Resort Pass

[Sabiney]

Pat,

The phone # for the Sonesta ft desk at Maho Beach is; 721-545-2115

 

 

Thanks! I heard back from the Westin and their casino opens @ 4:00 pm.

 

Pat

[wallie5446]

Thanks! I heard back from the Westin and their casino opens @ 4:00 pm.

 

Pat

 

Well that would tickle the wifester if the Sonesta is the same. It would keep me away since we have to be back on the Reflection by then:)

[gtaylor]

The Casino Royale, across the street from the Sonesta Maho opens at about 1:00.

 

Across the runway is the Dunes Casino at Caravanserai, which I believe opens at 11:00. It is very close to the Sunset Bar and Grill on Maho Beach.

 

gary

[wallie5446]

Just got the word that when we are there in Nov our back on board time is not untill 6:45, with sail away at 7:00! We will get to watch the sun set over Philipsburg as the lights of the town twinkle in the darkness as we sail out of the bay!

[gtaylor]

wallie5446,

 

Sorry to report, but sunset on the day of your visit is at 5:34 local time.

 

(click)

 

You're certain to see the twinkling lights of Philipsburg behind you as you sail out, and most ships view the island's lights for quite a while if your cabin is on the Starboard side or Aft, but no 'sunset over Philipsburg' for you.

 

gary

[wallie5446]

Well shucks, but I was going off ship route from last Dec. Celebrity flipped the days for St Thomas & St Maarten. We are in on Wednesday 8am, and have to be back on ship by 4:30 to sail at 5:00. Just another half day on the beach:) Thanks Gary,but the wifester beat ya to it!

Edited July 19, 2013 by wallie5446

[gtaylor]

OK, but the ship will be headed west, towards Miami. I believe that the sunset will be ahead and off to Port. It will certainly not be over Philipsburg at any time of the year. Sunrise, Yes, Sunset, No.

 

gary

[LHORTON3]

Yes - The Sonesta Maho Beach Resort does offer a day pass. I emailed the reservations department here is the response.

 

Good Day,

Thank you for your email.

 

Yes we do offer day passes at the Sonesta Resorts on St. Maarten.

 

The day pass is $65.00 per person.

 

This includes breakfast, lunch, diner, snacks, unlimited drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and use of the hotel facilities.

 

This can be purchased upon arrival at the Front Desk.

 

The day pass is at both St. Maarten resorts.

To double check, I called the front desk of the Maho Beach location, and they do offer the day pass. They confirmed all the information above.

 

 

Have you been here before ? Is it nice ?

[LHORTON3]

I can certainly understand this if you're on-island and can do the entire day there, breakfast through dinner, but if you're a cruiser and have limited time to spend there to enjoy, I'm not sure that it makes $$ sense.

 

I kind of did this calculation once before, but let's take another look at an All-Inclusive day vs. a do-it-yourself day on where we go All-In.

 

The referenced day at Sonesta Maho is $130 for two.

 

Let's go to Orange Fever. I'm familiar with it and I have some current prices.

 

First two drinks are included with chair and umbrella, but we'll order some appetizers. $14 for chairs for the day.

 

* Chicken Wings "Ailes de poulet " : $6

* Mozzarella Cheese Sticks "Bâtons de mozza " : $6

 

Before lunch we'll go through four beers, a frozen drink and three rum punches. (We're on vacation.) 4x$3, $6, 3x$4 = $30

 

Order a nice lunch.

 

Share some Escargot with garlic butter. $6.00

 

Cheeseburger (black angus) : $10.50

Steak 8oz, american cheese, tomatoe, salad, onion + french fries

 

Grill Mahi-Mahi with Garlic Butter sauce : $14.50

mixt vegetables & basmati rice

 

Another beer and a glass of wine with lunch. $3 + $3 = $6

 

Now we'll settle in for the afternoon with four more beers, two more frozen drinks and two more rum punches. (Hey, we're not driving.) 4x$3, 2x$6, 2x$4 = $32

 

I think our day at Orange Fever just totals out to $125.

 

Taxi prices are about the same though Orient is a couple dollars cheaper, and you don't have to worry about traffic or bridge openings.

 

We report, you decide. :)

 

gary

 

 

need more information about this Orient place please we will be there in Oct looking for something cheap this sounds good

[wallie5446]

Have you been here before ? Is it nice ?

