Kind of like never standing at the back end of a horse. . For something more sober-minded, walk through historic landmarks like The Salt Pickers, located along the north end of the citys famed Great Salt Pond and doubling as a tranquil prelude to the relaxed ambiance of Pond Island. You cant miss it. Sometimes ships drop anchor in the bay in front of Philipsburg and tender people to shore. You can read more in our cookie notice more information I agree. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). The information provided by this website is subject to change and therefore information can be inaccurate. For the latest travel status, we recommend checking the official page for Saint Martin. Anyone have a suggestion as to an airline flying to San Juan? Find a booth (see picture) to buy a ticket. 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. For full information, please see mydisclaimerhere. Currency: The official currency in St Maarten is the Antillean Guilder and the Euro depending on which side you are on. The French side is called Saint Martin (St Martin). Indirect flights to St Maartens airport can be sought by going via Paris or Amsterdam. Portland, OR. It takes approximately 1h 10m to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay, including transfers. And time recommended for the drive? And yet there really is just a simple wire fence separating the road from the runway. #1. Read more about your options in the full Philipsburg, St. Maarten cruise port guide. Last updated: March 1 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. In the sea, people swam and jumped in the swell whilst waiting for the next plane to land. It is within sight of the ship, in the city centre and there are lots of facilities. Popular landmarks include the island heritage of Saint Maarten Museum, home to views of traditional Arawak artifacts ranging from poetry to photography, attached the nearby Guavaberry Emporium offers views of the islands famed tradition of alcohol making. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status within Saint Martin, please check government recommendations. Book a shared arrival transfer from Princess Juliana International Airport to your hotel, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip in St Maarten, or St Martin. Wallblake House is a heritage plantation house and museum annex in The Valley, Anguilla in the northeastern Caribbean. Shopping: at the cruise terminal or in town Transportation: Taxis at the cruise terminal Watertaxi available to get you from the cruise terminal to town Beach: Great Bay Beach is the main beach in 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! It is a small island divided between two countries France and the Kingdom of Netherlands. The walk is 100-200 meters long , and in case you have difficulty in walking, there is a small trolley that can take you there for free. Where is maho beach in st maarten? . Posted Wednesday at 09:11 PM. (But its still pretty fun to be in the sea when a plane comes in to land.). Princess Juliana International Airport primarily services international and regional flights and is located 12 km/7.5 miles (a 25-minute drive) northwest of the Sint Maarten cruise terminal. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? One-way transfers are perfect for those who just want to get to their destination without worrying about how they'll get back. Guests looking for an ultimate vacation experience, the Roof Top and Sunset suites with butler service are the resorts best accommodations. ', 'Should I book online before I travel? There are great sites to visit and memories to make. 3. Roundtrip watertaxi tickets from the St. Maarten cruise port to Philipsburg costs: Adults: 7 US dollars Crew member: 3 US dollars Children under 3 years old: Free You can pay cash in US dollar or with credit card. . It features a large pool, restaurants and large picnic-play grounds. It takes about 20 minutes if the roads are clear. However US dollar are widely accepted. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. . The cruise ships often dock on the Dutch side near Philipsburg. If you are going from the Dutch into French side and back there is no border control or anything like that. The government regulates taxi fares by zone and number of passengers . 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. For over 350 years they have been living alongside one another on this small island. Creditcards are accepted at mosts shops. The water taxi departs from the Captain Hodge Pier. Both beach bars on the beach are up and running for some time. . It is right in town at the main boulevard. There is no direct connection from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. The cruise port is located on the French side of the island. This can happen as early as 8:30. 5. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. rene verdugo urquidez released SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. This is your ticket to the beach and back; the taxi will drop you in the car park close to Maho Beach, and taxi vans regularly take passengers back from the exact same spot. Limassol Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Mykonos Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Split Cruise Port Guide (Croatia), Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Dubrovnik Cruise Port Guide, Things to Do, Shore Excursions, Catania Cruise Port Guide (Sicily), Things to Do, Shore Excursions, The port area and Philipsburg downtown are, The roads in St Maarten are well-developed and clearly marked, so a. Dutch is the official language on the Dutch side, and French on the French side, however, English is widely spoken. 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. Great Bay Beach, a long boardwalk and shopping on Front Street run side by side. Tour buses and taxi rank are located nearby to get there, you need to turn right and keep walking to the exit of the terminal area until you reach a small building housing a tourist information desk. #1. . Leisure car rental service recently won the WTA awards as the best St. Maarten car rental company for 2020. The French route it is just too much travel time and distance. At SXM airport importantly, St. Martian's main form of transportation island- wide is rental cars. 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. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, and Pinel Island are some top choices off the coast of St. Maarten. When you disembark from your ship, start walking towards the shops and look for the large Water Taxi sign on the left. and both beach bars are operating. Dont forget to subscribe below and get my exclusive SHORE EXCURSION GUIDE FOR FREE!