Please explain how the water taxi's work ...

[giddyup]

I have heard many things mentioned about the water taxi's ... what is the cost of them, and can they take you pretty much anywhere on the island, both sides? Do they have set "take off" times or do you go as you want?

Are they small tender boats or larger ones? Should someone afraid of small boats avoid them?

Any info you could offer would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

Not much longer now! :D

[Zeno]

As far as I know, the water taxi only goes between the cruiseship dock and the main dock in downtown Philipsburg. I believe you can buy an all-day pass for $5 - which allows unlimited trips back and forth. I believe a one-way fare is $3.
If you want to go anywhere else on the island (such as Orient beach, Marigot, Dawn beach) - you have to take a regular taxi. (rates vary depending on where you are going and whether or not you are sharing).

[skiiergirl]

As far as I know, the water taxi only goes between the cruiseship dock and the main dock in downtown Philipsburg. I believe you can buy an all-day pass for $5 - which allows unlimited trips back and forth. I believe a one-way fare is $3.
If you want to go anywhere else on the island (such as Orient beach, Marigot, Dawn beach) - you have to take a regular taxi. (rates vary depending on where you are going and whether or not you are sharing).

Zeno described it pretty well. I believe each boat holds about 100 (150?) people. It does just go from the pier to downtown (two different spots in downtown) but that is all.

[adatappstate]

Is the water taxi the only way to get from the cruise pier to downtown? Or can you walk, or does a regular taxi take you there, too? I'm kind of confused! :confused: TIA!!

[skiiergirl]

I have heard that you can walk it but I wouldn't do it. Looks "doable" (sp?) but not necessarily the nicest walk. A regular taxi would take you but probably wouldn't be thrilled about it since it wouldn't be much of a fare. They would probably try really hard to talk you in to an island tour. I think the "land taxi" costs more too. Not sure but I think it is $3 or $6 per person in to town (and then more $ back) via land taxi whereas the water taxi is $5 for an all day pass for as many trips as you want to make. However, if you are opposed to the water taxi then yes, there are other options available. The water taxi is just the most popular and most "convenient". Hope this helps with the confusion. (things/prices might have changed but this is how it has been for years.)

[SqueakyDust]

If we were going to Divi Beach, via land taxi, would we be cheaper going from Downtown or from the Cruise Pier?

It's hard to know these things without seeing road maps !
thanks

[skiiergirl]

If you are going straight to the beach I would grab a land taxi at the pier. If you are wanting to shop in downtown first, then take the water taxi to shopping area and then when done shopping grab a land taxi from there. (At least that is what I would do.)

[Sheffie]

If we were going to Divi Beach, via land taxi, would we be cheaper going from Downtown or from the Cruise Pier?

It's hard to know these things without seeing road maps !
thanks

Here is a link to a map that might help to give you a better idea of where things are located. The ships dock clear to the right hand side of Great Bay and out towards the point.

http://www.angelfire.com/il2/sxm/home.html

[beachchick]

You can walk to downtown. We did it once (and back) in the morning. It was not the most lovely walk, but it wasn't impossible. There were several places where it was hard to find the "path," but we managed. In a way it was good because it helped me rationalize the guavaberry coladas in the afternoon--I needed them after all that hard walking you know!

beachchick

[NRG]

I am not a big fan of the water taxi. I find the ride makes me quesy even though I have never been seasick on a cruise ship. Also, you have to wait for the boat to fill up. I find it much more convenient to take a regular taxi from the cruise dock to wherever you want to go on the island. If you are planning to go back and forth (for lunch maybe) from shopping to the ship then you will save money with the unlimited water taxi. Otherwise it is really not an issue. As previous posters said, the water taxi goes from the cruise dock to 2 points along Front Street. If you want to go the beaches or to the French side then a land taxi is the way to go. I don't know why someone would think that a taxi driver wouldn't want the fare from ship to Front street, they do it all day long and compete for passengers.

[pjbrock]

Last time we were there.. we went on our tour first and had them drop us off downtown to shop afterwards and then we took the water taxi back to the ship -easy! Only one eater taxi fare that way! As I recall-they ran pretty much all day so it was easy. You could walk it but probably first hing in the am-not afterwards when you are tired.

[SqueakyDust]

Thanks Skiiergirl and Sheffie.

The map helps a lot. For some reason I had pictured in my mind that the dock was on the left of the isalnd and Maho was on the right!
But where is Divi Beach? Obviously that is the Hotel complex name or soemthing - which Bay is it located in?

[BettyB2]

thanks so much for the map and information posted here. We will be docked December 7th from 7am-5pm and I still do not have anything concretely planned. :eek: I have emailed Joyce Prince for a MORNING tour and hoping to have a lot of afternoon fun!!

hey PJ - it looks as though your last name is Brock - my father is from a family of 13 brothers and sisters named Brock, neeedless to say, I have hundreds of cousins. (not cruise related, sorry but had to mention it)