Post your memorable St. MAARTEN PICS HERE!

[sunseeker09]

I've often thought about it.

Maybe some day.

 

It would be specifically Photo Tours, though

with coaching and pointers -not general island tours..

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That's a brilliant idea! :)

[Aplmac]

looks like this..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Aplmac]

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At the cruise ship pier, Philipsburg.

 

 

 

Whizzing across Great Bay, Philipsburg, SXM.

 

 

 

At the Water Taxi pier, in Philipsburg.

 

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[jackdiamond]

Alpmac. your photos are outstanding. When we go to this island, we usually visit Little Divi, but I am impressed with your pictures of Great Bay. A few years ago (apparently before the water taxi) we walked to Great Bay; and, we discovered that after venturing only a few feet in the water that there was a significant drop off. Additionally, we were advised that this area had a significant pollution problem. I would be most appreciative if anyone could enlighten me as to whether these two problems still exist.

Thank you.

[jantoby]

Haven't tried uploading photos before - fingers crossed I've got it right.

Was at St.Maarten with Explorer of The Seas earlier this month. Here's the poof.

[Aplmac]

Haven't tried uploading photos before - fingers crossed I've got it right.

Was at St.Maarten with Explorer of The Seas earlier this month. Here's the poof.

That giant striped caterpillar in one of your photos...

I've seen that one before -on Grenada

so clearly this species can be found up and down the Lesser Antilles island chain

although we do not have it, here on Barbados.

 

I'm pretty sure it'll eventually become a giant moth -not a butterfly.

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[jantoby]

You're spot on - it's a Frangipani caterpillar that turns into a very dull brown moth. I was disappointed as it's so spectacular as a 'pillar....

[Aplmac]

You're spot on - it's a Frangipani caterpillar that turns into a very dull brown moth.

I was disappointed as it's so spectacular as a 'pillar....

And if you interfere with them, on the tree

they rear up at you in a rather aggressive manner!

 

Keeps the kids away!! :D

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[pcl_cruiser]

What is the best way to get from the ship to Maho Beach and back? My DH really wants to go watch those planes, so I want to make this happen for him.

[Aplmac]

What is the best way to get from the ship to Maho Beach and back?

My DH really wants to go watch those planes, so I want to make this happen for him.

I would think taxi

-probably with a whole bunch of other people all similarly inclined.

 

They use those big 10-seater vans a lot,

so you'll probably get mixed in with other cruisers from other ships.

 

 

There may also be a bus service out to Maho, but can't say with certainty.

 

 

Water taxi does not go that far.

To the best of my knowledge, the Water Taxis do their thing within the big Philipsburg Bay

taking cruisers from the base of the pier, over to two stops along the Philipsburg shoreline

with a third stop soon to come.

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[Aplmac]

This is a very nice Mall

with attractive Euro-goods in the many shops inside!

 

 

Marigot is the big town over on the French side of the island.

 

 

 

-and it's about 20 mins. by taxi from Philipsburg(on the Dutch side)

where your ships docks.

 

 

 

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[Aplmac]

While we were browsing the street market in Marigot

these two off-road vehicles passed us

 

 

full of cruisers, on a jaunt somewhere...Off Roaders?

 

 

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[The Big Booper]

The Explorer OTS docked Dec 2009

 

 

Main building at the Wathey Pier complex

 

 

Mercury floating in Great Bay after rough water snapped lines

 

 

The new pier at Wathey

 

Edited January 27, 2010 by The Big Booper

[Aplmac]

 

Mercury floating in Great Bay after rough water snapped lines :eek:

 

 

 

Now and again you hear stories about ships snapping mooring lines

when a North Swell heaves them around, while docked.

 

 

Have you had a close look at those mooring lines..?

They're about 3-4 ins. dia. -and they're braided, not twisted like regular cheap rope.

Can you imagine the tensions involved, to snap that stuff??

