Is it a mistake to not do a sightseeing tour

It's our first time to St Maarten. I know from a previous question I posted recently that there is not enough time to do a full island tour, watch planes come in on Maho Beach and have enough time left to shop. Am I doing myself a disservice by not seeing the island sights? Are other ports (Tortola, St Kitts, Dominica, Antigua) just as good for jewelry deals or is St Maarten the best choice in that regard?

Am having a lot of trouble making a decision on what to do at this port!

Thanks.

It's our first time to St Maarten. I know from a previous question I posted recently that there is not enough time to do a full island tour, watch planes come in on Maho Beach and have enough time left to shop. Am I doing myself a disservice by not seeing the island sights? Are other ports (Tortola, St Kitts, Dominica, Antigua) just as good for jewelry deals or is St Maarten the best choice in that regard?

Am having a lot of trouble making a decision on what to do at this port!

Thanks.

Shopping:

We have determined, over many years and many purchases, that St. Maarten is THE place to buy any higher-end jewelry in the Caribbean. Your less expensive items can be be purchased elsewhere, but your listed ports don't look especially appealing to me.

Tour:

Does your 2 1/2 hour tour not visit Orient, Marigot and Maho? That would surprise me. That could be a nice, quick, island tour.

Thoughts:

It depends on your priority, tour or shopping.

When we go jewelry shopping here while staying on-island we literally spend hours bouncing between our three favorite jewelers on Frontstreet and visiting the occasional other shops.

If your 9:00 tour is 2 1/2 hours, then that finishes at 11:30. Many times island tours allow a choice to finish in downtown Philipsburg. If you can choose this, it would allow you several hours for shopping.

gary