact: St. Maarten has the unique position of having a beachside capital. You'll get back on the return bus on the other side of the street from where you got off. Actually it's a great beach from swimming most of the time. There is a snorkeling day with Sougoula Tours I went on last month and we boated to the same spot and saw a KLM flight land at the end of our beach tour (which was great BTW). It is larger than Maho beach and it a good option for beginner snorkeling as you can see fishes near the shoreline. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Required fields are marked *. St. Maarten Beaches Near the Cruise Port - Caribeez.com I appreciate that tip about the bus v. taxi. There was a nice place to eat and have drinks right at the beach. From light lunches to classics like seafood terrine and lobster thermidor, Antoine's offers outdoor . I trust that you have found this information useful if your plans are to visit a beach while on a cruise to St Maarten. The pathway along the green wire fence with the car park on your right, leads to the EDC bus parking area. Great Bay Beach, Philipsburg, capital of Sint Maarten Water taxis are often used by cruise ship passengers as shuttles between the center of Phillipsburg to the cruise ship docking areas. Houses just abandoned? resort gates. The big planes (not inter island commuter ones) start arriving around noon. If you want to go with a regular taxi, what the ride to intake around 15 minutes from the port to the beach along the Lagoon Highway. We got dropped off at a bar where they rented chairs for $5. Note that the beach is on the French side and therefore clothing is optional. | 0 comments What Is the Best Currency For St MaartenLiving In The Caribbean (Pros & Cons Fully Explained) You may also likeLeave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. For this port, I decided we had to visit Maho and experience the planes. How to Easily Get to Grand Anse Beach on your Next Cruise to Grenada Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. 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. . A water taxi, $4 one way, continually runs from the cruise terminal to different spots at the beach promenade or you can walk ( 10 min.) We really need to evaluate our plan for St. Maarten. 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. Saw your question and wondered if you found where to take a bus to Maho? Below is the Bus Stop at the final destination (Maho Beach) and then the Bus sign 'on the other side' of the road for the return transportation: Finally, some more visuals on our visit to Maho Beach using the local bus (December 2011): Photos: Bus ride from Downtown Philipsburg to Maho Beach (Thursday 12.29.2011), Photos: Maho Beach - seeing the aircrafts landing in St. Maarten (Thursday 12.29.2011).