Orient Beach - Best place to sit

[The Big Booper]

Yes

 

Link to the Orient photorama. Pirate is at the left, top reference

 

....and......

 

http://home.carolina.rr.com/photos2005/LargeOrientPanorama.htm

 

we sat at kon tiki last time, is pirate far from there?

 

Look at my link above. Complete photomap of the beach with names.

[Mark O]

We are going on the Mariner this August again for the upteenth time. We always hit Cool Corner i believe, right next to forbidden fruits swimsuits and next to Kon Tiki. It seems like the loungers/umbrella/drink is $7/8 per person for 2. Their drinks and food are reasonable. You may well have some topless bathers with you, and walking on the beach can occur anywhere. Some naturist walk at times but usually don some type of coverup , maybe, lol. Just remember, most of those in the undress might have considered staying dressed, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we all came into this world with our birthday suits. Have a great day and yes, we usually take our own cab and not the ship excursion.. Am considering a different beach.. Any suggestons??? LRSKier

 

lrskier, we're also on the 8/3 Mariner and getting excited as it quickly approaches. We've decided on Orient Beach and acknowledge there will be some topless, but wife, daughter and daughter's friend have told me they really don't want to see the full show. Since you've been there, can you suggest a couple of nice areas with moderately priced food and amenities and mostly just "some" topless? Thanks.

[lrskier]

Mark sorry not to respond sooner but havent been paying much attention to the boards.. We have used Cool Corner for years on the Orient. Most places there, on the topless end of the beach, being not the end that Club Orient is, have chairs/umbrellas with a drink for $14-16 a day for 2. KonTiki is right there beside us. Lots of food establishments up and down.. Enjoyed fish sandwiches, fish tacos, and other types of food prepared along the beach.. Feel free to pack some snacks/drinks with you too. The ship usually asks you not to bring food ashore, but cheese/crackers, water in an ice chest is often brought ashore. I just always patronized the local establishments as well. Some offer dining rooms as well and tend to be a bit pricier than the small places.

 

As for nudity. You may have some topless bathers on that end of the Beach, you will have some walkers on most any part of the beach. Some may be topless and some might have little to nothing on. No one makes a big deal out of it as in Europe and i imagine your family will not be offended. By the way, lots of the naturist are folks who have enjoyed nude bathing for years and are not the just out of college group. LOLOL... Come on to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and have fun..

 

Next week we leave again. LRSkier

[Mark O]

Mark sorry not to respond sooner but havent been paying much attention to the boards.. We have used Cool Corner for years on the Orient. Most places there, on the topless end of the beach, being not the end that Club Orient is, have chairs/umbrellas with a drink for $14-16 a day for 2. KonTiki is right there beside us. Lots of food establishments up and down.. Enjoyed fish sandwiches, fish tacos, and other types of food prepared along the beach.. Feel free to pack some snacks/drinks with you too. The ship usually asks you not to bring food ashore, but cheese/crackers, water in an ice chest is often brought ashore. I just always patronized the local establishments as well. Some offer dining rooms as well and tend to be a bit pricier than the small places.

 

As for nudity. You may have some topless bathers on that end of the Beach, you will have some walkers on most any part of the beach. Some may be topless and some might have little to nothing on. No one makes a big deal out of it as in Europe and i imagine your family will not be offended. By the way, lots of the naturist are folks who have enjoyed nude bathing for years and are not the just out of college group. LOLOL... Come on to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and have fun..

 

Next week we leave again. LRSkier

 

thanks, lrskier for the info on Cool Corner. we might just see you there, as we are on the 8/3 Mariner sailing with you. are you planning to say hi at sailaway at the heli pad?

[lrskier]

Mark, i haven't followed the M & M group that closely as I don't get into that internet chat so much.. I do enjoy meeting folks just those post often remind me of grandma and grandpa.. lolol.. i am gettin close by age.. We have done several cruises and often just hang loose. Usually run into some fun people that you chum up with and do enjoy the ship and even the ports or casino with. I will try to make the Heli pad this time.. I usually get up on the top deck with the hordes and enjoy watching all around.. Last departure at the Cape, we had big storm blowing in, 2005 almost exactly 3 yr to the day. We were on her, deck 10 inside cabin then too. The ship was fun. Food was ok. Vintages wine bar was cool. We won't be staying at the Radison either but will be at Courtyard Melborne like last time. Enjoy Island Grill at Melbourne for awesome seafood on Sat nite. then drive to cape and turn in car and ride from car. The hotels vans usually had signups since so many use their service. We did that in March at the Courtyard in FTL.

