St Maarten island time?

[PatandStu]

We will be at St Maarten on March 8. 

We’ve arranged a private tour but are concerned there may be a difference between island time & ship time. We’re to meet the rep at 8:45 island time. 

Can someone tell me if there’s a difference? If so, what is it? 

Thanks 

[Hermiones parents]

NCL changes ship time to match island time.  So they will be the same

[Visigoth]

Not necessarily.  I have been on NCL ships that sailed from Florida and crossed and ported into a different time zone and maintained the ships time.  Here is a schedule (Island Time) of expected NCL arrivals on March 8th.

All reputable shore excursion companies will ask for the name of your ship so that they can schedule accordingly.  If they know the name of the ship and the date of arrival, they will not offer or accept reservations that don't accomodate your arrival and departure.

[Visigoth]

Oh, almost forgot to mention, Philipsburg is an hour earlier than EST and they don't use DST.

[FreestyleNovice]

Island time is twice as slow as real time!

[PatandStu]

Thanks.

My edocs (Dawn) say 8:00-5:00 but I wasn’t sure if that was island time. 

I appreciate the responses. 

[njhorseman]

6 hours ago, Visigoth said:

Oh, almost forgot to mention, Philipsburg is an hour earlier than EST and they don't use DST.

No, it's an hour later than Eastern Standard Time.

 

St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time.  8 am Eastern Standard Time is 9 am Atlantic Standard Time. 

 

You are correct that they do not use Daylight Saving Time, so if a cruise is during the time of the year that DST is used in the US, time in St. Maarten will be the same as Eastern Daylight Saving time. Since the OP is asking about March 8, the DST issue doesn't apply.

Edited February 25, 2019 by njhorseman

[BirdTravels]

15 minutes ago, PatandStu said:

Thanks.

My edocs (Dawn) say 8:00-5:00 but I wasn’t sure if that was island time. 

I appreciate the responses. 

The ship changes its clock to local island time. 

[Visigoth]

"No, it's an hour later than Eastern Standard Time."

 

Of course you are correct.  Sorry, it was a quick epilogue to my previous post and my mind was not in gear.