St. Maarten, along with its neighbor St. Martin, occupies the smallest island in the world that is under the dominion of two countries, Holland and France. It is rapidly developing and becoming a port of call for the Eastern Caribbean. The bustling town of Philipsburg on the Dutch side offers a plethora of shopping opportunities, and it’s just a short car or bus ride to the more low-key French side of the island.
How to Get to Philipsburg
Downtown is a twenty-minute walk from the ship terminal, but your best bet is the convenient water taxi that’ll take you right to the heart of downtown from the cruise port.
One Day in St. Maarten
If duty-free shopping in Philipsburg is not your thing, the pirate's day cruise is a great opportunity to learn a little about the Caribbean island’s swashbuckling past. Stops at sandy beaches give you a chance to snorkel or swim. Or get a tutorial on how to sail a yacht with the 12 meter challenge, an exhilarating race through the crystal clear ocean. When dinnertime rolls around, take a romantic ride aboard the Calypso, which drops you off on the French side in Marigot for dinner at La Petite Auberge.
Port Information
St. Maarten sports a brand new cruise terminal, the AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility. Locals on the Dutch side all speak English, and American dollars are accepted everywhere. Traffic tends to back up in the mountains between the French and Dutch sides, so keep an eye on the clock and allow yourself enough time to get back to the terminal at the end of the day.
