It gives a semiprivate vibe but is not totally secluded, still giving you a public place to stroll and bask in the sun. Visit this beach to enjoy a great beach break on its soft white sands and when you get hungry grab a bite at the nearby restaurants. From this lovely beach, you will also see beautiful mountains against the magnificent blue sky over the sea. The Dawn Beach is a picturesque vacation spot which can be located at the south of St the Maarten border. We did end up getting some of our kids hair braided by two different people. The water taxi ride costs about $4 per person. All Inclusive. Before we get started, youre going to need to check all these beach accessories. Frequented by tourists from far and wide, this beach is an amazing destination for all ages. There you have it, 13 of the best beaches in Saint Martin. Dawn Beach offers spectacular views of sunrises. Little bay beach is located adjacent to Little Divi Resort. This is the beach for you. A smaller number of restaurants are on the French side in Marigot and Grand Case. Remember especially if you are traveling via taxi or bus to give yourself ample time to get to your cruise ship. It takes one about 25 minutes to get to the beach. Calm and clear azure waters with an excellent view of the Ocean is what greets you at Grand Case Beach. Hotels near Princ. Start your shopping day at Front street in the heart of Philipsburg. We didn't find anywhere to snorkel that had anything to see. Cruise visitors will arrive at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities just outside of Philipsburg on Great Bay. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Beach bumming is the main activity here, but you can also try the locals favorite guava berry rum Coladas served at the little bars nearby. Central town beaches usually aren't great, but that's not the case here. St. Martin/St. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Great Bay Beach, PhilipsburgSint Maarten, NLD 1744. Also Read:15 Best Cozumel Beaches You Should Experience. The destruction and lack of money from tourism has resulted in most of the island being in some state of disrepair. Things To Bring On A Cruise: 19 Cheap & Really Useful Cruise Items, 17 Awesome Travel Gift Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love. Then one thing to include in your list of things to do is to visit one of the islands finest beaches. This beach is perfect for surfing and windsurfing. They can rent umbrellas and chairs for a reasonable price and a lovely view of the bay. 2017 Scott S. Bateman. The beach itself has suffered significant erosion due to the jet blast. 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! The Great Bay Beach is a well-maintained destination complete with white sandy dunes and clear waters, which is why its among our top picks when it comes to the different nice beaches in St Maarten. A St. Maarten cruise has great appeal simply because the island has one of the best cruise ports in the entire Caribbean. September and November historically have the highest rainfall and are the riskiest months to go there. Here are 10 attractions near the cruise port to make planning easier for passengers. The place is fabulous. A 20minutes taxi ride from the cruise pier will get you to the beach. Orient Bay Beach is excellent for water sport activities such as snorkeling and many individuals prefer it for swimming and sunbathing than Great Bay Beach. But they mainly represent low-end casual in one group and high-end seafood and steak in the other. It actually runs parallel to Front Street just one street over, do not miss out on the experience. Best Family Beaches in St. Maarten for an Outstanding Time Luckily, given the islands size, you can visit any beach within the few hours allowed in port. Having your towels on your beach loungers will reserve them for the day. Simpson Bay Beach is a long half-moon of white sand located by a fishing village. How to Walk to Great Bay Beach in St Maarten - YouTube Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hotel La Plantation. This mile-long stretch of soft, white-sandy beach runs parallel to a long promenade stretching its entire length. Alicia's Inn. Sint Maarten Beach Hotels; Sint Maarten Green Hotels; Sint Maarten Business Hotels; By Hotel Class. Best Things to Do in St. Martin, According to a Local - Insider While the Dutch side boasts of the closest beaches to the cruise port, the French side has some of the best. This is the most affordable option. Beach nice enough, sea was lovely but quite a drop as the current changed..safe enough though. Getting To Maho Beach From The Cruise Port - Fastest Way! Its a long stretch of several white sandy beaches nestled at the foot of sapphire colored sand cliffs. From there, cruise visitors can walk, take a water taxi or a taxi cab to Great Bay Beach. This is a very nice beach, with soft sand, and gorgeous turquoise water. The walk is about 10 minutes, goes three fourths of a mile and is not difficult on a warm day. This lovely, well-sheltered beach offers crystal-clear calm, warm waters that are perfect for swimming. The top three excursions in St. Maarten are 1) The Flying Dutchman zip-line, 2) a chairlift to the top of sentry hill and 3) racing on a multi-million dollar America's Cup yacht boat. St. Thomas Beaches Near the Cruise Port - Caribeez.com Enjoy a nice blood warming match of volley ball. