The best beach near the St. Maarten cruise port is just a quick walk or taxi ride away. The waters on this beach are very inviting. You can also enjoy the day at Great Bay Beach, Divi Little Bay Beach. However, kindly note that this one is the furthest on this list from the cruise port. The Philipsburg St. Maarten cruise port has three major attractions: the massive John Craane cruise terminal, the nearby city and Great Bay Beach right beside it. The city of Philipsburg itself is one of the best attractions on the island because of its appealing and well-developed tourism district. It consists of a small stretch of white sandy beach located next to the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport. Great Bay Beach is also a family beach which is kid-friendly so that the whole family can enjoy. Luckily, given the islands size, you can visit any beach within the few hours allowed in port. - Best is subjective as some prefer a cab, while others favour a Jinty Very energetic walkers can hike 2.5 miles to the other side of the bay to Little Bay Beach and the small ruins of Fort Amsterdam. For tourists who have a heart for adventure, this ones for you. Didnt feel too crowded and it was a great beach for kids to play and swim. Oyster Pond is perfect if youre looking for a place that exudes tranquility. Sea Palace Resort. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Great Bay Beach, PhilipsburgSint Maarten, NLD 1744. Time to ged inspired by these 13 stunning St. Maarten beaches you can experience during a cruise vacation in the eastern Caribbean. If you have a cruise vacation coming up in the Eastern Caribbean it might be worth finding out more about these stunning St.Martin/St. We took a water taxi to this beach. So if you if you are considering a cruise for your next Caribbean vacation, check out How To Cruise For Less. Burgeaux Beach, located in the southwest heart of St Maarten, is the spot for surfers. So get a taxi or car rental if you plan to see more than just the tourism district. A 20minutes taxi ride from the cruise pier will get you to the beach. Undoubtedly, the most beautiful beach of St Maarten. The major cruise ships will dock in Philipsburg located on the Dutch side. Two beach bars are located at either end of this beach being Sunset bar and grill and Driftwood boat bar respectively. The beach is about 1/3 mile long. Which St Maarten Beaches Near Cruise Port Should I Visit? St Maarten has one major road and it is not uncommon for there to be huge traffic congestion especially on afternoons. Water taxis dock at the pier which is right on the beach - not in the very central part, but 3 min walk from it. If youre looking for a particular piece of jewelry Im sure you can find it here no doubt. I myself have been frequenting the island since 1995 and still love watching the planes from Maho. Enjoy a nice blood warming match of volley ball. But traffic outside of the Boardwalk and Front Street is often heavy. You can also walk from the port which takes 15-20 minutes. Great Bay Beach is a beautiful beach that stretches 2 miles (3.22 km) long that looks like a postcard from every angle. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg - Tripadvisor Orient Bay Beach is the most popular beach in St Martin, so expect there to be a crowd. How to Get from St Maarten Airport to Hotel? Stress Free! The beach also features great restaurants like the Rainbow caf, popular for freshly caught fish dishes and cocktails. A certified PADI dive shop is located at the center of the beach. Visit Orient Bay village, within walking distance of the beach. Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? Visit the beach and enjoy the long crescent-shaped spread of soft white sandy beach. One of the more interesting beaches on St. Maarten is Cupecoy because of its white sand, sandstone cliffs and small caves along the shore. The best beach near the St. Maarten cruise port is just a quick walk or taxi ride away. Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. What's Included: Three types of passes are available: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $90, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. for $105 and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. (full-day pass) for $195. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho Beach Half-Day Tour 36 Bus Tours from $40.00 per adult St Maarten Shore Excursion: Maho Beach and Orient Bay Sightseeing 23 Recommended Bus Tours from $35.00 per adult Calypso Tour 56 Recommended Bus Tours from $47.00 per adult Maho Beach Extreme Jet Blast 1 Bus Tours from $35.00 per adult The centuries-old liquor is a part of St. Maartens culture, there are songs and stories dedicated to the Guava Berry. If tanning or water sports are not your thing, then you can take a walk around and enjoy the many restaurants, bars, and shops located in the area. The beach is 18 minutes or five miles from the Havensight cruise docks. Dont miss out on visiting the different souvenir shops where you could snag some trinkets and memorabilia to remember your Caribbean Trip here in Great Bay Beach. How to Walk to Great Bay Beach in St Maarten - YouTube There are several beach bars such as Waikiki Beach, Kakao, Perch Bar & Grill, Bikini Beach and Kontiki Beach in this area. Central town beaches usually aren't great, but that's not the case here. Buses usually have a sign that says Maho beach and it takes approximately 20 minutes from the cruise port. Browse the shops for souvenirs and gorgeous beach wear. Its also a very active beach offering waters sports such as snorkeling, boat rides, volleyball, and all other common water sports. Top 6 Car Rentals in St. Maarten Cruise Port The island has a small number of narrow winding roads, so car rentals even for a day are quite commonso common that traffic jams are frequent. #3 Best Value of 7 Philipsburg Cruise Port Hotels. It did shelve quite quickly. What's the best way to see Great Bay Beach? Required fields are marked *. Top Excursions in St. Maarten The Flying Dutchman Zip-Line Chairlift to Sentry Hill Racing on a Yacht This beach is very popular with the locals during the weekends, but its also very tranquil and uncrowded during the weekdays. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Show Prices. Take a swim in the clear blue sea. Authentic name brands like Armani, Versace, Gucci are just some designer brands you will find. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love. The roads are narrow and winding. They are Philipsburg on the southern coast and Simpson Bay on the southwest coast because they have the cruise port and the airport. The Happy bay beach is also known as the best snorkel spot in St Maarten. Though it's not nearly as . Beach nice enough, sea was lovely but quite a drop as the current changed..safe enough though. If you're wondering how to get from St. Maarten Airport to your hotel, I highly recommend pre-booking a private car transfer. Worth it even if you take just a dip. We walked from the port to the beach area around 20 mins and walked along the beach front stopping in and out of shops on routewe must have been offered sunbeds by at least 10 different people..most were polite enough when you said no but most were quite persistent and it was pretty irritating one after the other continuously. The St Maarten cruise terminal is located in Philipsburg, the Dutch part of the island, around 1.5 mi away from the city center.It boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. The crystal-clear waters beckon to beach bummers, and once you are in you might not get out till its time to head back. 10 Best Attractions near the Cruise Port in St. Maarten/St. Martin It is located on the French side and is about a 20-minute ride from the port. Little Bay Beach is known for its long stretch of white sand, calm waters, and excellent snorkeling activities. This beach offers chairs and umbrellas by the shore, which is perfect when youre in the mood to get a tan and bask out in the sun! We recommend booking Great Bay Beach tours ahead of time to secure your spot. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'stmaartenadventure_com-box-3','ezslot_2',101,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-stmaartenadventure_com-box-3-0');When youre on a Caribbean cruise, most likely you will end up stopping in Sint Maarten, the cruise capital of the Caribbean. Moreover, go for snorkeling and explore the underwater world. But among this plethora of sandy dunes and pristine waters, we went ahead and narrowed down a list of the best beaches in St Maarten. Its perfect for a lazy beach day. With palm trees leaning in, Do some hammock napping with your family. Kim Sha is a popular starting point for dive and excursion boats. How to Get from St Maarten Airport to Hotel? Day Passes at Caribbean Resorts | Cruise Critic The clear crystal waters offer the perfect chance to snorkel, especially on the rockier shores. For the vacationers who are early birds, they get to have a glimpse of a spectacular sunset, so be sure to set your alarms early. It gives a semiprivate vibe but is not totally secluded, still giving you a public place to stroll and bask in the sun. Gizmos bar located on the beach has AMAZING . If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Holland House Beach Hotel. The Philipsburg St. Maarten cruise port has three major attractions: the massive John Craane cruise terminal, the nearby city and Great Bay Beach right beside it. The nearby amenities and close proximity to the ship make it a very popular choice for cruise guests. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Very pretty mountains around the bay and it's great to watch the ships come and go. Other than the makeup of the countrys population, St. Maarten is also popular for its beaches. What Costs Are Involved In Visiting Orient Bay Beach. 2022. Some of the beds were very worn one or two broken so check that your bed is ok before sitting down. Hence, the island of St. Maarten is one of the worlds top cruise port destinations. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marys Boon Beach Plantation Resort & Spa. I trust that you have found this information useful if your plans are to visit a beach while on a cruise to St Maarten. Known to be near the Great Bay, you could make a side trip here to experience this beachs greatness. Jet ski, paraglide or sail at Orient Beach, then grab a snack at one of the many bars and restaurants there. Here you can dine at French, Thai, and Italian restaurants. Marigot Marigot is the capital of the French collective of the island. Magens Bay has an entry fee of $5 for adults and children 13 and older. Unfortunately, you may only get a glimpse of this gem of an island, I always recommend a proper vacation for a week or two. St. Thomas Beaches Near the Cruise Port - Caribeez.com Orient Bay, which is located on the French side of the island, is arguably the islands most famous and popular beach. Sit on the pier with a great view of the cruise ships that have docked in the port. Views remarkable. Its named after a defeated captain who went after Saba and ran aground on the very same beach. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'stmaartenadventure_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_12',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-stmaartenadventure_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'stmaartenadventure_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_13',113,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-stmaartenadventure_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0_1');.mobile-leaderboard-1-multi-113{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}If youre into water sports, this is a one of a kind attraction in the Caribbean, great fun! Walk around to get the best deals on t-shirts, perfumes, cigarettes/cigars, alcohol, homeware and electronics, all duty-free. Travel to Maho beach and watch jumbo jets fly overhead to land at the nearby airport. It offers convenient access and plenty to do right there by the port. Hotels near Princ. You can take off and walk the boardwalk and sightsee or just relax and work on your tan. Are you looking for a unique experience by the beach thats accessible and convenient? Seawater averages about three degrees cooler, which makes swimming good at any time. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.