Even better, this white-sand, two-mile beach is right in front of Philipsburg, capital of the Dutch side of the island. . Once you arrive, you'll have 2 hours to spend as you see fit. Very fun, but that's a separate vacation not just a cruise stop. Water taxi/tour to Maho beach? - Cruise Critic Community Email cisco2.godet@gmail. I enjoyed the experience a must see if visiting the island. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. Each airplane came in so low over the sand that it felt as if you could almost reach out and touch them as they rumbled onwards to the tarmac across the road. The high rocks block most of the wind, so its a good choice when the Caribbean trade winds are strong that day. I'm was told about a boat that picks you up near the port and goes to somewhere very near Maho beach. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. The only thing that separates the beach from the runway is a narrow tarmac road and a wire fence, on which signs are tacked, warning people to stay back because of blasts from the jets. Or walk into Philipsburg and catch a local bus heading to Maho Beach. A five-hour shore excursion with transportation to Orient Bay and Maho Beach will start at $40 per person. Thank You:). From town a water taxi makes a quick journey back to the ship for a small fee. This island is an extremely popular stopping point for cruise ships, and whenever we ported here there were at least three other ships parked up at the same time, although none of them were anywhere near full capacity. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent. distance from st maarten airport to cruise portbellissimo grande hotel bed bugs. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. I REALLY appreciate it. At first I was a bit nervous to book at 3rd party excursion but the price was right and we got everything we hoped for. Meets you at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We didn't get any history of the island. I wouldnt place a bet but that looks like the type of boat that I saw out by Sunset Bar and Grill earlier this month. The taxi drivers wouldn't take us until we had more people in the taxi van so we waited FOREVER until a few people who also wanted to go to 7 Mile Beach came along. For photos and video go to TheHolloWAYtoTravel.com, Tour itself was excellent but started nearly an hour late waiting for customers from other ships Just came back and this was our first time booking something outside of Carnival. Next, we head to Marigot, still on the French side. Numerous restaurants line the boardwalk; many more restaurants plus plenty of shopping lie only one block over on Philipsburgs popular Front Street. Taxi Vans on St Maarten - Shore Excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog $2 for a bus is music to my ears. . Then one thing to include in your list of things to do is to visit one of the islands finest beaches. Seemed to have a platform that looked like a dock. . This area Id return to, the beach, the hotels, and many restaurants offer lots to do. Philipsburg St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) - CruiseMapper Our first stop is the Oyster Bay Resort, a beautiful turquoise painted resort around what use to be a bay full of oysters. About $20-30 per person. ST MAARTEN AIRPORT SXM | St. Maarten / St. Martin This was our 4th booking with SE and will continue to use them when cruising! I would do this trip again without a moments hesitation. where could we get a bus from the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Should be $3 for a taxi (each way) per person or $4 for the Water Taxi ($6 round trip). It was about $12 more . It takes about 20 minutes to arrive at this location. Several beaches receive far fewer crowds than Orient or Great Bay and are worth seeing for people with extra time available. They leave when they are full from the ferry terminal. We said no thanks but they wouldn't even let us sit on a towel in the area, so we just walked around. Once you have your ticket, you'll be shown to the ferry to board. . Taxi - cruise port to Maho Beach - St Martin / St Maarten Forum Guests must notify us within 14 days after their excursion date via email for requesting a refund of booking payment made to Shore Excursioneer. I would look behind the Court House for a sign labeled Bus Halte. House of religious articles I'm guessing the challenge is to find your driver in the crowd and to then get through the self made traffic jam. Arriving aircraft must touch down as close as possible to the beginning of. Sun, sea, and fun at 2 of the most popular beaches! Some excursion operators quote prices as low as $15 per person for a transfer from the cruise port to Maho Beach. Snorkeling and diving equipment are available for rent as well as jet skis. They did send another driver, however, we missed out on a lot because of the time lost. The beautiful waters and beaches. This is why I booked this excursion. For a slightly different vibe, and the opportunity to cook your own food on lava stones, head to the Palms Grill at the opposite end of the beach. Anyone visiting St. Maarten by cruise ship or to stay at the resorts should consider Orient Bay Beach as another one worth visiting. