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Stay in our Suites - our most luxurious, spacious and well-appointed Spain cruise accommodations. With our award winning private suites and family accommodations you're always guaranteed a great place to rest. Take advantage of Sint Maarten’s duty-free status and head to Philipsburg—a shopper’s dream—with flea-market stalls, upscale jewelry stores and designer labels David Yurman, Mango and Dior. If you adore Mediterranean cuisine, flag Azul, a stunning restaurant perched high with views of the famed Maho flight path. A Johnny Cake is a fried, cornmeal flatbread, a staple in Sint Maarten and throughout the Caribbean.
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There are many ways to familiarize yourself with the island and its cultural history, but the top two ways are on boat or ATV tours. Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch side of St. Maarten and home to bright-colored houses with duty-free shops and many delicious restaurants to discover. Great Bay Beach runs along the Philipsburg boardwalk, so stopping at one of the beach bars and testing tropical cocktails is a common way to spend a few hours here. There are souvenir shops available once you exit the cruise ship. Shopping in St. Maarten includes a lot of handmade jewelry, small shopping stands, and local vendors hawking their wares to tourists. The capital of the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the town of Philipsburg, though St. Maarten is an island with two distinct sides.
Philipsburg, St Maarten
While you can walk to downtown Philipsburg from the cruise port, it will take about 30 minutes or longer. Cruise to Caribbean and discover the cliff-diving, breeze-swaying, sand-between-your-toes, no-worries pace of island life. Hundreds of years of history have left jungle ruins from ancient times and vibrant colonial towns with brightly painted buildings reflecting a fascinating history. See towering mountains like Petit Piton in St Lucia, explore the lush rainforests of Belize, or boost your adrenaline as you zip-line through the treetops of Labadee or Honduras. If calm, contemplative nature is more your thing, spend the day admiring cascading waterfalls in Jamaica and the vivid coral reefs of Bonaire, home to manta rays and parrot fish. In most cases, ships will dock there, where it's less than one mile to the heart of Philipsburg.
Sint Maarten is a perfect base for island hopping
This eco-friendly activity is a nice alternative to some of the busier beaches and excursions in St. Maarten. If you’re looking for a unique and tasty experience during your time in St. Maarten, you’ll enjoy a Guava Berry Liquor tasting. This locally-produced liquor is traditionally enjoyed at Christmas by local families. Simpson Bay Beach is a beautiful beach located on the Southwesten coast of the Dutch side of the island in Sint Maarten. Simpson Bay Beach is well known for it’s beautiful white sand beach and clear turquoise waters.
Souvenir Shopping
St. Maarten has a tropical climate, and experiences sunny and warm temperatures throughout the year. It can get hot and humid in St. Maarten, which makes the island perfect for beach lovers. The local currency is the Netherlands Antillean guilder on the Dutch side and the euro on the French side, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Banks and ATMs are readily available, and most establishments take credit cards (although you'll have to pay cash at the smaller beach bars). Vehicles range from standard taxis to large vans and open safari-style vehicles, and rates are per vehicle, so you'll pay less if you have more people. Slightly farther, Philipsburg's pedestrian-friendly downtown is a definite duty-free shopping destination; great buys can be found on electronics, liquor and jewelry.
You can enjoy spotting some of the famous ones like Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, MSC Meraviglia, Royal Princess, and Queen Mary 2. From Pointe Blanche you could get a closer look at the incredible architecture of these immense naval constructions. St. Maarten, like many other Caribbean islands, was spotted by Christopher Columbus in 1493. But the island's real history began with French and Dutch settlers who divided the island in 1648.
During your cruise to Spain, you have the option to partake on various excursions. Stroll along the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona. Dine like a local in Valencia with a menu of traditional Paella for lunch. Visit the Alhambra in Granada, where you’ll witness one of the finest examples of Moorish art in Spain.
In this St. Maarten cruise port guide, we went over the information you need to have a great day visiting St.Maarten during a cruise. Whether you like to beach bar hop or to grab a stool at a bar closeby to the cruise port, St. Maarteen is a great place to enjoy a frozen cocktail or local beer. St. Maarten’s art galleries showcase a diverse collection of Caribbean and international artwork, from paintings to sculptures.
A first-timer’s guide to Sint Maarten
THE 25 BEST Cruises to Martinique 2024 (with Prices) - Martinique Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises to Martinique 2024 (with Prices) - Martinique Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:45:47 GMT [source]
When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. You can also make your own way to the departure point for your cruise. You must have all the necessary documents (passport, visa, vaccination card) to be able to travel with peace of mind. You may be refused boarding for a flight or cruise, or entrance onto the territory if you do not have the correct papers. Make sure you find out about all the relevant formalities before flying.
Popular underwater shipwreck sites include Gregory Wreck, The Bridge, Proselyte, La Renee Shipwreck, Carib Cargo and Fuh Sheng. On the French side, you’ll find Marigot, boasting vibrantly painted houses and beaches, markets, and restaurants to satisfy your cravings. Marigot has local Caribbean vibes and atmosphere while simultaneously having a more elegant side with fine dining restaurants and fashion.
The local currency in St. Martin, on the French side of the island is the Euro (€). Similar to the Dutch side, US money is accepted across the island. This unique Caribbean island is home to two distinct cultures and countries, often referred to as the Dutch and French sides. There are bargains to be found, and St. Martin is duty-free for the most part, but Marigot attracts those who seek couture and upscale imports from France.
The nature sanctuary offers a lounge, pools, bar, eatery, hiking trails and zip lines. Each side of the island has a unique vibe and history that shaped it into the popular destination it is today. St. Martin is well-known for its beaches, shopping and fine dining establishments. In contrast, St. Maarten is celebrated for its more lighthearted vacation vibes of nightlife, stunning beaches and duty-free shopping.
If you're debarking in Marigot, you'll be within a few steps of the Marigot Market, restaurants and several attractions. Serious shoppers could spend a half day just poking around the downtown. Children ages 2 to 17 can also join the tour but cannot sample the liquor. The Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary gives visitors an up close and personal experience with a variety of exotic species.
Shopping is a big draw (approximately two million people visit each year) because of the country’s duty-free status, saving you up to 30% on purchases compared to in the USA. This small island is unique, as it encompasses two countries, Sint Maarten (Dutch) and St. Martin (French). However, there is no border and people can move freely around the island.
In the 17th century, both the Dutch and the French colonized St. Maarten. The Dutch later built Fort Amsterdam as a military outpost in Philipsburg for protection from intruders. Over time, the Dutch and French found ways to maintain their island colonies, respecting each other’s cultures and heritage. St. Maarten has steadily grown in popularity as a tourism destination in recent years. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, St. Maarten suffered significant damage that it’s still working to recover from. Tourism dollars help contribute to the rebuilding and preservation of the beaches and businesses that were affected by the hurricane.
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