 

It is very nice, take a look http://www.sonesta.com/MahoBeach/

The resort's all-inclusive program includes full breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks each day at a choice of five restaurants and five bars; all hotel taxes and service; guest pass to sister resort Sonesta Great Bay; weekly beach party dinner; in-room mini-fridge refreshed daily, activity program for children and much more! Close to the Airport so you can see the planes coming in!

We are doing this in Nov.

Edited July 20, 2013 by wallie5446

[gtaylor]

wallie5446;

 

I really hope that you don't expect all of the amenities you mention if you just purchase a Day Pass to the Sonesta. This is pretty clearly what is offered to guests that book rooms for a day or a week at the hotel.

 

The prior discussions clearly show many restrictions as to what you might actually receive on a day pass.

 

I'm hanging on until I get an on-site report from my friend karysa.

 

gary

[gtaylor]

need more information about this Orient place please we will be there in Oct looking for something cheap this sounds good

'This Orient Place' is, as mentioned, Orange Fever.

 

I've posted a number of personal photos in my PhotoBucket,

 

(click)

 

And of course they have a website.

 

gary

[wallie5446]

wallie5446;

 

I really hope that you don't expect all of the amenities you mention if you just purchase a Day Pass to the Sonesta. This is pretty clearly what is offered to guests that book rooms for a day or a week at the hotel.

 

The prior discussions clearly show many restrictions as to what you might actually receive on a day pass.

 

I'm hanging on until I get an on-site report from my friend karysa.

 

gary

All we can go on while we too wait for karysa is the direct phone call I made to the reservation desk last week of both Hotels that said for the $65 we would indeed get all those benefits.

[gtaylor]

wallie5446;

 

Good luck with that.

 

gary

[wallie5446]

wallie5446;

 

Good luck with that.

 

gary

In about 121 days I'll let ya know first hand, how's that?

[gtaylor]

That's great, but I'm still hoping for an on-site report from my friend karysa.

 

gary

[Karysa]

That's great, but I'm still hoping for an on-site report from my friend karysa.

 

gary

 

I tried Gary but I give up!!

 

Both my DS and I asked about the day pass in person separately at the Maho Sonesta, her on July 20 and me on July 23 and we got (surprise) different answers.

 

She was told that there is a day pass until 6 and a night pass from 6 and both cost $65 per person. The day pass includes breakfast, lunch and the pool and loungers at the beach. The after 6 pass includes dinner, drinks and evening entertainment and the pool until it closes at 7.

 

I was told that the day pass includes breakfast and lunch and dinner and drinks and the same facilities as DS was told. The info on the night pass was the same and the price was the same. When I mentioned the confusing information that we have been getting on this subject the worker then told me that what my sister and I were told is exactly the same. I tried to explain that it was not and he said yes, a day pass and a night pass that is what both of you were told. Yikes! I don't think that it matters to most cruisers but for those that would use the pass for lunch and dinner it would matter. With that said DS said the food was only ok. She said that both breakfast and lunch were buffets and that even the al-a-carte restaurant for dinner was not nearly as good as cruiseship MDR food.

 

Snacks are not available to resort guests either BTW according to DS's experience.

 

I inquired about the 4 hour pass because someone wrote that they received that message from the Maho, and was told that they didn't have a pass like that.

 

So in a nutshell, they have a daypass that would work for cruisers and the day would cost about $170-175 for taxis and the resort pass per couple . Probably best to have breakfast on the ship by the sound of the quality of the food. Personally I like the Orange Fever day that Gary posted about earlier in this thread myself. The sonesta Maho day pass would be good for people who drink a lot and want to see Maho beach though. The Great Bay Sonesta would be better value because you could stay much later because it's so close to the ship as long as swimming in a pool instead of the sea is ok ( great bay has documented pollution issues for those who are not familiar with it).

 

 

Anyways that is all I could bring back for you guys.:)

Edited August 1, 2013 by Karysa

[wallie5446]

Well that still is a lot better than what a ship or private tour cost with no pool or 2 meals, open bar, and beach loungers cost, at $65 pp and a shared $20 taxi for 4. Thanks for trying to get first hand info, we will just have to see in Nov.