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. But be aware that some people have been hurt by the jet blasts. St Maarten Maho Beach and Lucas Bay Half-Day Sore Excursion 2023 - Viator Maho Beach and Orient Beach. To get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach, you'll need to take a taxi. Again, look for signs point the way. . Guana Bay Beach, located on the southeast coast of the island, offers great views of St. Barthelemy and is used for wind and kite surfing. The first stop was Orient Beach and it was beautiful. We wanted to take this tour because we wanted to see these famous beaches and the price was perfect. Stop: 4 hours. . There's parking inside the Caravanserai (sp?) Just no perzonality. Waters are clear and mainly calm most of the times. Anyone with an interest in diving might consider either Little Bay or Kim Sha beaches. You can be just as close to the planes at most airports as you are to the planes at Maho if you are out in the water. After a day at the beach the shuttle will let those who wish off in town and take the rest back to the cruise ship dock. If you would rather walk there, it's only a 15-minute walk down the boardwalk, and you can enjoy music and some local bars and restaurants along the way. For visitors by car, it is recommended to park in Bobby's Marina towards the Cruise Port, or at the Pondfill Boulevard. You can hang out at the beach or sit at the restaurant. ", St. Maarten, Lesser Antilles (St. Martin). See All St Martin / St Maarten Conversations, Please recommend an all inclusive 5* adult only resort. Great Bay Beach stretches from St Maarten's Cruise port towards the Little Bay area. St.Martin - St.Maarten Taxi Tours Philipsburg Sint Maarten Netherlands Antilles Cruise Port - WHATSINPORT.COM Cruise Port to Maho Beach, St Maarten - Tripadvisor . Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent and local foods can be found at Rosies Snack Bar. !as they posed for group photos. MAHO BEACH - 2023 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor The beaches are lovely and you can get a real eyeful at Orient Beach. Tom is getting sicker, and Im out of Mucinex. No, it is not necessary to take along your passport or driver's license unless noted by your cruise line or listed in the Restrictions or Notes tab for the excursion. Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isnt particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. This was our second trip to St. Marteen, and we wanted to see both of these famous beaches. . Bus ride from Downtown Philipsburg to Maho Beach (Thursday 12.29.2011), Maho Beach - seeing the aircrafts landing in St. Maarten (Thursday 12.29.2011), adjacent to the beach. We had a group of 6 and everyone enjoyed it. From $ 40.00. You can choose to go parasailing, jet skiing, on water . Airplanes create quite humungous jet blasts when theyre taking off, and so it seems fairly logical that you shouldnt stand too close. Make sure you take a camera. . If your only goal is to see a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The tours was amazing. Call 1 721 580 7594 for further assistance. Great Bay Beachs location is ideal if you want to enjoy the beach as well as take advantage of the excellent duty free opportunities available on the island. The planes are so low, I think you could wave to the pilot. Spring videre til hovedindholdet. Loved the beaches. She pointed to a man in a red cap. Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation! Kind of like never standing at the back end of a horse. There are multiple steps down into the boat. (But its still pretty fun to be in the sea when a plane comes in to land.). BTW, for what it is worth, the beach is just fine. Sounds like there would be taxi vans available to hire for the day without necessarily reserving in advance. The rule of thumb, always give your self time to get back to ship no matter what you do. Description. I need some help for deciding between Maho, Mullet or Orient???? I will be traveling alone and was concerned about the cost of a taxi round trip. . His tour did not include Maho Beach, which is the main reason I picked the tour. Additionally, when we met up with the original driver, he was unknowledgeable about any of St. Maarten's history. Tripadvisor | Maho/ Sunset Beach Blast leveret af Bernards Tours | St There was a nice place to eat and have drinks right at the beach. I didnt find any app for St. Maarten taxis. . Recommended Posts. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. -I would make a reservation and pay particular attention on how they suggest to meet you in the chaos. How to: Ferry To St. John from Cruise Ship Docks (St. Thomas) Maho beach was fun , because of the Airplane traffic and the over experience. Step 3: Taxi From Cruz Bay To Trunk Bay: $6. . http://dandataxiservice.com/. 100% satisfied ! Persons born and living on the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) carry Netherlands Antilles passports, while the French side (Saint-Martin), issues French passports and conducts its business in a more European manner. Fondly known as the Friendly Island, St Maarten is unique in that it is the smallest landmass divided between two nations in the world. I have heard that there is a bus that you could catch from Back St. in Philipsburg. I appreciate that tip about the bus v. taxi. -Some can take credit cards, but assume cash (USD) will be needed unless pre-arranged. There are several shops selling watches, jewelery, perfume and electronic gadgets nearby. Maho is amazing. Try all . The very handsome french pharmacist asks about his symptoms and gives me a box of liquid packets. This tour was a perfect way to spend the day and see the sights of the whole island! So many derelict boats just floating in the water? Beach was beautiful and not crowded and tons of sea glass to find! 6 of us in total on this tour. Marigot is picturesque along with a market to get souvenirs. We found our tour driver who introduced himself as Duce. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? There are several options for eating and drinking at Maho Beach, and when we arrived the bars and restaurants were packed full of mostly American tourists who had been sheltering from the rain. The airplanes make their approach directly above the beach. $2 per person. Re: Cruise Port to Maho Beach, St Maarten, Get answers to your questions about St Martin / St Maarten, Last Minute Hotels in St Martin / St Maarten, Browse all 24,811 St Martin / St Maarten topics . Punctual pick up, good beach afternoon seeing planes overhead at Maho beach. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. We actually docked a bit early, and Tom and I sprinted off the ship to the meeting location. . Locate land taxi station. This is a popular spot to catch great views of Simpson Bay. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient, Maho Beach Half-Day Tour 2023 - Viator Guests will be at Maho Beach in time to see the planes come in for a landing. Orient Bay Beach is the most popular beach in St Martin, so expect there to be a crowd. You should be able to walk it in 20 minutes or so, if so inclined. Experience the highlights of St Maarten on this 5-hour shore excursion leaving from the cruise port. Would anyone happen to know if Maho is walking distance from AUC? I was a little too close to the water, however, and got completely drenched by an incoming wave. Water taxis are often used by cruise ship passengers as shuttles between the center of Phillipsburg to the cruise ship docking areas. How to Easily Get to Grand Anse Beach on your Next Cruise to Grenada The trip was worth more than what we were charged. There is only the water taxi to Philipsburg. Return is the same (just show up at the stand next to the maho beach bars and hop in another . Timing things to avoid cruise ship crowds 7:31 am. Few facilities or commercial establishments are available nearby. Any tours of the island for those spending a day? Great Bay Beach, Philipsburg, capital of Sint Maarten Learn about the culture and history of the island from your guide while enjoying complimentary beer, water and soda. From light lunches to classics like seafood terrine and lobster thermidor, Antoine's offers outdoor . I don't want to worry this time. My teenage son loves airplanes so we are going to see the planes. Budget-minded walkers will go less than one mile or about 10 to 12 minutes to reach the beginning of the beach. resort gates. Clive our driver was amazing so polite and courteous he shared all his knowledge of the area and took us to some amazing places with great photo opportunities -lovely man and thoroughly enjoyed our tour. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84538118', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise port. King David was the best tour guide. It lies right in from of the city of Philipsburg. Things To Do Fun Fact: St. Maarten has the unique position of having a beachside capital. Small bills so no one has to worry about change. . - how long by taxi from cruise port to Maho Beach? Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. He would to top a house and say "this is a nice house", "thus is a funeral home", "this is horses next to water". To get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach, youll need to take a taxi. When we arrived at place to start our tour, we asked which bus was ours. You might have already sensed from my description that this beach is not my kind of place. I had a great day watching the planes on Maho Beach, but will I be going back there in a hurry, pals? On the French part (Saint Martin) is Marigot. Taxis - you will see passengers lining up at the pier for taxis, by destination and fare type. Also how much a cab might be (round trip) and best time to see jets land? The best beach near the St. Maarten cruise port is just a quick walk or taxi ride away. Where Do Cruise Ships Dock at St. Martin? | USA Today In 2017 a woman from New Zealand was killed when she was thrown backwards by a jet blast from a Caribbean Airlines flight which was taking off. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84557721', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St. Maarten airport website for times of arrivals. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Burgeaux Beach, just beyond Simpson Bay, offers a cove and is a favorite of shell collectors and surfers. It's about a $50-$60 for the round trip but it all depends on how many passengers. Maho beach is a manic place but worth experiencing. We did try the bus this past Decembert while cruising Celebrity over Christmas. VISIT ST. MAARTEN / ST. MARTIN OUR ADDRESS. St. Maarten has constructed a wonderful new cruise terminal. Leave the piers and head to the right, where there's a row of taxis waiting to leave. Ride in an air-conditioned van to Maho Beach on the Dutch side of this Caribbean island and Lucas Bay on the French side. LOOOOONG Trip Report: St Maarten, St Lucia, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba Clothing is optional because it is secluded and located by the French St. Martin border. You'll get back on the return bus on the other side of the street from where you got off. $341 - $620. About 4 hours 30 min. . How to Visit Trunk Bay from St. Thomas on a Cruise Ship Stop Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location. They were aware of the Harmony arrival times and told us the tour will be waiting for us to arrive. It's about a half hour drive and there are plenty taxi's at the port and Maho Beach to get you back and forth. Actually it's a great beach from swimming most of the time. Lucius was a wonderful guide. It is easy to spend the day going back and forth between the beach and shopping or dining. You didn't ask, but I would only go to Maho beach if I really wanted to see airplanes. I've taken taxis on the island many times, but never from the cruise port. The taxis on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? RUM PUNCH WAS THE BEST!!! Therefore, be sure to gauge return time to the ship properly as there can be traffic jams on afternoons from this beach back to the port. . If you like sun, go up the narrow ladder to the top deck. 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. Should be $3 for a taxi (each way) per person or $4 for the Water Taxi ($6 round trip). If you weren't going to tip then maybe pretend you aren't from the US so they thought you had a different tradition. Supposedly they provide a hot dog type lunch. Still plenty of evidence of devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Maarten. St Maarten is a beautiful island and we saw some spectacular panoramic views. There are a few shops in the new cruise terminal. Mullet Bay has beautiful white sand with calm waters and amazing views and landscape.