Caribbean Port Guide
St. Maarten Port Guide
What to do in St. Maarten on a cruise port day: the walkable sights, the excursions worth paying for, and what things actually cost. Free to read in full.
S T. M A A R T E N
Start here: the five moves St. Maarten is two countries on one small island, and that is the whole game: a Dutch capital with duty-free shopping and a cruise pier on the south coast, a French capital with markets and bistros on the west, and 37 beaches in between. Five decisions make the port call.
Decide: one side or both
Crossing from Philipsburg to Marigot or Orient Beach eats 45 to 60 minutes each way with traffic. On a sixhour port day, pick the Dutch side or the French side, not both. On eight-plus hours, the two-nation day is the signature St. Maarten experience.
Agree every taxi fare before you board
St. Maarten taxis are not metered. Fares run per person, and the driver quotes the price. Confirm the destination, the price, and that it is per person before you get in, or the ride to Marigot will cost more than lunch.
Time Maho for the big jets
Maho Beach plane spotting peaks midday when the wide-body jets land at Princess Juliana, sometimes just 100 feet over the sand. Check the airport arrivals the night before: a morning of small island hoppers is fun, but the afternoon heavies are the show.
Take the water taxi downtown
The little boats from the cruise terminal to Philipsburg town cost about $7 round trip and beat the 20-minute waterfront walk in the midday heat. Buy the round trip at the dock: the return boats run all afternoon.
Respect the all-aboard time
The French side is a world away at 4 PM: one accident on the island's few main roads and the taxi from Orient Beach takes 90 minutes. Leave the far side 90 minutes before all aboard, not 45.
Final authority: Prices, hours, and flight schedules change by season. Use this guide to plan; use the Royal Caribbean app and the taxi dispatchers at the pier to confirm on the day.
Inside 03 St. Maarten at a glance 06 Getting around 09 Top things to do 12 Shopping 15 Checklist + sources
04 Arrival: the cruise pier 07 Best beaches, ranked 10 Excursion prices: ship vs DIY 13 Practical info + safety
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
05 Illustrated port map 08 The French side decision 11 Eat and drink 14 Sample timelines
S T. M A A R T E N
St. Maarten at a glance
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AST
Right
Nations On One 34-
Us Dollars Accepted
Atlantic Standard
The Side Of The Road
Square-Mile Island
Everywhere
Time, Utc-4, No
They Drive On
Daylight Saving
The quick profile • What it is: the cruise capital of the northeast Caribbean, split since 1648 between Dutch Sint Maarten in the south and French Saint-Martin in the north. The Dutch side holds the cruise pier, Philipsburg, the airport, and Maho Beach. The French side holds Marigot, Grand Case, and Orient Beach. The border is an unmarked line you cross without noticing. • Who comes: Royal Caribbean ships dock at the Dr. A.C. Wathey facility at Pointe Blanche, on the east end of Great Bay. On big days four or more ships are in port, which is why Maho Beach fills by noon and the Front Street shops open early. • The deal: this is a beach-and-boat port with a food scene most Caribbean stops cannot touch. The ship's markup is steepest on the America's Cup sail and the island tours; the DIY wins are the water taxi, the beaches, and lunch in Grand Case. • Time: Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-4, no daylight saving. That matches Eastern Daylight Time from March to November, so ship time and local time usually agree. Confirm in the app anyway: the ship's time rules, not the island's. • Money: US dollars are accepted everywhere on both sides, and most prices are quoted in dollars. The Dutch side officially uses the guilder and the French side the euro, but you will never need either for a port day.
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The island in one paragraph Your ship docks at Pointe Blanche on the southeast coast. Philipsburg and Great Bay Beach stretch west along the bay, reachable by water taxi or a 20-minute walk. The airport and Maho Beach sit on the southwest coast, Marigot on the west coast, Grand Case on the north coast, and Orient Beach on the northeast coast. Everything is 15 to 30 minutes apart until traffic says otherwise.