Edited August 2, 2013 by wallie5446

[Karysa]

Well that still is a lot better than what a ship or private tour cost with no pool or 2 meals, open bar, and beach loungers cost, at $65 pp and a shared $20 taxi for 4. Thanks for trying to get first hand info, we will just have to see in Nov.

 

I didn't try to get first hand info . I got it! So did my DS who is also a cc member. We got different info even at the resort.:)

 

The taxi ride to the resort cost DH and I $22 dollars one way for the two of us. (we had 2 pieces of luggage together)

 

Cruisers don't need 2 meals though. DS has taken 15 or more cruises and said that she had better food on every cruise that she had been on compared to the food at this resort.

 

I wouldn't go for the food. I think THAT, should be the take home from my original post. That and they do have a $65 daypass at the Sonesta Maho from 9-5 or 6.

Edited August 2, 2013 by Karysa

[Karysa]

Well that still is a lot better than what a ship or private tour cost with no pool or 2 meals, open bar, and beach loungers cost, at $65 pp and a shared $20 taxi for 4. Thanks for trying to get first hand info, we will just have to see in Nov.

 

The taxi will be close to $40 for 4 people each way. Make sure that you leave by 3 if your ship all aboard time is 4:30 or 5:30. Traffic in the late afternoon and bridge openings can really snarl the traffic especially during high season when there is lots of automobile and ship traffic.

 

You don't mention going to Maho beach so if you don't care about the beach and the planes then maybe the Sonesta Great Bay Resort daypass would be a better choice for you as you could stay until 30 or 45 minutes before all aboard time because of its proximity to the port. Just a thought....if you go by water taxi the cost is only $7 or maybe $8 all day for transportation so you could easily go back to the ship for lunch and then take the water taxi back if the food offered is unappealing to you.

 

Something else that might be worth a try is to see if your Maho daypass will work also at the Great Bay sister resort. The resort guests bracelet works for both!:). This way you get a whole day for $65 and 2 resorts.:)

Edited August 2, 2013 by Karysa

[wallie5446]

When I called the front desk, the 'person' on the other end said the day pass would be honored at both locations.

[Karysa]

When I called the front desk, the 'person' on the other end said the day pass would be honored at both locations.

 

My suggestion would be to get it in writing from the resort where you purchase the pass.:eek: :D

 

If that is the case then a Maho and then Great Bay Resort combo might indeed make for a nice day while on a cruise. Have fun!:)

[gtaylor]

The taxi will be close to $40 for 4 people each way. Make sure that you leave by 3 if your ship all aboard time is 4:30 or 5:30. Traffic in the late afternoon and bridge openings can really snarl the traffic especially during high season when there is lots of automobile and ship traffic.

 

You don't mention going to Maho beach so if you don't care about the beach and the planes then maybe the Sonesta Great Bay Resort daypass would be a better choice for you as you could stay until 30 or 45 minutes before all aboard time because of its proximity to the port. Just a thought....if you go by water taxi the cost is only $7 or maybe $8 all day for transportation so you could easily go back to the ship for lunch and then take the water taxi back if the food offered is unappealing to you.

 

Something else that might be worth a try is to see if your Maho daypass will work also at the Great Bay sister resort. The resort guests bracelet works for both!:). This way you get a whole day for $65 and 2 resorts.:)

 

karysa, unless something has changed since May, the Water Taxi doesn't run to Sonesta Great Bay. The closest Water Taxi run is to the Little Pier, downtown Philipsburg, or possibly to the (rarely used) new pier at the Sea Palace, but from those it would be a half mile +/- walk to Sonesta.

 

gary

[Karysa]

karysa, unless something has changed since May, the Water Taxi doesn't run to Sonesta Great Bay. The closest Water Taxi run is to the Little Pier, downtown Philipsburg, or possibly to the (rarely used) new pier at the Sea Palace, but from those it would be a half mile +/- walk to Sonesta.

 

gary

 

A taxi may be better then for some folks this is true.

 

I walked from the Flamingo to Karakter one beach day and from the Royal Palm to Maho Beach via Simpson Bay on another last month (return trips BTW) so 1/2 mile beach walk is nothing for me. :)

[green eyed lady]

Has anyone gone to the Sonesta Great Bay Beach resort for the day? We've been to Maho already so don't feel the need to go back.

 

Wondering how far this one is from the port. Anyone? :D