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Princess Heights Luxury Condo Hotel. This destination is also known to be the safest beach for kids since the water is calm and aquatic activities are relatively available in the area. This beachs convenience makes it a hot spot for many tourists who are looking to relax and have some fun. We paid $50 for 2 I believe. There were multiple ships in port so you could probably negotiate a better deal on a less busy day. Its not easy elsewhere to find washrooms for public use, except at restaurants by the beach. Explore different ways to experience this place. Maho Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor Head to St. Martin, the French side of St. Maarten, where you'll find a peaceful environment. Riselle Celestina for Insider. 10 Best Attractions near the Cruise Port in St. Maarten/St. Martin Mullet Bay Mullet Bay Beach Sint Maarten, NLD 1744 Mullet Bay is ideal for travellers who are looking for a lowkey beach with a relaxing ambiance. The popular cruise destination in the Eastern Caribbean has two sides and is known for being the smallest landmass to host two nations in one place. There are no full restrooms but there is a port-a-potty available and usually there is a crowd on weekends. Dont forget to bargain with the vendors. Clean restrooms are available to visitors. Whether you prefer to be laid back or power shop, St, Maarten is the island for you and your family to enjoy it all. If you've only got six hours: Dive or snorkel the second-largest coral reef in the world. Philipsburg is big enough and developed enough to spend most of the day on foot. 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. 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. from the cruise ship pier shopping area to the center of Great Bay beach ($7 for unlimited tri 93% of travelers recommend this experience. The sunset is also breathtaking, like on most beaches in St Maarten. Authentic name brands like Armani, Versace, Gucci are just some designer brands you will find. You can take a tour of the nature reserve nearby as you explore the majestic beauty of the place. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Atrium Beach Resort and Spa St Maarten a Ramada by Wyndham, Also See:Beaches in BermudaBest Beaches in JamaicaPhuket Beaches, Guana Bay, PhilipsburgSint Maarten, NLD 1744. For tourists who want a quiet and relaxing vacation, this is the place to be. Deals. Feel free to browse our website for more content on St Maarten, the Dutch Caribbean and rest of the Caribbean by using the search bar located at the top of this page. 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. This beach is also an excellent spot for snorkeling through the astounding coral reefs and bodies of water. The sunset in Cupecoy Beach is astounding, and we suggest you spend it at the bar while waiting for the vibrant ambiance at night. Tourists should visit Rainforest Adventures, Seaside Nature Park, and Tintamarre island. Directly a few blocks inland from the duty free store, past the courthouse, the yellow and blue RBC bank building with automated teller machine is always open to tourists in need of cash for excursions / tipping. Front Street in Philipsburg. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten (with Prices Little Bay, located near Fort Amsterdam and Philipsburg, is a beach dive location with calm waters and rock beach breaks. Peaceful and serene. Day and night, theres always a lively atmosphere in Kim Sha Beach, St Maarten. 10 Indulgence by the Sea St. Maarten Photo courtesy of Indulgence by the Sea The Indulgence by the Sea Spa. 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. How to Get from St Maarten Airport to Hotel? Is this beach wheelchair friendly? If these beaches dont meet your needs, then try any of the 24 remaining beaches you are sure to find what you are looking for. This beach is found on the Dutch side of the island towards the southwestern ends. It is very close to the cruise terminal and you can get there either by water taxi for $7 with a return ticket or pay $5 for a one way. Didnt feel too crowded and it was a great beach for kids to play and swim. Captain Bob Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Beach Tour Including Lunch in St. Maarten (From $139.00) Half Day Snorkeling and Beach Tour/Excursion (From $89.00) Private Sailboat Charter in St Maarten; Anguilla and Prickly Pear Cays day trip (From $160.00) 3 Island Adventure with stop at Tintamarre to swim with Turtles (From $146.00) Get forecasts each morning for every major island. With so many things to do and see in St. Maarten, you may need to come back and spend a weeks holiday to really enjoy the rest of the island. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg - Tripadvisor Excited about sunrise and sunsets? The main St. Maarten cruise port is Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities at Philipsburg. Temperatures stay in the low 80s Fahrenheit in the winter and reach the high 80s in the summer. The price for an entire day is $7 per person at the time of this writing. You can take off and walk the boardwalk and sightsee or just relax and work on your tan. Alternatively, you can take a public transportation which costs USD $2.50 to go and USD$2.50 to return. I think you can also walk around to the beach instead of the water taxi. Best for Crown Bay Cruisers: Emerald Beach (Lindbergh Bay Beach) Why go: Home to the Emerald Beach Resort, Lindbergh Bay has all the things you want in a beach, while being located close. Orient and Maho are the most popular shore excursion beaches, but Great Bay is free and a short walk away. 1. You can also take a stroll to the nearby market for the local cuisine. Rates include all on-property. The overhead plane landing makes it one of the most popular beaches in St Maarten. Maarten . While the other is a rocky beach that faces the other side and is exposed to the rough side of nature but bears beautiful rock formations. THE 5 BEST Cruise Port Hotels in Philipsburg of 2023 (with Prices Very pretty mountains around the bay and it's great to watch the ships come and go. Maho Beach Arguably the most popular beach that travelers on cruises to St. Maarten visit is Maho Beach, which is known for having the area's longest stretch of hotels and resorts. At least when you get hungry, you are within easy reach of a restaurant, or you can go back to the ship for lunch. There are few chain restaurants. Swim shoes may come in handy when walking by the shore, and there may be small rocks you may encounter when walking in the waters. Visit Orient Bay village, within walking distance of the beach. What Attractions Are At Orient Bay Beach? It often gets ranked as one of the best in the Caribbean. This is the place to chill out, hang out with your friends while sipping a Pina Colada by the sand bar. From water sports, swimming, sunbathingyoull never run out of things to do. St. Maarten Cruise Port: Tips, Excursions and Weather - Caribeez We ended up at the far end with our beach towels on the sand as we were not spending a whole daythat was perfect. Two beach chairs and an umbrella go for $20. The water taxi stand at the cruise port is just a quick walk north of the docks. Drop off at the resort and walk in between the buildings to get to the beach behind it. I trust that you have found this information useful if your plans are to visit a beach while on a cruise to St Maarten. Maarten; Cruise Critic Community. Baie Rouge is what youll expect what a Caribbean beach would look like. Great Bay Beach is a fun beach and everything you will need will be there------the beach---water sports---bars--restaurants----long & wide and close to the docks and along one of the best shopping streets in the Caribbean. Shops, cafes, car rentals and restaurants are located nearby. Travel by water taxi is about 5 minutes and via taxi (car) about 8 minutes via Walter A Nisbeth Road. 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. Marigot Marigot is the capital of the French collective of the island. You also get the use of their facilities. The beach strip has enough to offer during the day, though, and stores galore towards Achter Straatan enduring shopping destination! 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. Great care must be exercised as persons have died in the past due to the effects of the jet blast. 1. What's the best way to see Great Bay Beach? There are street bars, rum shacks serving ice-cold beer, and restaurants serving delicious food. Some jet skis nearby filling up with fuel every 10 minutes which smelt terriblenot very safety conscious either as they were floating about in the water while filling up. It is located on the French side and is about a 20-minute ride from the port. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. It is easy to spend the day going back and forth between the beach and shopping or dining. The right portion is where families and children would bond through a number of recreational activities, and the left-most area is the adult division of the beach meant for nude sunbathing. There are hundreds of duty free stores and the discounts are great. Then travelled back on water taxi (very good ride!) Magens Bay has an entry fee of $5 for adults and children 13 and older. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Check out the list below for the top recommended Attractions near the Cruise Port in St. Maarten/St. Another beach that is well loved by both locals and visitors to the island is Mullet Bay Beach. There is a boat that brings people over and drops them at the dock. You only need to get to the port early. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. As a result, it is hugely popular with visitors taking photos and videos. As a famous tourist island, this place is accessible and will give you the well-deserved vacation you need. The water is calm, no waves. Pay a visit to the Maho Bay Beach which is situated right behind the Princess Juliana International Airport. At the far end #27 is Dutch Blonds pancakes and escape rooms; just look for the windmill. St. Maarten Beaches Near the Cruise Port - Caribeez Shops and food along the boardwalk. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. It is located right at the heart of Philipsburg. It takes approximately 5 minutes by water taxi and 8 minutes by car to arrive at this location. Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten: Find 2106 traveller reviews, candid photos, and the top ranked Cruise Port Hotels in Sint Maarten on Tripadvisor.