On the Dutch side you have Great Bay Beach and Little Bay Beach, located right next to each other on either side of the Fort Amsterdam Peninsula. You need to carry off your luggage and be the 1st people off the ship. Rotary Lookout Point A beautiful viewpoint is part of the French Nature Reserve offering scenic views of the east coast of Saint Martin and Lucas Bay. Our St. Maarten tours and excursions do not stop there, as many of our shore tours include traveling to the French-controlled portion of the island to experience both paradise destinations by visiting two countries in one day. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14741495', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise personel and they will make sure you make your connection at the airport. . (But its still pretty fun to be in the sea when a plane comes in to land.). For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, Can you walk from the cruise ship docking port the the famous airport. The French side draw bridge will open at 8:15 A.M. Hopefully you will already have been at the airport one hour before the Dutch side bridge opens. It makes for a cool picture, but for those looking to relax in solitude, this isnt the beach for you. For more information about COVID-19 protocols, please visit www.stmaartenupdates.com. The Guava berry Emporium is located on Front Street in Phillipsburg in an old townhouse, you cant miss the big liquor bottle at the entrance. Here, you will find the Pinel Island Marine Trail, a designated snorkeling route teeming with marine life. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. We advice you to book in advance. Find all the transport options for your trip from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay right here. Finding the way is easy. For more information about the latest travel restrictions or port updates, please check: https://portstmaarten.com. And even if it happens, the island has plenty of attractions which helps spread out the masses. Visiting St Maarten / St Martin by cruise? Let us advise you! Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14746401', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight is at 10:30 you need to be at the airport to check in by 8:30. so it depends on what time you dock and how fast you can get off the ship. The walk is 100-200 meters long (depending on the location of your cruise ships dock), and in case you have difficulty in walking, there is a small trolley that can take you there for free. The Dr Wathey Pier, on a walking distance from Philipsburg, is a strategic hub for cruise vessels in the middle of the Caribbean. However, due to the number of cruise visitors, US dollars are widely accepted. It takes approximately 1h 10m to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay, including transfers. Distance to Cruise Port: 0.9 mile Distance from Airport: 23 minutes, Distance to Cruise Port: 5.8 miles Distance from Airport: 8 minutes, Distance to Cruise Port: 2.5 miles Distance from Airport: 18 minutes, Distance to Cruise Port: 10.8 miles Distance from Airport: 10 minutes, Dont Miss: What Is The Best Month To Take An Alaskan Cruise. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. That was very silly of me. Now, any day can be a 12K kind of day. Kids 3 and under are free and it is cheaper than taking a cab if you wish to go downtown for shopping. Try and get a seat along the railing! Airplanes create quite humungous jet blasts when theyre taking off, and so it seems fairly logical that you shouldnt stand too close. Regardless of your choice, you should include the places below on your sightseeing list: Insider tip: If you are booking a tour, make sure its organized in small groups, cruise ship friendly, and guarantees your return to the ship! more, St Martin / St Maarten Destination Experts. Philipsburg Sint Maarten Netherlands Antilles Cruise Port - WHATSINPORT.COM - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Some other suites feature a swim-out pool, while the signature Azul restaurant boasts the most breathtaking views. Check out, Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch. Hungry and thirsty when we arrived, we sat on the covered decking of the Sunset Beach Bar (check out their live webcam of the planes landing if youre curious), and ordered fries and drinks. Topless sunbathing is common on the far side of Orient Beach, and beyond Pedros restaurant, currently being rebuilt, is a nudist colony. But whilst the Silver Wind was still in port, another 3 ships docked in St Maarten Regal Princess, Eurodam and Anthem of the Seas. Required fields are marked *. Distance to Cruise Port: 5.8 miles Distance from Airport: 8 minutes. Currency: The official currency in St Maarten is the Antillean Guilder and the Euro depending on which side you are on. Mere steps from where the cruise ships dock in Philipsburg is the extremely popular St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge, which gives normal folk the thrill of racing in an actual Americas Cup regatta. Find a booth (see picture) to buy a ticket. With its European influences , St. Maarten is just begging to be explored