Two countries, one port day You do not need a passport to cross between the Dutch and French sides: there is no checkpoint, just a small monument. Do carry ID ashore anyway (see the practical page), and remember the French side prices in euros on paper but takes your dollars at the register.
Language: English is spoken everywhere on the Dutch side and widely on the French side. Menus in Grand Case and Marigot may be in French first: the food is worth the translation effort.
S T. M A A R T E N
Arrival: the cruise pier St. Maarten has one cruise facility and it works well: a modern terminal with two piers, a taxi dispatch system, and a water taxi dock. Your morning is about choosing your first move before the crowds do. The Dr. A.C. Wathey facility • Where it is: Pointe Blanche, at the east end of Great Bay, about a mile and a half east of downtown Philipsburg. The facility has two cruise piers and handles the biggest ships in the fleet. • What's here: the terminal building has shops, cafes, ATMs, tourist information, and restrooms. The taxi dispatch area is right outside: tell the dispatcher your destination and they will match you with a driver at the regulated-style going rate. • The water taxi dock: at the marina next to the terminal. Little open boats run to downtown Philipsburg every 15 to 20 minutes, about $7 round trip per person. The ride is five minutes across Great Bay with the town unfolding in front of you. • Walking to town: the boardwalk from the pier to Philipsburg is about 20 minutes along the waterfront, flat and scenic. It is lovely before 10 AM and a slog at noon: take the water taxi in the heat.
First 20 minutes • Maho on the plan: skip the terminal browsing and go straight to the taxi dispatcher. The beach fills by late morning and the best plane-spotting hours are midday, so an early taxi west puts you ahead of the ship excursions.
The pier-to-town choice Water taxi ($7 round trip, 5 minutes, runs all day) versus the boardwalk walk (free, 20 minutes, best early). There is no wrong answer, but decide based on the heat and your first destination: Maho means a land taxi from the terminal, town means the boat.
Money at the pier • ATMs: in the terminal, dispensing US dollars. Take small bills: taxis, beach bars, and market stalls are cash businesses. • Currency: you will be offered change in dollars everywhere. If a French-side vendor quotes euros, ask for the dollar price: it is always available. • Cards: work in the terminal shops, Front Street stores, and sit-down restaurants. Do not count on them at the beach or in a taxi.
Small bills: break a twenty at the terminal before you ride. Taxi drivers price per person and the "no change" conversation is the oldest one on the island.
• French side on the plan: taxi first, browse later. Marigot and Orient Beach are 30 to 45 minutes away: every minute you spend in the terminal shops is a minute off the beach. • Philipsburg day: take the water taxi downtown, walk Front Street while the shops are quiet, and be on Great Bay Beach by late morning. • Either way: confirm the all-aboard time before you leave the terminal area, and screenshot it. St. Maarten days often end around 4:30 to 5:30 PM.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Port map
How to read it: Your ship docks at Wathey Pier (1) on the southeast coast at Pointe Blanche. Philipsburg (2) and Great Bay Beach (3) stretch west of the pier, reachable by water taxi or a waterfront walk. Maho Beach (4) and SXM Airport (5) sit on the southwest coast, Mullet Bay (6) on the west, Marigot (7) and Grand Case (8) on the French side, Loterie Farm (9) in the interior, and Orient Beach (10) on the northeast coast. The map is illustrated and stylized, not to scale.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Getting around St. Maarten is small but its roads are few, so traffic decides your day. Taxis run the island on per-person fares you agree up front; the water taxi handles downtown; and everything else is a judgment call about time. The taxi system • What they are: vans and cars, not metered, running from the dispatch area at the cruise terminal and from stands at every beach and in both capitals. Tell the dispatcher your destination; they will quote the fare and find you a ride. • The fares: per person, each way, agreed before boarding. Typical 2026 planning figures: about $10 to $15 per person to Maho Beach and Mullet Bay, $15 to $20 to Marigot, $20 to $25 to Grand Case or Orient Beach. Multi-ship days push the far-side fares up. • The rules: confirm the destination, the price, and that it is per person before you get in. Rides are often shared: you may wait a few minutes while the driver fills the van. Tip a dollar or two per person. • Getting back: drivers wait at the beaches and in Marigot for return fares. Agree the return price when you arrive, or get the driver's number. Tell them which ship you are on.
