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. This price is very reasonable and affordable for everyone. No, there is no direct ferry from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. Especially considering all the cheese shops wed passed en route in the taxi. . Ask for specifications at the booth. Tourism dollars help contribute to the rebuilding and preservation of the beaches and businesses that were affected by the hurricane. The water taxis depart and arrive every 5-10 minutes and will take you over to a great family beach and the downtown area for shopping. 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! 2003-2021 AirportShuttles.com - All rights reserved. With more than 30 unique beaches to choose from, the island offers no shortage of places to kick back and relax with your toes in the sand and a cold drink in hand. Make sure to take some home with you. This is clearly a popular holiday destination, whether for people travelling only to Sint Maarten, or cruise passengers and crew like me and my pal Rachel; but I was still surprised by how Americanised the whole place felt. Dutch and French Side Island Sightseeing, A great place to taste the premium quality rum and see the rum-making process. To start with, you will enjoy docking at St. Maarten as tendering is not necessary. Generally arrivals are between 6:30 and 7 on up to 8:30 or 9. Resort Beach DayFor guests not wishing to make the trek to the French side of the island, there's su. . . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88299225', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ship landing in St Martin on 16th Jan 2018. Underneath you will find your transportation options: The water taxi is a very popular way to go to the city centre of Philipsburg. For more information about COVID-19 protocols, please visit www.stmaartenupdates.com. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Check out, Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch. Find the tender platform right in the city centre of Philipsburg. Marigot to Grand Case should take 15 minutes, but here as well it can sometimes take longer. Walk. 1 mile from the cruise terminal. In St. Maarten, on the Dutch side of the island, the official currency is the antillean guilder. Buy a ticket for the water taxi at the St Maarten cruise terminal. Papapapapaya #allofthefruitsinherebaby if your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The Dutch side draw bridge will open at 9:30 A.M. . The French route it is just too much travel time and distance. Alternatively, you can take the drive to Port de Galisbay. See St Maarten cruise port on Google maps, Check out St Maarten rent-a-car deals and offers, See the list of the best Philipsburg tours, 3. When cruise ships return to the docks of Philipsburg this summer, Sint Maarten is going to be ready. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Great Bay Beach, a long boardwalk and shopping on Front Street run side by side. . See map above for its exact location. And the area directly in the path to the runway was naturally where people gravitated towards; everyone needs the money shot of themselves with an airplane zooming low behind. Tintamarre Island is an uninhabited island which has been recognized as an important bird area. The journey should only take about 20 minutes, but we spent almost double that crawling along in a long line of cars. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Port Norfolk Virginia. 3. The most popular and convenient one is the Great Bay beach. The zip line course at this farm dubbed the extreme fly zone shouldnt be missed. Everyday Im hustlin The most famous of all the beaches on the island is Maho Bay Beach thanks to its proximity to the airport. Distance to Cruise Port: 8.7 miles Distance from Airport: 2 minutes. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. More 1 hour Free Cancellation From $9.00 Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to St Maarten Airport 86 Help, Re: Cruise Terminal to Airport (Philipsburg, St Maarten) ? Enjoy The Beaches. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? Posted January 17, 2011. So, if you are looking for the cheapest way to enjoy the Maho beach, then the local bus is an ideal way. Before I share with you the best things to do in Philipsburg, I invite you to subscribe below and get my exclusive, insider SHORE EXCURSION GUIDE FOR FREE! Creditcards are accepted at mosts shops. It is a small island divided between two countries France and the Kingdom of Netherlands. 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). 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88299383', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ships have that as an excursion it's the sunset beach bar . There are plenty of beachside chair and umbrella rental services for a relaxing day watching the turquoise waters of the bay lap against the sand. Should I visit Marigot on the french side or just spend time on the Dutch side for shopping and maybe a little beach time? Archive - Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. 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. Find all the transport options for your trip from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay right here. more, St Martin / St Maarten Destination Experts. As part of the islands COVID-19 response, all travelers to the island by air must complete a mandatory electronic health authorization application or they will not be able to board their flight. St Maarten port is one of the fastest-growing Caribbean cruise ports and the leading cruise port in the Eastern Caribbean. The Dr Wathey Pier, on a walking distance from Philipsburg, is a strategic hub for cruise vessels in the middle of the Caribbean. 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. Great Bay Beach. Distance: 4 km Duration: 1h 10m What companies run services between St Maarten Airport (SXM), Sint Maarten and Marigot, Saint Martin? Just make sure you keep the water on your left hand side walking to the town. In my blog, I share with you my insider tips & knowledge and about cruise ports, shore excursions, cruise destinations, and crew life onboard a cruise ship! AA has (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You either have to cross the Dutch side draw bridge or the French side draw bridge when coming from the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The centuries-old liquor is a part of St. Maartens culture, there are songs and stories dedicated to the Guava Berry. 1 mile from the cruise terminal. St Maarten the Eastern Caribbean pearl boasting stunning beaches, lush tropical nature, and kind, friendly residents is an island of diversities! - Wikipedia. For those looking for a different kind of beauty, the Caribbeans finest butterfly farm and a guided local artisan tour are fine ways to spend the day. But whilst the Silver Wind was still in port, another 3 ships docked in St Maarten Regal Princess, Eurodam and Anthem of the Seas. Coastal has some no-so-good reviews and that worries me. The cruise port was visited by 6,8 million cruise tourists in 2008-2009, 7,9M (2014-2015) and 1,5M (2015-2016). 