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'adventourbegins_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-leader-2-0'); This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. Philipsburg St. Maarten has established a cruise welcome center next to the cruise dock. Dutch and French Side Island Sightseeing, A great place to taste the premium quality rum and see the rum-making process. Currently, we are unable to provide domestic travel restriction information for travelling within Saint Martin. I had a great day watching the planes on Maho Beach, but will I be going back there in a hurry, pals? Alternatively, you can take the drive to Port de Galisbay. Over time, the Dutch and French found ways to maintain their island colonies, respecting each others cultures and heritage. Enjoy The Beaches. 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. How far away is the airport from the docking piers in st. marrten. They also have 3 hour sightseeing tours for $90. It does have a european attitude so there will be a number of topless bathers. Cruise for 9 nights departing in October 2023 | Cruise code departing from Boston . Tour buses and a taxi rank are located nearby; to get there, you need to turn right and keep walking to the exit of the terminal area until you reach a small building housing a tourist information desk. Underneath you will find your transportation options: The water taxi is a very popular way to go to the city centre of Philipsburg. Anyone familiar with Villa Oyster Pearl and/or Dawn Beach? Taxi fare from the cruise pier in Phillipsburg to Orient beach is about $30 + tip each way. The port is a popular cruise-ship stop. Airport: St Maartens airport is called St Maartens Princess Juliana International Airport. To be able to handle the world's largest cruise vessels , Port San Juan invested ~USD 8 million in building a 3rd dock. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Hi! 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 ? 1 mile from the cruise terminal. There are 105+ hotels available in Port de Galisbay. Unlike the not-so-long-ago days of haggling a price with your taxi driver, prices are set, and after paying for your return taxi, youll be given a wrist band in the style of a package holiday. The Dr Wathey Pier, on a walking distance from Philipsburg, is a strategic hub for cruise vessels in the middle of the Caribbean. However, of course, this is when there are most cruise liners docking and so more people. How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. Rodael ingored my email and car booking request made from their website. There's no physical border or customs checkpoint between the two sides. Traffic is crazy that time of year. Both can be found on the French side of the island and are a little more laid back than some of the islands other beaches. The sun was scorching hot and getting into the cool water melted away the crazy sweaty energy of the beach bar. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88391878', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maho beach every day. Also, AA airline flight departs at 10:30 am..can I make this flight? You might also catch a glimpse of sea turtles and stingrays during your snorkeling adventure. 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. Distance: 4 km Duration: 1h 10m What companies run services between St Maarten Airport (SXM), Sint Maarten and Marigot, Saint Martin? . Distance to Cruise Port: 0.9 mile Distance from Airport: 23 minutes. 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). Plenty of crew from our ship had decided to visit that day as well, and we passed about thirty galley guys and their supervisor yelling GALLEY GALLEY GALLEY!!! 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. When cruise ships return to the docks of Philipsburg this summer, Sint Maarten is going to be ready. The cheapest way to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is to ferry which costs $20-$50 and takes 1h 10m. distance from st maarten airport to cruise port St. Martin is the worlds smallest territory shared by two countries. It is famous for being adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport, and is a popular site for tourists and planewatchers, who visit the beach to watch aircraft on final approach landing at the airport, passing only a short distance above their heads. Cruise ships dock at A.C. Wathey Pier, in Dutch St. Maarten. You can book an excursion to Anguilla via your ship or local tour operators. Can anyone tell me how far the airport (SXM)is from the cruise dock? Finally we decided on a spot at the very far end, clear of the runway but close enough that we could make a run for it if we desperately wanted to be under the pathway of a jumbo jet. From the deck of your ship you will be able to see this pier (longer pier with red rooftop). . How to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach in one day. The St Maarten cruise terminal is located in Philipsburg, the Dutch part of the island, around 1.5 mi away from the city center. 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. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. St. Martin is great for any tourist! Visit the Loterie farm, St. Maarten zoo, the Butterfly farm or be blown away at one of the worlds most dangerous airports for example. Sat. le Tintamarre is a small island with an area of approximately 0.8km2. If you want to take a glimpse of the whole island, you should definitely join a sightseeing tour that covers both St Maarten and St Martin highlights.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'adventourbegins_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); You can either take a taxi/car and explore on your own, or you can join one of the sightseeing tours organized by your cruise line or independent tour operators. Since travel rules and restrictions can change, make sure you double check whats required before you head to the airport! Currently, we are unable to provide travel restriction information for leaving Sint Maarten. However, due to the number of cruise visitors, US dollars are widely accepted. Add it! Many, many thanks for all the expert help! Flights Holiday Rentals I would recommend a taxi ride from cruise port to Mullet Bay instead of excursion. There are water taxis, vehicles, trams, buses and even ATVs at the transport stand. 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. Simpson Bay Resort Marina & Spa. Rental Car this can be a great way to see the island, especially if you have more than a group of 3 people. Upon getting off the ship, youll spot Harbour Point Village a lively area full of duty-free shops, jewelry stores, market stalls, bars, and a restaurant. Once you get there, youll spot a small roundabout with plenty of taxi vehicles waiting for the cruise passengers to take them to Philipsburg city center or elsewhere. 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. 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. For travel planning advice, please refer to our Rome2rio Coronavirus information page . 