 

The ports are always great.. I havent decided about St Thomas. We always go to Coki beach. In March we spent too much time shopping at Ajanta Jewelers and had to do Morningstar by the Marriott since it was close.. ok but Coki is a lot prettier and more fun. Thought seriously about doing Saphire Beach this trip but also want to ck and see if cruise ship dumps their beach excursion there.. I dont go in for Megans.

 

Cool Corner has been a favorite but I will look closely on both sides. I enjoy a front row chair with the water right there and not back in the sand. We will most likey go str8 to the beach that day. Be sure and get a taxi with several so it will be the best price, around 6 or 8 dollars each. This port is also where the cheapest cigs are if your smoke, i don't. they are at the port facility. St Thomas gets my booze biz if i buy any or get the ship shop to confirm that they will match the lowest price u see and NOT have to bring any printed prices back. then yo can help out RCI...

 

The Ice Show on the ship is really good. So be sure and get tickets. if you want to contact me again, email: lrskier2_nospam_at netscape dot net, remove the _nospam_. Be flying down next Sat hell almost be there by now. We are heading to Tampa and drving over. Watch out for the outlet mall in Orlando, it has big magnets that stop your car.. sid

[Sun Lover]

For those of you who have been to Orient Beach, I'm trying to find out exactly what is there in terms of activities. We will be there in December and the beach itself sounds very nice, but we will have our three teenage sons with us and I was wondering if there would be enought activities to keep them busy. They definitely would not want to just lay around on the beach for hours. If someone can give me detailed information, that would be great. Thanks.

[Mark O]

Just back from 8/3 Mariner cruise and wanted to post a quick update. Upon arrival in St. Maarten, we took a cab to the French side, Orient Beach. The cab price ranges from $6 to $8 per person, depending on how many ppl they get to share the cab with you. We asked to be dropped off at the Pirate, as we had read about the deal there and wanted to consider it. Upon arrival, we were met by the "manager" who quoted us $12 for two chairs, umbrella, and two rum drinks - that is the same price as the coupon they have on the Internet, but he didn't require us to buy lunch, as the coupon does. So, keep the coupon in your pocket!! He also stated he would give us tickets to use the rest room whenever we needed to. We told him we wanted to check out the beach first before we settled down, and that was no problem. We walked in the direction away from Club Orient, the chair prices were generally higher everywhere else, so we returned to Pirate and claimed our chairs. The drinks were good (small plastic cups, but tasty). Club Orient was a couple of beach over, but was separated, and we didn't see any fully nude ppl - altho we overhead one guy, who took a walk over to the Club Orient beach say, upon his return, that he didn't need to see old guys with wrinkled ..... lol. There were just a handful of topless females as my wfe and I walked the beach, and it was hardly noticeable. It would be advisable to get your cab driver to come back and pick you up - there weren't many cabs waiting at the beach. We had a great day at the beach and would definitely go back.

[MomtoCCC]

Mark

 

Thanks for the update - we are considering going to the Pirate (and I have the coupon :) ). Question - how was the water and sand? Would it be ok for my 4yo??

[Mark O]

Mark

 

Thanks for the update - we are considering going to the Pirate (and I have the coupon :) ). Question - how was the water and sand? Would it be ok for my 4yo??

 

The water was wonderful - calm, blue, and warm. The sand is fine too, Your four year old will have as good a time as you!!

[Cruisin Kay D]

One great restaurant on Orient a couple of spots from Pirate is BAYWATCH, owned & operated by a couple (Cheryl & Andy) orig from NJ -- absolutely BEST food & they have chairs/umbrellas in front of their place too, but I dont know what they charge -- restaurant is very popular with the Club O crowd but they all put on coverups before crossing rocks from Club O to regular section. Another good restaurant is Kokomarina -- a few down from Baywatch -- also have chairs & umbrellas for rent there & restrooms at both. (Based on our 5 times to stay on St. M for a week or 2)

[mr_freebie]

Just got back from the Liberty of the Seas last week. We spent our time at Le String ($9 a person) starting around 10:30am and early afternoon at Orient beach. The staff at Le string were great and drinks were well prepared.

 

Yep it was $3 per person more for the lounger and drink - but when I looked down the beach towards Pedros and Pirate, the water and beach were quite crowded.

 

Down at our end of the beach (all of 150 yards away)we had the beach area and water to practically ourselves (50 to 60+ people vs less than 10 people).

 

But just that little walk will provide you with a lot more space to enjoy the surf and sand.

 

Believe me as Mr. Freebie, I look for the best deals, but they also have to be tempered with the level of enjoyment received .... for the extra $6 it was well worth the enjoyment of the beach!

 

FYI: for the people worried about nudity, we encountered just 3 topless females and many topless men :) during the whole time on the beach (3 hours on the beach). Don't worry about it and enjoy the fantastic beach!