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. 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. Can anyone tell me how far the airport (SXM)is from the cruise dock? However, the Water Taxi is $7 round trip and a short 5-10 minute water ride to a beach. However, if you fancy more private and secluded beaches, you can charter a boat to the nearby island of Anguilla. Your ship will dock on the Dutch side of the island at Philipsburg, where all large vessels such as cruise ships dock. There is a car rental facility as well at the St. Martin cruise terminal. I had a great day watching the planes on Maho Beach, but will I be going back there in a hurry, pals? Also, AA airline flight departs at 10:30 am..can I make this flight? There might be two extremes in St. Maarten hair-raising ziplines and sleepy sunset cruises but there is so much more to the island, which really grew on me during my short stay and now ranks as my favourite Caribbean destination. 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. There's no physical border or customs checkpoint between the two sides. Walk 1h 45m. I will be disembarking a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Check out the St Maarten/St Martin boat and snorkeling tours, rel="sponsored nofollow noopener". Yes, the driving distance between St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is 5 miles. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status within Saint Martin, please check government recommendations. It boasts an impressive infrastructure that can accommodate a couple of cruise ships simultaneously, including the worlds largest cruise ships. The government regulates taxi fares by zone and number of passengers . Any content or photos on this website are copyright protected and cannot be used for commercial purposes. Sint Maarten has several COVID-19 testing centers on the island and many of the hotels and resorts have sample collection services for getting tested upon your return home. What a rush to grind a winch and trim a sail as official crew members of the same Stars & Stripes catamaran that carried Dennis Conner and his crew to victory in the Americas Cup. Most prices are clearly displayed in US dollars and most shops will have no problem accepting US dollars and will even have the change ready in US dollars. Large dock and cruise terminal available: 1 mile from Philipsburg Tender dock available right in town. Water Taxi a great way to get to downtown Philipsburg for a low cost. Alow more time to return as traffic tends to back-up coming into Phillipsburg. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status in Sint Maarten, please check government recommendations. Reply Jan 30th, 2010, 03:53 AM # 3 Barbara1 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 686 Likes: 0 Received 0. However, you must leave the airport (which requires going through immigration) and take a cab to get to the ferry port . 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. The Dutch later built Fort Amsterdam as a military outpost in Philipsburg for protection from intruders. $31/Adult. The road distance is 5 miles. The crowds of people waiting for planes to land took up almost the entire middle of the beach closest to the runway. Report inappropriate content divedive2 Nashville, Tennessee Level Contributor 277 posts It is located in the Caribbean Sea, about 3km from the island of Saint Martin, and is administered as part of the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin. St. Martin is the worlds smallest territory shared by two countries. These taxis are more like minivans, and its likely that youll share a ride with other passengers or crew in order to fill up the vehicle. Visit the Loterie farm, St. Maarten zoo, the Butterfly farm or be blown away at one of the worlds most dangerous airports for example. A scenic half-hour taxi ride from port is Marigot, the main town on the French side. You are free to walk, but you can also take the water taxi or a regular taxi. 2023 Copyright by Cruise Crocodile. . Leave the piers and head to the right, where theres a row of taxis waiting to leave. Traffic is crazy that time of year. If you stay near the airport, you might be OK with taking taxis to your destinations . The island has no human occupants, but has been inhabited in the past. Its capital is Philipsburg a major commercial hub and a cruise port that can accommodate a large number of cruise ships of all sizes due to its great infrastructure and port facilities. Anguilla is endowed with virgin beaches that feature pristine white sandy stretches. . Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Kids 3 and under are free and it is cheaper than taking a cab if you wish to go downtown for shopping. I had previously had an image of a fairly peaceful wide open white sandy paradise with crystal clear water, palm trees, and every now and again, an airplane zooming low overhead. Walk from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Philipsburg 8.8 km. 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 trip from the dock to the airport usually takes closer to 30 minutes and often much more when the traffic is bad. We were there are Christmas Day and there were a lot of taxis and busses going out to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The sun was scorching hot and getting into the cool water melted away the crazy sweaty energy of the beach bar. Cancun cruise port schedule 2023-2024-2025, map, address, ship terminals, hotels, tours, shore excursions. Absolutely not. Last updated: March 1 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. There are taxis right in town to take you . It's famous because if you're there at the right time, and if you've got the right spot on the beach, planes will fly . The bus is only $2 per person and will drop you off in the parking lot. . You'll need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to departure, arriving later than that may or may not result in your missing your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? When you disembark from your ship, start walking towards the shops and look for the large Water Taxi sign on the left. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Terminal Mobile Al. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our, St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay, Take the ferry from Sint Maarten to Anguilla, Take the ferry from Anguilla to St. Martin, Drive from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay, Walk from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. The fastest way to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is to ferry. . After you have bought your ticket you will receive a paper bracelet as proof of payment and you proceed to the pier. . Because of this vibrant but peaceful history the island shows two beautiful and diverse faces and personalities. Currently, we are unable to provide international travel restriction information for Saint Martin relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19). 