Busy port day

12-Feb-14 17552 Norwegian Gem, Carnival Dream, Ventura, Oasis Of The Seas, Celebrity Reflection

The above is what it is going to be in port on Thursday, February 12, 2014 when we’re in St. Maarten on the wonderful Gem.

Check out that total passenger load…..17,552. According to the schedule, this will be the single busiest day for the entire month of February.

When we were on the Westerdam in 2005 at Grand Cayman, we were one of six ships and I can still remember how ridiculously crowded it was, we were literally shoulder to shoulder in town that day.

When we were on the Zuiderdam in 2003 in St. Thomas, we were again, six ships in port and again total craziness.

And keep in mind, this was long before these big super ships were around.

I’m so glad that we decided to try The Golden Eagle Catamaran tour, I think downtown Philipsburg is gonna be a wee bit crowded, huh? I’ve seen great reviews for this excursion and we will be stopping at a beach that will have no one else around.

Anyone ever been in a crazy port day like this?? Especially with the Oasis class in port?

Only seven days until we leave and we’re so excited to get away from the cold and back to our old friend, the Gem.

And just think, those 17,552 are in addition to the tourists already on the island at the hotels and resorts. Wow!

Four or five ships a day is pretty usual in some popular Caribbean ports, IIRC on Epic last year we had one port of call with over 20,000 passengers that day - it's just one ship more. :D

Luckily our only experience with an Oasis class ship (it was HUGE compared to our less than 100,000 GT NCL ship) has been one where there were just two ships in port, us and them - might have been Costa Maya, can't remember.

The last couple times we've been in St. Martin it has been a crowd fest with 5-6 ships. Last time I only got off and wandered around the pier shops then back onboard.

Always seems to be a pretty busy port but the pier itself isn't so bad just because its outdoors and they aren't bottle necking everybody. Now the traffic getting around the island will be another story.

We were in st. Maarten last February aboard epic and cruisett said there would be 19,000+. It was fine. We hit orient beach and maho beach with no issue

Just off the Gem with 7 ships at port in St Marten. So busy the Gem tendered passengers to town (saved us $7-pp on water taxi) town was fine, no overcrowding on either French or Dutch side. Town was busy but very manageable from NY so maybe we just more used to crowds?!

Safe sailing

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Was also on gem few weeks ago. Seven ships in st maarten so Gem used tenders...great thing because we avoided crowds on pier and tendered right to other end of the beach....avoided the stores, just relaxed all day onthe beach.... Couldnt imagine waiting for water taxi with 20,000 plus people....met "sweet michael" on beach.... He provided two nice lounge chairs, umbrella, internet wifi password and allowed us six free drinks and use if a bathroom for $ 25!. Pleasant man who kept checking with all his "customers" and refeeshing drinks or bringing ice....he is very appreciative of a tip And even gave us extra cold boted water for ride back to ship😄.... Nice relaxing beach day....

Just off the Gem with 7 ships at port in St Marten. So busy the Gem tendered passengers to town (saved us $7-pp on water taxi) town was fine, no overcrowding on either French or Dutch side. Town was busy but very manageable from NY so maybe we just more used to crowds?!

Safe sailing

 

 

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Hi, Does the Gem tender in St. Marten, or dock and tender passengers downtown from the dock?

Thanks very much for the help.

Hi, Does the Gem tender in St. Marten, or dock and tender passengers downtown from the dock?

 

Thanks very much for the help.[/quote

Usually they dock-- we got lucky and got tendered our last trip. Prepare to dock-thats normal

Safe sailing

Was also on gem few weeks ago. Seven ships in st maarten so Gem used tenders...great thing because we avoided crowds on pier and tendered right to other end of the beach....avoided the stores, just relaxed all day onthe beach.... Couldnt imagine waiting for water taxi with 20,000 plus people....met "sweet michael" on beach.... He provided two nice lounge chairs, umbrella, internet wifi password and allowed us six free drinks and use if a bathroom for $ 25!. Pleasant man who kept checking with all his "customers" and refeeshing drinks or bringing ice....he is very appreciative of a tip And even gave us extra cold boted water for ride back to ship😄.... Nice relaxing beach day....

Which beach did you go to?

We just went to the beach right there bythe town dont know the name. But was near bar called honky tonk...

6 in port in St Martin including the Oasis last Wednesday

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