1 American Airlines flight in at 2:00pm - the rest prop planes. I think I'll try and find a flight a'round noon or 1 pm. Buy a ticket for the water taxi at the St Maarten cruise terminal. If youre hanging out for a day or two before or after your cruise leaves, Great Bay Beach is right next to the Philipsburg cruise port and surrounded by hotels, restaurants, nightlife, casinos and more. You can access this beach by walking. Having worked in the cruise industry for over 7 years as Concierge and Shore excursions staff (Rivages du Monde, Viking River Cruises, Royal Caribbean International), Ive gained priceless, inside knowledge about the ports of call and have become a shore excursions expert. Allow at least 1/2 hour to get to the airport. and that is Christmas week, so it might even take longer. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. The processing time for the application takes about 12 hours to process, so make sure you do it a day or two before your flight to ensure its approved in time. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14743129', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise port. A boat transfer only takes 30 minutes to get to the island. Coastal has some no-so-good reviews and that worries me. There were so many people that the waitstaff were ran off their feet, carrying gigantic trays from table to table and struggling to keep up with all the orders. No, there is no direct ferry from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay. Wait, what? The waters surrounding St. Maarten make for some great snorkeling adventures. The journey should only take about 20 minutes, but we spent almost double that crawling along in a long line of cars. #ihavethisthing. rel="sponsored nofollow noopener"if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventourbegins_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-leader-1-0'); If you want to have an adrenaline-packed day filled with water activities and island exploration, you should go for one of the numerous boat tours offered by your cruise line and independent tour operators. The distance between St Maarten Airport (SXM) and Port de Galisbay is 3 miles. Total cost to go and come back from the Sint Maarten cruise terminal (Philipsburg) to "airplane beach" (Maho Beach): $5.00 USD Total time: approximately 30 minutes to go and 30 minutes to return FINAL TIP: Just make sure you return with lots of time before your ship leaves! Instead, try off the beaten path gems like Happy Bay Beach or nearby Friars Bay Beach. There are TWO throughfares to get you from the port to the airport.The short route will take approximately 45 and MUST cross a DRAWBRIDGE that opens DAILY around 8 0r 9 for traffic in and out of the Bay/Lagoon..small boats to mega yachts.IF that bridge is opened BEFORE you cross you will have an additional 1/2hr to an hr wait..depending on boat traffic.that time of year can be busy because lots of yachts are wintered there. Sign up here. At the cruise terminal you will find signs that will lead you there. 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. 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. The roads were not meant to carry current traffic volumes, resulting slow driving times. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Adults (16+) Children (2-15) They'll keep a running tab for you as long as you are there. The Dutch side draw bridge will open at 9:30 A.M. we will be on a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Coastal has some no-so-good reviews and that worries me. All rights reserved. One price will do you for the day and youll get a great view of the harbor. Read Also: Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Puerto Rico. The Dutch side is called Sint Maarten (St Maarten) and occupies the southern half of the island. It runs from top of Pic Paradis to the farm below. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' . Cruise ships dock at the new cruise port (the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility) located a 20 minute walk from the downtown area of Philipsburg. The bus is only $2 per person and will drop you off in the parking lot. My favorite is the guava berry colada. 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. It takes about 20 minutes to arrive at this location. 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. Best Philipsburg, St. Maarten excursions. The drive from the cruise port to Maho Beach is about 10 minutes. You might have already sensed from my description that this beach is not my kind of place. The restaurants and bars are huddled at opposite ends of Maho Beach, although the entire thing is so small that it only takes about ten minutes to walk from one end to the other. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Sint Maarten Bed and Breakfast; Sint Maarten Vacation Rentals; Sint Maarten Vacation Packages ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-14735143', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight depending upon many conditions at the airport. 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. distance from st maarten airport to cruise port. On St Martin, the question is not distance but driving time. Absolutely not. There is also an internet cafe at the cruise terminal. If you stay near the airport, you might be OK with taking taxis to your destinations . Kids 3 and under are free and it is cheaper than taking a cab if you wish to go downtown for shopping. Some other suites feature a swim-out pool, while the signature Azul restaurant boasts the most breathtaking views. 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. Find the tender platform right in the city centre of Philipsburg. With its European influences , St. Maarten is just begging to be explored from the land or sea via cruise ship. My name is Katarina and welcome to my cruise & travel blog! That was very silly of me. Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Terminal Mobile Al. The fastest way to get from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Port de Galisbay is to ferry. With just a couple square miles of beachfront blocks, exploring the downtown area of Philipsburg can be an especially easy thing for those looking to get to know the day. No, there is not a beach within walking distance of the St. Maarten cruise port. Our St. Maarten cruise excursions and island tours allow you to experience all the wonder of the Dutch part of the twin island, complete with water sports, hiking and biking, marine life, and quaint history in the capital of Philipsburg. . Rainclouds rarely stick around for long, and we were confident that by the time we reached the airplane beach it would have passed. or take a land taxi into town. There are many options to choose from in St. Maarten, from casual Caribbean fare to upscale restaurants serving lobster thermidor a local specialty. Airplanes create quite humungous jet blasts when theyre taking off, and so it seems fairly logical that you shouldnt stand too close.