[autumnquest]

My husband and I ate and had mudslides here when we went to Orient Beach last May on our first ever cruise and we had a blast. The food was great, the atmosphere friendly and the drinks cold. I loved giving the business, so to speak, to locals since we're from Staten Island.

[autumnquest]

My husband and I visited Baywatch to eat and drink some mudslides when we were at Orient Beach on our first ever cruise last year. The atmosphere, price and food were all very nice and I liked "giving the business" to NJ locals since we're from staten Island.

 

I double the recommendation.

 

We had our beach chairs elsewhere however.

[cruisingwiththekids]

We were just at Orient Beach last week. Got dropped of at Bikini Beach and walked to Kontiki where we decided to get chairs. Not crowded at all, especially early in the morning. We saw a few topless women and we did see one nude male, so it does happen. Our kids were with us and they saw, but they didn't stare and didn't make a big deal of it. They were more interested in playing in the waves. Orient Beach was beautiful and we will definitely go back again.

[Abberboo]

I am a Kon Tiki fan, red umbrellas, thick padded cushioned chairs, nice amenities. Here are links to pics on cruise critic I posted so you can see. Also the 3 times I have been it never seems to get too crowded, maybe its been my luck.

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/510/medium/Orient_Beach_7.jpg

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showphoto.php?photo=334

[CHAMPDDS]

We are going on the Freedom of the Seas in June 2009, and really prefer a beach that families AVOID...and is more adult oriented..we do not need beach toys,etc...just want a quiter experience without the under 18 age group...(I love kids, and we have three, just want some quality time with the wife )

 

Which of these beaches being discussed meet this criteria..

 

 

Thanks

 

David:D

[Jan_In_Maine]

I love Orient Beach! We were there 2 weeks ago, and I can't wait to go back. I'm now looking for a land vacation ... its such a wonderful island.

 

We were at Le String ... as someone else said a little more expensive. $9.00 lounger/umbrella/drink/bathroom vacilities. (very clean). My DH met the (one?) of the owners and brought him over ... loved hearing Ray's story, before we left he bought us a 35th anniversary drink. I have no idea what the drink was ... but I wanted to lick the shot glass. It was wonderfully potent and smooth.

 

We walked the whole beach, such a nice, relaxing day. Jan

[boz]

We're sailing the Crown Princess Nov 9th and looking at the Best of St Maarten Island Tour and Beach excursion. While it sounds interesting, it doesn't state what beach we would visit. Orient Beach seems everyones favorite, we are looking for somewhere that isn't crowded and easy to get to, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!!

[waterbugohio]

So, where do the cruise ships dock and how far is it to Orient?? What does the taxi run??

 

Also, how close is the ship to shopping? Would it make sense to taxi to Orient for the morning and then in the early afternoon head back for some shopping? I think I read that the shopping is in Phillipsburg, is this correct??? Could we walk back to the beach from there?? Also, where is the beach that the planes land overhead??

[bajathree]

While most of this thread seems to be filled with the "most economical" place (and thats great), I am wondering $ aside....what is the nicest in terms of luxury and comfort?

[duncanmaria]

Actually, all of the spots are pretty much the same in terms of amenities. We did find that the facilities at Kakoa were slightly more "upscale" than those at the spots closest to Club Orient.

[bajathree]

Actually, all of the spots are pretty much the same in terms of amenities. We did find that the facilities at Kakoa were slightly more "upscale" than those at the spots closest to Club Orient.

 

Thanks for the info!

[mwebb]

Ships dock in Phillipsburgh (Dutch side) Cab fare 1 way for 2 was $18+ 2. tip

Dropped off near Kontiki. Water trampoline in water chest/neck high water.

Lounge chairs nice but really didn't need them for kids. Minimal Nudity wasnt a big deal., but was surprized by many older, obese, men in speedos 3 sizes too small. Allow plenty of time to get back to ship as traffic can get heavy.

Took an hour for what could be a 30 minute trip and worried that we cut it too close.

[DEBCAT65]

One of the reasons many people recommend Bikini Beach is because that's where the excursions herd together many, many cruisers. It's an absolute zoo where all the beach vendors hit that area like bees on sugar.

 

There are a number of places where those prices are common. One is The Pirate.

 

 

Kal:

 

You seem like an expert on St Martin. We will be there in 3 weeks and we have never been. We want to go to Orient Beach with myself, DH, DS 16 and DD 12. My kids really want to rent a jet ski. Where is a good place to rent them at Orient Beach?

 

Please provide any other suggestions you may have! Looking forward to a great time in St Martin!!!

 

Debbi

[kal]

There are a number of places at Orient to rent a jet ski. All you do is check out each vendor and find the one you like. I would suggest you select a place to sit on the beach which is NOT near a jet ski vendor. That way you don't have to listen to the motor noise a smell the exhaust and gasoline fumes all day.