 

 

I'm told you don't want to be nearby when the snap comes! ;)

Sounds like a rifle-shot -feels like a deadly whip-lash!!

 

Not cute.. :cool:

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[The Big Booper]

Now and again you hear stories about ships snapping mooring lines

when a North Swell heaves them around, while docked.

 

 

Have you had a close look at those mooring lines..?

They're about 3-4 ins. dia. -and they're braided, not twisted like regular cheap rope.

Can you imagine the tensions involved, to snap that stuff??

 

 

I'm told you don't want to be nearby when the snap comes! ;)

Sounds like a rifle-shot -feels like a deadly whip-lash!!

 

Not cute.. :cool:

.

 

Yes. The Explorer snapped two of it's lines the day we were there. The ship placed metal cages around each mooring line to prevent people from getting too close.

 

We were told the Mercury snapped so many lines that they moved the ship out into the bay and tendered, just like the old days.

[Kikkycat]

aplmac, the pictures of sunrise over St. Maarten from the Caribbean Princess are so intoxicating I can almost taste the sweet, tropical, humid air in my mouth. I'm thankful that I'll be able to do that for real in just a matter of days!

[Aplmac]

aplmac, the pictures of sunrise over St. Maarten from the Caribbean Princess are so intoxicating

I can almost taste the sweet, tropical, humid air in my mouth.

I'm thankful that I'll be able to do that for real in just a matter of days!

Glad you like the early morning ambiance!

 

Here's another one, same scene but maybe a minute later?

 

Hey... Bon Voyage!! :)

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[Kikkycat]

:D I'm the early riser in the family. Hubby slept thru arriving (or, rather, he tried to, with me ooh-ing and ahh-ing on the balcony). Did you get any pictures of Saba? I got one last year, most of the island shrouded by clouds. I wondered in what language "saba" means "straight up and straight down".

[newt98]

Glad you like the early morning ambiance!

 

Here's another one, same scene but maybe a minute later?

 

 

 

Hey... Bon Voyage!! :)

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hey taxi driver!

we will be in barbados in a few weeks, want to give us a tour? lol!;)

 

seriously though, thanks for all the great pics, they have helped me decide what i'm doing in st maarten. i'm not 100% sure yet, but i have some pretty good ideas.

[Aplmac]

Did you get any pictures of Saba?

I got one last year, most of the island shrouded by clouds. ===> Usual situation!

You want SABA small?

 

 

 

 

SABA medium..?

 

 

 

 

or SABA Big?

 

Ummmm...that's the airstrip, that darkish area at right -along the shoreline

(just to the left of an eroded reddish area)

Said to be the most dangerous airstrip in the Lesser Antilles island chain! :eek:

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[Kikkycat]

I'm pretty stoked. One of my pictures from our January 30, 2010 cruise on Serenade taken in St. Maarten is featured on Webshots as a picture of the day (in entertainment, not travel - dunno why). The link is probably only good today (March 9, 2010), but here it is: http://entertainment.webshots.com/

 

For those reading this another time, this is the pic:

[tps58]

A few from Philipsburg in February..see like ages ago already :( I want to go back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tezza

[miss meow]

A few from Philipsburg in February..see like ages ago already :( I want to go back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tezza

 

We'll be there in a month - - these pictures are GREAT and have me even more anxious to return to St. Maarten!! Thanks for sharing!

[Shelbyjane56]

Your pics are wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing. A question for you, is Big Bay right by where the water taxi comes in in Phillipsburg? We want to do a bit of shopping as we will be involved with our sons wedding when we are in st thomas, would like to be able to find a beach closeby?? thanks for your help and your pics!!:)

[Aplmac]

A question for you,

is Great Bay right by where the water taxi comes in in Phillipsburg?

Yes, it is.

 

The water taxi will drop you right by the beach

-unless he does the stop near Bobby's Marina first (no beach)

 

 

-in which case you should stay on board

and let the guys know you want to get off at the beachy MIDTOWN pier

where the beach will be very obvious!

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