I Know Nothing about St. Maarten!

We're arriving to St. Maarten this fall on RCI Adventures of the sea. I booked this specific cruise to visit the ABC islands as we love to snorkel! St. Maarten is our last port of call and I know nothing about it.

What do we do here? Is it also a great snorkel port? Shop? Beaches? Sail?

Help?

We're arriving to St. Maarten this fall on RCI Adventures of the sea. I booked this specific cruise to visit the ABC islands as we love to snorkel! St. Maarten is our last port of call and I know nothing about it.

 

What do we do here? Is it also a great snorkel port? Shop? Beaches? Sail?

 

Help?

Check out the St. Martin board here on Cruise Critic. Look at "things to do" on Trip Advisor.

I personally have been on Soualiga Tours 3 times and can tell you it will probably have everything you want.

Enjoy your time there

Check out Joyce Prince tours on Trip Advisor or google her. She's a private tour guide. You can plan your own day. Lots of choices - snorkeling, beach time, a Fort, general island tour, shopping, visiting artist's studios, restaurants, bars, casinos. Love this island. I would like to go back for a week but can't seem to fit it in with my other travel plans.

Check out Joyce Prince tours on Trip Advisor or google her. She's a private tour guide. You can plan your own day. Lots of choices - snorkeling, beach time, a Fort, general island tour, shopping, visiting artist's studios, restaurants, bars, casinos. Love this island. I would like to go back for a week but can't seem to fit it in with my other travel plans.

And if Joyce is booked check out a private tour with Bernard's Tours.

I didn't know anything about St. Maarten either, but google became my friend. There's a TON of info free for the taking if you spend a few minutes online. The island is split in half, with half being French and the other half being Dutch. It's hard to recommend something without knowing your likes/dislikes but it's like any other island in that it has shops, amazing views, local foods, and beaches - some of which are clothing optional.

We're arriving to St. Maarten this fall on RCI Adventures of the sea. I booked this specific cruise to visit the ABC islands as we love to snorkel! St. Maarten is our last port of call and I know nothing about it.

 

What do we do here? Is it also a great snorkel port? Shop? Beaches? Sail?

 

Help?

You going to some islands with great snorkeling so I would recommend something else on St. Maarten.

An easy day is to taxi to Maho beach and see the planes land at the airport right beside the beach and do some shopping in Phillipsburg which is near the cruise pier. You might also be able squeeze in another beach or lunch as well.

You going to some islands with great snorkeling so I would recommend something else on St. Maarten.

 

An easy day is to taxi to Maho beach and see the planes land at the airport right beside the beach and do some shopping in Phillipsburg which is near the cruise pier. You might also be able squeeze in another beach or lunch as well.

While plane watching at Maho Beach can be fun, it has become a very popular place. See the thread Maho Beach: 2007 vs 2017.

One note of caution is buying a round-trip taxi fare from the pier (see Something strange is going on with Taxi service from the Cruise Facility).

I was at Maho Beach recently and there was a long line of people qued up for their return trip back. Luckily, I took a cab from down town and was able to by-pass that line and easily grab a taxi back. Mind you, it cost more but the time-saving made it a bargin. My recommendation is - DO NOT buy round-trip arm-bands from the pier. You can ask for one-way transport from the pier and by-pass the long round-trip line for a taxi back.

While plane watching at Maho Beach can be fun, it has become a very popular place. See the thread Maho Beach: 2007 vs 2017.

 

One note of caution is buying a round-trip taxi fare from the pier (see Something strange is going on with Taxi service from the Cruise Facility).

 

I was at Maho Beach recently and there was a long line of people qued up for their return trip back. Luckily, I took a cab from down town and was able to by-pass that line and easily grab a taxi back. Mind you, it cost more but the time-saving made it a bargin. My recommendation is - DO NOT buy round-trip arm-bands from the pier. You can ask for one-way transport from the pier and by-pass the long round-trip line for a taxi back.

I haven't read anything about taxi issues for a couple of weeks. Is that still going on? I would have hoped that if it was we would be updated by cc members.

The amount of ships in port really determines the amount of people. It's the OP's last of 4 ports so perhaps it is a Sat-Sat cruise from San Juan and they stop in St Maarten on a Friday and are the only ship in port. That would be a great day to go to Maho. If you are worried about taking a taxi it's quite easy to take a bus to and from there.

I think the taxi issues from a couple of weeks ago may have sorted itselve out, but the issue I saw was the extremely long line for round-trip ticket holders. It appeared to me that those individuals were limited to certain taxis for the return trip. We on the other hand did not have to wait for a certain taxi.

We were approached as we walked out and asked if we wanted a taxi. He said "no arm-band, follow me" and we bypassed the long line (50+ people) waiting to return.

Again, it cost us more this way, but for me it was worth it. Your milage may vary.

I think the taxi issues from a couple of weeks ago may have sorted itselve out, but the issue I saw was the extremely long line for round-trip ticket holders. It appeared to me that those individuals were limited to certain taxis for the return trip. We on the other hand did not have to wait for a certain taxi.

 

We were approached as we walked out and asked if we wanted a taxi. He said "no arm-band, follow me" and we bypassed the long line (50+ people) waiting to return.

 

Again, it cost us more this way, but for me it was worth it. Your milage may vary.

How much did you pay compared to the $16 arm bands? I'm sure folks would like to know.

Before this issue $16 round trip in a shared taxi was the price.

How much did you pay compared to the $16 arm bands? I'm sure folks would like to know.

 

Before this issue $16 round trip in a shared taxi was the price.