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Other ways around • Water taxi: cruise terminal to downtown Philipsburg, about $7 round trip, every 15 to 20 minutes. The only boat you need. • Rental cars: available at the pier and in town, and they drive on the RIGHT here (unlike some neighboring islands). Tempting for the French side, but parking at Orient Beach and in Marigot is tight, and one wrong turn burns beach time. • Walking: Philipsburg's Front Street and boardwalk are genuinely walkable, and Great Bay Beach is a 20minute waterfront stroll from the pier. Nothing else is walkable from the ship. • Private island tours: drivers at the terminal offer 3 to 4 hour both-sides tours. Agree the stops and the total price up front: about $50 to $70 per person.
The traffic rule St. Maarten has essentially two east-west roads. When four ships are in port, the Philipsburg to Marigot run can double from 25 minutes to 50. Build the buffer into the far side of your day, not the pier side.
S T. M A A R T E N
Best beaches, ranked Thirty-seven beaches on 34 square miles: the problem is choosing. These six are the ones a cruiser can actually reach and enjoy in a port day, ranked by what each does best. Maho Beach Free entry
Mullet Bay Free entry
The famous one: a short strip of sand directly under the flight path of Princess Juliana airport, where wide-body jets land what feels like 100 feet overhead. The Sunset Beach Bar broadcasts the arrivals and the whole beach counts down together. Taxi about $10-15 per person each way, 20 minutes from the pier. Go midday for the big jets.
The calm alternative, five minutes north of Maho: a wide crescent of white sand with gentler water and a fraction of Maho's crowd. Same taxi ride as Maho, so pair them: planes at Maho, swimming at Mullet. Best for: actual swimming, families, escaping the Maho scrum
Best for: plane spotting, the story you tell at dinner
Great Bay Beach Free entry
Orient Beach Free entry
The convenient one: a mile-plus of sand from the cruise pier to Philipsburg, walkable from the ship or a $7 water taxi ride. Chair rentals and beach bars the whole way, calm water, cruise ships on the horizon. The shortest path from gangway to sand.
The French-side showpiece: over a mile of white sand on the northeast coast with beach clubs, water sports, and a clothing-optional section at the south end. Taxi about $20-25 per person each way, 35 to 45 minutes. Worth it on long port days only.
Best for: short port days, a swim between shopping stops
Best for: the classic Caribbean beach day, French-side lunch
Dawn Beach Free entry
Cupecoy Beach Free entry
The sunrise beach on the southeast coast: good snorkeling off the rocks and a quieter scene than Orient. About 25 minutes from the pier.
The dramatic one on the west coast: sandstone cliffs, sea caves, and sunset views, with a clothing-optional section. Small and rocky in parts, so check conditions. About 20 minutes from the pier.
Best for: snorkeling, a quieter French-side morning Best for: scenery, sunset, an offbeat stop
Chair and umbrella math: about $10 to $20 per chair and $15 to $25 per umbrella at the popular beaches, sometimes bundled. Bring your own snorkel gear: rental lines eat swim time.
