What is the best beach?

[Majika]

We will be in St Maarten in August 2004. Way too hot for any substantial shopping so we all opted for the beach. Just wondering what is recommended? And is it better to go on your own or through the cruise line? Ive seen pictures of Divi beach and that looks very nice. Im not too sure about going to a nude beach however since we will be with family members.

 

Norway 8/93

Royal Majesty 8/94

Premier Seabreeze 8/2000

Carnival Triumph 8/2001

NCL Sun 8/2002

Carnival Imagination 7/3/2003

Carnival Triumph 8/04

 

 

[Zeno]

My favorite is Orient Beach - long, nice sand,pretty water, good swimming, lots of restaurants to choose from, lots of activities and lots of people watching. However on the extreme south end of Orient Beach, there is a Naturist Resort. If you walk down there you WILL see nude people. If you go to the opposite end you MAY see the occasional nude person walking by. You WILL see topless women anywhere on the beach. When I was there (about midway along the beach) we probably saw about 20 nude people (in ones and twos walking along the beach). Neither of the two families on either side of us seemed especially traumatized by the sight.(Their kids were busy playing and ignored the whole thing). However if you are just too uncomfortable about the possibility of viewing nude people, generally you will not find nudity on the beaches on the Dutch side (Dawn, Maho, Mullet Bay, Great Bay). Dawn is nice but if the surf is up it can be dificult for small children.

 

 Until NCL SKY

 

[Majika]

Hi Zeno,

 

Should orient beach be booked from the ship or is it better to catch a cab and go it on your own?

 

Norway 8/93

Royal Majesty 8/94

Premier Seabreeze 8/2000

Carnival Triumph 8/2001

NCL Sun 8/2002

Carnival Imagination 7/3/2003

Carnival Triumph 8/04

 

 

[Zeno]

At the dock you will see signs for taxis. The SXM taxi association has a very efficient dispatch area set up. Prices are posted. If you get a taxi just for yourselves - it will be about $18 (one way). However it is much cheaper to share a mini-van with others ($5 per person) unless you are your own little group. The taxi drivers will usually drop you off at one of the restaurants that is about mid-point along the beach. If you want to minimize nude vewing, walk down the beach to your left. Pretty much all the restaurants will be glad to rent you umbrellas and loungers - so when you see a spot you like just settle there. They all have washrooms and some even have outdoor showers. The beach is public - so if you just want to spead out on your own towel - you can do that too. When you want to leave, there will be taxis waiting in the various parking lots behind the restaurants.

 

 Until NCL SKY