from the land or sea via cruise ship. Yes, the driving distance between St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is 5 miles. Instead, try off the beaten path gems like Happy Bay Beach or nearby Friars Bay Beach. distance from cruise ship dock to famous airport If you're looking for a beach day in St. Maarten during your Caribbean cruise, one of the best beaches in St Maarten to consider is this one right here. We went to a beach just past the airport call Mullet Bay - if you want you can actually walk to runway to watch landings - for us, we skipped it because the only flights in / out were small inter-island planes. AA has (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You can choose between a full-day and half-day trip, based on your wishes and personal preferences. Here, youll also find a tourist information desk and tour booths offering tours and car rentals, as well as a shore excursion meeting place (always double-check your tour ticket, though). There's no physical border or customs checkpoint between the two sides. Finally we decided on a spot at the very far end, clear of the runway but close enough that we could make a run for it if we desperately wanted to be under the pathway of a jumbo jet. Some of these are: Note: Make sure you have a valid drivers license that complies with the tour operators policies.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',132,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-132{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. With so many things to do and see in St. Maarten, you may need to come back and spend a weeks holiday to really enjoy the rest of the island. The first beach you will come across on the island is Great Bay beach which is readily accessible from the boardwalk. With over 500 duty-free stores this must be absolute shoppers paradise. You can rent the ATV on your own, or you can book one of the off-road tours that will take you through the rugged terrain of the island and stop at the islands main landmarks. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? A church in the vicinity contains a stone fascia with open-air side walls and a ceiling, which is the form of a hull of a ship. Rome2rio makes travelling from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay easy. Locals will claim that its 37-square-mile island is the smallest in the world shared by two countries. the trip from the dock to the airport usually takes closer to 30 minutes and often much more when the traffic is bad. Continue further north for more natural getaways like the Rainforest Adventures of St Maarten, as well as the vast habitat housing exotic birds at Parotte Ville. Read the full cruise port guide here. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14735143', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight depending upon many conditions at the airport. . Resort Beach Day. The main St. Maarten cruise port is Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities at Philipsburg. . If you are planning to go to the beach than youll find that most beach beds nowadays come with wi-fi access. St Maarten Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions If you are going from the Dutch into French side and back there is no border control or anything like that. Because of this vibrant but peaceful history the island shows two beautiful and diverse faces and personalities. $45/Adult. Distance to Cruise Port: 0.9 mile Distance from Airport: 23 minutes. The Amsterdam of the Caribbean I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Shopping: at the cruise terminal or in town Transportation: Taxis at the cruise terminal Watertaxi available to get you from the cruise terminal to town Beach: Great Bay Beach is the main beach in town. Marigot is the main town and capital in the French Collectivity of Saint Martin. . Sailfish and marlin are popular during the summer months, while kingfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi are highly sought after. It boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. The tide was in so close that there wasnt a lot of free sand space at all- although Im told theres not a drastic difference between high and low tide at Maho. See here for more information. It's an easy 20-minute walk into town, but water taxis also make the short trip, leaving from Captain Hodge Pier (signposted at the terminal). In this article, read about: Visit also our cruise guides to St Thomas, San Juan, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia,Falmouth, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Labadee, Bermuda, Barbados. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Leisure Car rental provides clean and well-maintained vehicles in all categories. is a turnaround day for vacationers and the airport will be busy. Privacy Statement - With just a couple square miles of beachfront blocks, exploring the downtown area of Philipsburg can be an especially easy thing for those looking to get to know the day. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. The Guava berry Emporium is the spot to taste and sample this locally made liquor. The cruise port was visited by 6,8 million cruise tourists in 2008-2009, 7,9M (2014-2015) and 1,5M (2015-2016). Philipsburg, St. Maarten Cruise Port - Cruiseline.com The drive from the cruise port to Maho Beach is about 10 minutes. The sky might have been blue by then, but the sea was ragingly choppy and the tide swept me off my feet several times before I could even think about getting further out into the water. Whether you book a shore excursion with the cruise line, a third party vendor, or a local tour operator, there are numerous locations in the area to spot a variety of marine life. June 15, 2022 rey chavez distributor weekly specials rey chavez distributor weekly specials La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, St Martin The French side draw bridge will open at 8:15 A.M. Hopefully you will already have been at the airport one hour before the Dutch side bridge opens. I hope my article gave you an insight into the best of St Maarten/Saint-Martin. Just walk up to the transport booth at the end of the pier and choose from a number of choices availed to you. Underneath you will find your transportation options: The water taxi is a very popular way to go to the city centre of Philipsburg. It's perhaps a 15- to 20-minute drive (sometimes more if the traffic is really bad). Wouldn't y. Along the south shore of Saint-Martin Island, the city of Philipsburg is an oasis of the Caribbean and a major connector for the neighboring island of Anguilla. Id really been expecting a Dutch island. Can anyone please help re how the best way to get there and back, a taxi would be great if anyone can recommend a reputable company I could get in touch with that would be great. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. Currently, we are unable to provide domestic travel restriction information for travelling within Saint Martin. St Maarten/St Martin has two airports. 5. Philipsburg is located on the Dutch side of the island (Sint Maarten). Having sat in many a hot sticky vehicle on other Caribbean islands like the Dominican Republic or Antigua, I was expecting an uncomfortable journey, but considering the length of time we spent sat inside a vehicle that morning, it was surprisingly ok. Alternatively you can catch a water taxi from inside the cruise port, which is slightly more expensive. St. Maarten cruise port - Top rated port guide for cruise ship passengers You can either take the watertaxi right to the center of this street or walk from the cruise terminal which will take you about 20 to 30 minutes. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. #ihavethisthing. I drive past (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You might be cutting it very close with airport check-in being 2 hr's prior.With a plan it might be doable. A scenic half-hour taxi ride from port is Marigot, the main town on the French side. Plenty of crew from our ship had decided to visit that day as well, and we passed about thirty galley guys and their supervisor yelling GALLEY GALLEY GALLEY!!! Tourism dollars help contribute to the rebuilding and preservation of the beaches and businesses that were affected by the hurricane. Prices start at $100USD per night. The distance between St Maarten Airport (SXM) and Port de Galisbay is 3 miles. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. However, you can take the ferry to Anguilla then take the ferry to St. Martin. I only know two rental companies located near the cruise port. Or walk into Philipsburg and catch a local bus heading to Maho Beach. The government regulates taxi fares by zone and number of passengers . The most famous of all the beaches on the island is Maho Bay Beach thanks to its proximity to the airport. Built in 1787 by Will Blake, a sugar planter, it is stated to be the oldest structure on the island. Cheapest Way to Get from the Cruise Terminal to Maho Beach - St Maarten You can access this beach by walking. It is a beautiful resort dotted with beautiful wooden cabanas hidden among the trees. Can anyone tell me how far the airport (SXM)is from the cruise dock? Walk 1h 45m. The Airplane Beach in St Maarten is not what I was expecting. St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Philipsburg For full information, please see mydisclaimerhere. St. Maarten Cruise Port and Things to Do for Cruise Travelers. I think this would certainly be less stressful! This boutique-style property offers stylish rooms with either city of views across the Caribbean sea to the cruise terminal. Enjoy The Beaches. The most popular resorts in this area are Coralita Beach, Oyster Bay, and Dawn Beach. The water taxi is wheelchair accessible. It's a simple, cost-effective option and transport is by comfortable bus. We are looking to go to the beach to watch the planes land. Ask for specifications at the booth. There are 105+ hotels available in Port de Galisbay. To be able to handle the world's largest cruise vessels , Port San Juan invested ~USD 8 million in building a 3rd dock. There is a car rental facility as well at the St. Martin cruise terminal. St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay - 3 ways to travel via A hat and water are recommended!