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S T. M A A R T E N
The French side decision The French side is the best reason to leave Philipsburg: a real French town, the island's best restaurants, and its longest beach. It is also the farthest thing on this map from your ship. Here is the honest math. What the French side offers • Marigot: the capital of French Saint-Martin, on a lovely bay: the open-air market (Wednesday and Saturday mornings), the Marina Port la Royale with its bistros, and Fort Louis on the hill above with the best viewpoint on the island. More French, more relaxed, more expensive. • Grand Case: the "gourmet capital of the Caribbean": a one-street beach town of bistros and lolos (barbecue shacks) where lunch is the main event. Book the bistros ahead; walk into the lolos. • Orient Beach: the long white-sand beach with clubs and a clothing-optional south section. The prettiest swimming on the French side. • Pinel Island: the tiny nature-reserve island off the northeast coast: a $12-ish round-trip ferry from Cul de Sac, snorkeling, and two beach restaurants. The quiet escape.
Getting there and back • Taxi: about $15 to $20 per person each way to Marigot, $20 to $25 to Grand Case or Orient Beach. The ride is 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. • The border: there is no checkpoint between the Dutch and French sides, just a small monument. Your dollars work everywhere; menus may be in French first. • Island tours: the standard both-sides tour hits Marigot, Grand Case (photo stop), and Orient Beach in 3 to 4 hours. It is a tasting menu, not a meal.
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The verdict Go French if you are in port seven hours or more and want the best lunch of your cruise. Stay Dutch on short port days: a rushed French side means two hours in taxis for one hour of Marigot. Maho plus Philipsburg beats a frantic both-sides dash.
If you go: the schedule • Off the ship by 9:00. Taxi straight to Marigot: market, fort, marina wander. • 12:00: taxi to Grand Case for lunch. Lolo for cheap and local, bistro for the splurge (reserve ahead). • 2:00: Orient Beach for the afternoon swim, or Pinel Island if you left early. • 3:30 at the latest: taxi back toward Philipsburg. The east-west road clogs after 4. • Buffer rule: be back in the Philipsburg area 90 minutes before all aboard. The far side has exactly one road home.
Bring: cash in small bills, a hat (Orient Beach has limited natural shade), and patience at the border-area traffic lights. The French side runs on island time: lunch is never fast.
S T. M A A R T E N
Top things to do Beyond the beaches, St. Maarten sells sailing, views, and two colonial histories. These are the activities worth your hours, in the order a cruiser should consider them. On the water • America's Cup 12-metre sail: the signature St. Maarten excursion: crew a real retired America's Cup yacht (the 12-metre boats Stars and Stripes and others) in a match race off Philipsburg. No experience needed; you grind winches while the crew shouts tactics. Book direct with the operator for the best price: the ship sells the same boats marked up. • Catamaran sail and snorkel: half-day sails to Creole Rock, Tintamarre, or around the island, with snorkel stops, open bar, and lunch on the longer trips. The calm-water alternative to the racing yachts. See the price table on the next page. • Rhino riders and jet skis: the adrenaline option: twoperson inflatable boats or jet skis on guided tours along the coast. Fun, wet, and loud: not a quiet-cove experience. • Scuba: the island's dive shops run two-tank morning trips to wrecks and reefs. Certified divers only on most boats; book ahead in high season.
Towns and markets • Marigot market: Wednesday and Saturday mornings on the waterfront: spices, crafts, produce, and creole lunch stalls. The most local-feeling shopping on the island. • Philipsburg boardwalk: the Great Bay promenade from the pier to town: beach bars, jewelry shops, and the slow parade of cruise passengers. Best before 10 AM or after 4 PM. • Butterfly Farm: the small tropical garden near Le Galion: hundreds of butterflies in a netted garden. A gentle 45-minute stop, good with kids.
The Maho timing trick Plane spotting is best when the big jets land, roughly late morning through mid-afternoon. Check the Princess Juliana arrivals board online the night before and plan Maho around the widebodies: a 9 AM arrival means small island hoppers, a 1 PM arrival means the show.