The wait for a taxi at the pier looked long and it appeared they would jam as many into a taxi as possible, so we (DW and I) opted to take the water taxi into town to catch a taxi. One-way water taxi to town for two was a total of $10.00. From the dock in town, we found a taxi within 2 minutes for $20.00 to Maho. Shared a taxi back for $16.00.

10 + 20 + 16 = $46 for two people vs arm bands 2 x 16 = $32

The down-side: it cost us an extra $14 total for the two of us.

The up-side: My guess is it took us less time to take the water taxi into town and find a taxi than wait in line at the pier. Plus we were the only people in the taxi to Maho. And the BONUS was we by-passed at least 50 people waiting at the Sunset Bar for their "round-trip" taxi back. If we could not have found a taxi at Sunset, it is a short 5 minute walk North to Royal Islander Club to catch a taxi.

Maybe we were just recently (last month and 7 ships in port) lucky...but our group of 7 (with round trip wrist bands) seemed to be served quickly and ahead of many other's...yes their were many waiting at Maho but since we were a large group it was easy for them to add 4 more people and be on our way.

The wait for a taxi at the pier looked long and it appeared they would jam as many into a taxi as possible, so we (DW and I) opted to take the water taxi into town to catch a taxi. One-way water taxi to town for two was a total of $10.00. From the dock in town, we found a taxi within 2 minutes for $20.00 to Maho. Shared a taxi back for $16.00.

 

10 + 20 + 16 = $46 for two people vs arm bands 2 x 16 = $32

 

The down-side: it cost us an extra $14 total for the two of us.

 

The up-side: My guess is it took us less time to take the water taxi into town and find a taxi than wait in line at the pier. Plus we were the only people in the taxi to Maho. And the BONUS was we by-passed at least 50 people waiting at the Sunset Bar for their "round-trip" taxi back. If we could not have found a taxi at Sunset, it is a short 5 minute walk North to Royal Islander Club to catch a taxi.

If you walk or take a water taxi to town then catching the $2 bus is also a good option.

Would the wait at the pier be as long if you had said that you were going to Mullet? That might be another option. It might be an extra $2 bucks but just have the driver drop you off at the Royal Islander and walk the few minutes over to the beach.

How long of a walk is it from the pier to Maho? Is that an option?

Edited to add to please ignore the question above, just read that it's a much longer distance than anything I'd probably ever care to walk.

How long of a walk is it from the pier to Maho? Is that an option?

 

Edited to add to please ignore the question above, just read that it's a much longer distance than anything I'd probably ever care to walk.

For those who have not read how far the walk is, here's a map.

If you walk or take a water taxi to town then catching the $2 bus is also a good option.

 

Would the wait at the pier be as long if you had said that you were going to Mullet? That might be another option. It might be an extra $2 bucks but just have the driver drop you off at the Royal Islander and walk the few minutes over to the beach.

The taxi area at the port was a flurry of chaos with 5 ships in port and one more inbound. I think the wait times for all destinations was long. I knew if I got away from the crowds I could easily hail a taxi.

I probably could have saved a few bucks on the taxi to Maho if I haggled, but it just wasn't worth it to me. I'm not on a tight budget and I just wanted to keep moving.

The bus sounds like a great adventure and I will probably take it on my next visit. I read a thread years ago of a couple that took the bus. They mentioned they had a good time meeting and talking to the locals.

The taxi area at the port was a flurry of chaos with 5 ships in port and one more inbound. I think the wait times for all destinations was long. I knew if I got away from the crowds I could easily hail a taxi.

 

I probably could have saved a few bucks on the taxi to Maho if I haggled, but it just wasn't worth it to me. I'm not on a tight budget and I just wanted to keep moving.

 

The bus sounds like a great adventure and I will probably take it on my next visit. I read a thread years ago of a couple that took the bus. They mentioned they had a good time meeting and talking to the locals.

Taxi prices are set by the government. There are rogue taxi's out there so be careful!

Is there a bus to Maho?

Is there a bus to Maho?

See post #13.

See post #13.

OK thnnx, I didn't know if that was the $2 bus to Marigot, or are all the buses $2?

OK thnnx, I didn't know if that was the $2 bus to Marigot, or are all the buses $2?

To Maho it costs $2 each way. I think that Marigot is the same. I believe that some fares are more though. It's about a 15 minute walk from the pier to Back St where you catch the bus.

Some routes require a transfer, where you pay two seperate fares, such as getting to Grand Case.

There is not really a direct bus from Marigot to Maho/Mullet (unless a driver just decides to deviate) and you would pay the fare from Marigot to Cole Bay and then a fare from Cole Bay to Maho. That may work out to be $3.

The local bus option is really the cheapest option if you can handle all the objections posted here.

The official Government posted declaration of fares says that seniors ride free. We certainly haven't tried that, as it would take money out of the driver's pocket.

gary

We were in. SXM a few months ago for a week. We loved the bus cheap and easy. When going from. French to Dutch you have to get off near the KFC and go around the rotary.The busses come quick and the people on them are so nice.

We were in. SXM a few months ago for a week. We loved the bus cheap and easy. When going from. French to Dutch you have to get off near the KFC and go around the rotary.The busses come quick and the people on them are so nice.

There is a direct bus from Marigot to Philipsburg.

The only reason to change busses in Cole Bay is if you want to go from Marigot to Maho or Mullet Bay.

gary

There is a direct bus from Marigot to Philipsburg.

 

The only reason to change busses in Cole Bay is if you want to go from Marigot to Maho or Mullet Bay.

 

gary

Is the best closest place to catch a bus in the harbor/market/touristy spots in Marigot at where the busses line up on the road in Marigot that leads to Grand Case or do they drive through the road that Serafina's bakery/ferry terminal are on?