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 cutest little streets youll ever want to explore are here, plus white sand beaches that bow to the more liberal European culture. or take a land taxi into town. We are looking to go to the beach to watch the planes land. From the beach in Philipsburg you can see the ships in the distance. Rental Car this can be a great way to see the island, especially if you have more than a group of 3 people. Aside from the great climate Sint Maarten is known for its shopping! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88391878', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maho beach every day. #1. In total there are thirteen beaches to visit during your cruise stay. The nicest beaches in St. Maarten are Majo Beach, located at the end of the airport runway, and Orient Beach, located on the French side of the island. The journey is way too long to walk it, and costs around $15-20 per person depending on how many are in the car. My favorite is the guava berry colada. For more packing tips, check out my article. Both the Dutch side and French side of the island have so much to offer in the way of beaches. This post was sponsored by the island of Sint Maarten, Recommended Reading: Can You See The Northern Lights On An Alaskan Cruise. 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. My name is Katarina and welcome to my cruise & travel blog! Try and get a seat along the railing! A round trip costs 7 US dollars. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14761279', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights to San Juan. Good to know, ya know.). Ooh la la. Sonesta Ocean Point Resort is an adults-only, 5 star luxury all-inclusive resort which features direct access to spectacular Maho Beach. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. St Maarten / St Martin has for decades been a popular port of call for cruise passengers. Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, and Pinel Island are some top choices off the coast of St. Maarten. All rights reserved. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Hi! The Guava berry Emporium is the spot to taste and sample this locally made liquor. Visit also our cruise guides to St Thomas, San Juan, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia,Falmouth, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Labadee, Bermuda, Barbadosif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); 25 Top Shore Excursion Packing List Items, What to Pack for a Cruise Top 50 Cruise Essentials. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Saint Martin. It is able to dock seven cruise ships at one time. 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. However, of course, this is when there are most cruise liners docking and so more people. Find a booth (see picture) to buy a ticket. rene verdugo urquidez released SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. 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. Your email address will not be published. Start your shopping day at Front street in the heart of Philipsburg. There are water taxis, vehicles, trams, buses and even ATVs at the transport stand. Rainclouds rarely stick around for long, and we were confident that by the time we reached the airplane beach it would have passed. Private Two Islands Tour. A hat and water are recommended! Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. http://www.yapta.com/search/results/?id=03735b347bad15f9770ef1e8a196df8c. It is a beautiful resort dotted with beautiful wooden cabanas hidden among the trees. Philipsburg is located on the Dutch side of the island (Sint Maarten). Enjoy The Beaches. how to change chrome to desktop mode in mobile. Built in 1787 by Will Blake, a sugar planter, it is stated to be the oldest structure on the island. Here, you will find the Pinel Island Marine Trail, a designated snorkeling route teeming with marine life. 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. The St. Maarten cruise terminal does not provide free wi-fi, but youll find that wifi is often included with a purchase at one of the cafes and restaurants at the cruise terminal. Adults (16+) Children (2-15) Other popular beaches are not within walking distance, but if you are willing to take a taxi we can recommend Dawn beach, Mullet Bay Beach or Orient Beach. February 18. On Monday, December 4, 2017, Viking Sea was the first cruise ship to call at the island of St Maarten since the passing of hurricane Irma earlier in September that same year. In the 17th century, both the Dutch and the French colonized St. Maarten. St Maartens cruise port is in the capital city- Philipsburg which has space for a whole load of cruise ships to dock at once. . And use your heads! Leisure Car rental provides clean and well-maintained vehicles in all categories. This is where you catch the watertaxi to the centre of Philipsburg. How to Get to Philipsburg From the St. Maarten Cruise Port Cruise ships dock at the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility around 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Philipsburg center. They'll keep a running tab for you as long as you are there. At the cruise terminal you will find signs that will lead you there. Also find all detailed information about cruise port St. Maarten and what to see and do underneath. The French route it is just too much travel time and distance. It takes approximately 9 min to drive from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. Get around town by utilizing either the Philipsburg Ferry Terminal down the street, or a modest bus line whose only downfall is waiting on a lax schedule. 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. Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten: Find 2106 traveller reviews, candid photos, and the top ranked Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten on Tripadvisor. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14743129', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise port. Travel down Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard with a transfer thats easy to count on, choosing between a modest sedan or a spacious chartered bus to see the vibrant culture of the Arawak people, or consider one of many meet-and-greet services ranging from luxury limousines perfect for arriving to beachside resort restaurants in brilliant fashion, or go with a casual local personal driver who can offer the natives perspective of surrounding landmarks as well as exotic natural flora.