Views and rides • Fort Louis, Marigot: the 1789 French fort on the hill above Marigot Bay: cannons, sweeping views of the lagoon and Anguilla, and the best free viewpoint on the French side. A 15-minute climb from the marina. • Fort Amsterdam: the 1631 Dutch fort at the west end of Great Bay: the island's oldest colonial site, with views back over Philipsburg and the cruise ships. Easy stop on the way to or from the airport side. • Loterie Farm: the nature reserve at the foot of Pic Paradis: treetop ziplines, hiking trails, a spring-fed pool, and a well-regarded restaurant. The green escape from the beach scene.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Excursion prices: ship vs DIY St. Maarten's ship excursions run on the standard Caribbean markup, and the DIY alternatives are straightforward: the island is small, the taxis go everywhere, and the beaches are free. This table is the price reality check. Experience
Ship price (typical)
DIY price (typical)
America's Cup 12-metre sail
$150-$175
$115-$135 direct booking
Catamaran snorkel sail (half day)
$120-$150
$100-$140 independent
Island tour, both sides (3-4 hrs)
$80-$100
$50-$70 private taxi
Maho/Mullet beach break
$60-$80
$10-$15 taxi + free beach
Pinel Island escape
$70-$90
$12 ferry + free beach
Loterie Farm zipline
$90-$120
$60-$80 direct
When the ship wins • Tight port days: under six hours, the guaranteed return of a ship excursion is worth the premium, especially for the French side.
When DIY wins • Beaches: always. A taxi and a free beach beat any beach excursion by $40 or more per person.
• 12-metre in high season: the racing yachts sell out on multi-ship days; the ship holds its own allocation.
• America's Cup sail: usually. The operator's direct price undercuts the ship by $30 or more for the identical boats.
• First-timers who want zero logistics: the island tour by ship removes every taxi negotiation.
• Grand Case lunch: always. No ship excursion eats where the lolos eat.
The booking rule: book the 12-metre sail and independent catamarans a week out in high season (December to April). In summer and fall, the pier taxi line and the beach bars are all you need.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Eat and drink St. Maarten eats better than any port on this list: French bistros, creole lolos, and beach bars in the same ten miles. Lunch is the main event; plan your beach around it, not the other way around. Sunset Beach Bar
The lolos, Grand Case
Maho Beach • beach prices. The plane-spotting headquarters: burgers, ribs, and frozen drinks with the arrivals board on the wall and jets overhead. Get the Guavaberry Colada and a table facing the runway.
Grand Case boulevard • local prices. The barbecue shacks that made this town famous: grilled lobster, ribs, chicken, and johnny cakes at plastic tables on the sand. The best value lunch on the island, full stop.
Grand Case bistros
Marigot market stalls
Grand Case • splurge. The "gourmet capital" claim rests here: French-Caribbean bistros doing tastingworthy food a block from the beach. Reserve ahead for lunch; this is the special-occasion meal of the port day.
Marigot waterfront, Wed + Sat • cheap. Creole lunch from the market stalls: accras (fish fritters), boudin, rice and peas, fresh juice. Eat where the vendors eat.
Lee's Roadside Grill
Chesterfield's
Simpson Bay • local prices. The ribs-and-chicken institution on the Dutch side: smoky, fast, and cheap. The anti-tourist-trap lunch between Maho and Philipsburg.
Philipsburg waterfront • moderate. The easy downtown lunch: seafood, steaks, and strong rum punch on the Great Bay boardwalk.
What to try • Guavaberry: the island's signature liqueur. Order the colada at Sunset Beach Bar; buy the bottle on Front Street. • Johnny cakes: fried cornmeal bread, served with everything from breakfast to barbecue. Judge every version.
Water: tap water is desalinated and safe, but most visitors stick to bottled. Drink more than you think: the sun between the beaches is relentless.
• Lolo lobster: grilled spiny lobster at the Grand Case shacks, in season. • French pastries: the Marigot boulangeries are the real thing.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Shopping Philipsburg is one of the Caribbean's duty-free capitals, and Front Street is built for cruise passengers: jewelry, watches, liquor, and perfume in air-conditioned comfort. Shop with a list, not with wanderlust. Where to shop • Front Street (Voorstraat): the main duty-free drag: jewelry houses, watch dealers, liquor stores, and perfume shops in historic West Indian buildings. This is where the serious buying happens. • Back Street (Achterstraat): parallel to Front Street, more local: electronics, fabrics, and everyday goods at better prices than the tourist strip. • Marigot market: Wednesday and Saturday mornings on the French-side waterfront: spices, hot sauces, crafts, and art. The souvenir stop with actual local character. • Boardwalk vendors: the Great Bay promenade has craft stalls and beach vendors between the pier and town. Fine for t-shirts and trinkets; bargain politely.
What is actually worth buying
The duty-free reality check St. Maarten is duty-free, but it is not the USVI: the allowance for US citizens is the standard $800, not $1,600. Prices are still strong on jewelry and liquor, but do the math against your home price before the big purchase, and keep every receipt for customs.
Shop smart: the honest dealers expect comparison shoppers and put everything in writing; the pushy ones follow you off the sidewalk. Front Street is safe to browse, but the aggressive timeshare sellers work the beach ends: a polite no and keep walking.
• Jewelry and watches: the island's core competence, 20 to 40 percent below US retail on major brands at the reputable houses. Know your home price before you sail. • Liquor: duty-free rum and spirits beat mainland prices, and guavaberry liqueur only comes from here. US citizens get the standard $800 duty-free allowance. • French goods: the Marigot shops carry French cosmetics, linens, and foodstuffs you will not find on the Dutch side. Worth the browse even if you buy nothing. • Local crafts: hot sauces, spice blends, and art from the market and back-street shops. Cheap, packable, and actually local.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Practical info + safety St. Maarten is a foreign country, not a US territory, so the logistics differ from the USVI stops: your passport matters more, your phone plan matters more, and the jet blast at Maho is a real safety briefing, not a joke. Time, money, and connection • Ship time rules: St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4), no daylight saving, which matches Eastern Daylight Time from March to November. The ship stays on its own time regardless: confirm the allaboard time in the app, and set a phone alarm in ship time. • ID: this is a foreign port. A passport book is the smooth choice ashore. On closed-loop cruises from the US, a birth certificate plus government photo ID is technically accepted, but the passport avoids every argument. • Cell service: US plans treat St. Maarten as international: roaming charges apply on both the Dutch and French sides. Download offline maps, screenshot taxi and flight info, and use bar and restaurant WiFi. An eSIM day pass is cheaper than carrier roaming. • Cash: dollars accepted everywhere, but taxis, beach vendors, market stalls, and the Pinel ferry are cash businesses. Carry small bills; ATMs at the terminal dispense dollars.
Sun, sea, and streets • Jet blast at Maho: the famous sign is serious: departing jets blast the beach end with dangerous force, and people have been hurt clinging to the fence. Watch from behind the fence, hold onto hats and children, and never stand in the blast zone for a photo.
Safety • Daytime: the tourist areas, beaches, and both capitals are busy and comfortable. The standard Caribbean rules apply: watch your bag on the beach, do not flash cash, and keep the cabin safe for passports. • After dark: stick to well-lit areas near the boardwalk and your pier. Do not wander unlit residential roads on either side at night. • Scams: the common ones are the "free" bracelet that is not free, the timeshare tour pitched as a taxi ride, and the unlicensed driver at the pier quoting double. Use the dispatcher, agree the fare, and keep walking past the bracelet sellers. • Traffic: the biggest real risk on the island. The eastwest roads clog badly on multi-ship days; that is a missed-ship risk, not just an annoyance. Build the buffer.
What to bring ashore Passport (or birth certificate + photo ID on closedloop sailings), cash in small bills, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, water shoes, snorkel gear if you own it, a dry bag for the boat days, and a portable charger. Screenshot the all-aboard time and the airport arrivals.
• Reef-safe sunscreen: apply before the beach, especially at Orient and Dawn Beach where the snorkeling is best. The island sun is direct and the sea breeze hides the burn. • Water shoes: useful at Cupecoy's rocky entry and Orient's coral patches. Not needed at Great Bay or Mullet Bay. Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
S T. M A A R T E N
Sample timelines Three ways to run the day, depending on your group and port hours. Pick one the night before and commit: the island punishes dithering. The Maho morning 9:00 off the ship, straight to the taxi dispatcher: agree the per-person fare to Maho Beach. 9:30-12:30 plane spotting at the Sunset Beach Bar with the arrivals board, then a swim at calmer Mullet Bay next door. 12:30 ribs at Lee's Roadside Grill or lunch back at Maho. 2:00 taxi back toward Philipsburg. 2:30-4:00 Front Street shopping and a Great Bay Beach swim. 4:00 water taxi or walk back to the terminal.
The two-nations day (7+ hour port days only) 9:00 taxi to Marigot: market (Wed/Sat), Fort Louis climb, marina wander. 12:00 taxi to Grand Case for lunch: lolo for local, bistro for the splurge. 2:00 Orient Beach for the afternoon swim. 3:30 taxi back to the Dutch side no matter how nice the water is. 4:30 back at the terminal with buffer. If traffic stalls, skip the beach, not the departure.
The low-key Philipsburg day 9:30 water taxi downtown ($7 round trip). 10:00-12:00 Front Street and Back Street at opening time, before the crowds. 12:00 lunch at Chesterfield's on the boardwalk. 1:30-3:30 Great Bay Beach: chairs, calm water, ships on the horizon. 3:30 stroll the boardwalk back or catch the water taxi. Total extra spend: lunch, chairs, and the water taxi.
Mix and match: the most common great day is a hybrid: Maho in the morning for the jets, Philipsburg and Great Bay Beach after lunch. Two anchors work; three is rushing.
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S T. M A A R T E N
Checklist + sources The night before
What to bring ashore
• Dutch side, French side, or both? Decide on the port hours
• Passport (birth certificate + photo ID only on closed-loop sailings)
• Princess Juliana arrivals checked for the big jets
• Cash in small bills for taxis, beaches, and markets
• Grand Case bistro reserved (if doing the splurge lunch)
• Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
• 12-metre sail or catamaran booked (if doing one) • All-aboard time confirmed in the app, alarm set in ship time
• Water shoes and snorkel gear if you own them • Dry bag and portable charger • Nothing you cannot afford to lose
• Small bills broken for taxis
Money savers
Keep planning
• Take the $7 water taxi, not a $25 taxi, downtown • Book the 12-metre sail direct, not through the ship • Eat at the lolos: the best lunch is also the cheapest • Beaches are free; ship beach excursions are $60-80
• Pair this guide with your ship guide for the full sailing plan • Watch for more Cruise Insider port guides at cruiseguides.gumroad.com: San Juan, Falmouth, Grand Cayman, St. Kitts, and Barbados are next
Your St. Maarten day, planned. Walk off the pier knowing which side, which beach, and which fare, and make St. Maarten the day you talk about all cruise. Sources • Port St. Maarten Group: Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities, Pointe Blanche • Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) arrival patterns and Maho Beach spotting guidance • St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and Saint-Martin tourism office: beach, market, and attraction listings (2026) • 12 Metre Challenge / America's Cup sailing operator schedules and direct-booking fares (2026) • US Customs and Border Protection: standard $800 duty-free allowance; closed-loop cruise ID rules
Photo credit Cover photo: "Harmony of the Seas im Hafen von Philipsburg" by Kiwi05, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Port map is original artwork created for this guide. Independent publication: This guide is an independent publication, not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean. Port facts were researched from public sources in September 2026; prices, hours, and schedules change, so always verify before booking.
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