Junebug08 Posted September 16, 2012 #1 Share Posted September 16, 2012 We are planning on doing only one excursion and I am trying to decide which island to do it on ...St Thomas or St Maarten ? Which island has the better shopping? When you get off the ship can you walk to the shopping on both islands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bungle Posted September 16, 2012 #2 Share Posted September 16, 2012 We are planning on doing only one excursion and I am trying to decide which island to do it on ...St Thomas or St Maarten ? Which island has the better shopping? When you get off the ship can you walk to the shopping on both islands? Both have shopping directly off of the pier. No need for a taxi or bus if you don't want to go 'into town'... St.Thomas has a lot of shoppes and buildings to walk through. St.Martin has some shoppes and kiosks to browse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny AZ Girl Posted September 16, 2012 #3 Share Posted September 16, 2012 it depends on where you dock in St. Thomas. Havensight has a ton of shops, while Crown Bay only has a few. However, downtown is not a far taxi ride from Crown Bay. We are planning on a beach day in St. Thomas and a tour in St. Martin. We have been to St. Thomas several times, but only once quite a while ago to St. Martin. We will probably do a little shopping at each port, but a little goes a long way with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffi001 Posted September 16, 2012 #4 Share Posted September 16, 2012 We feel like we've gotten better deals on liquor,jewelry and clothes on St Maarten. Plus you can take the fantastic water taxi from the pier. It's not only cheap ($6 for all day pp), the view is great, it leaves you in the center of town, where beers are $1 and there is a beach right there........No need for an excursion at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopacruz Posted September 16, 2012 #5 Share Posted September 16, 2012 We feel like we've gotten better deals on liquor,jewelry and clotheson St Maarten. Plus you can take the fantastic water taxi from the pier. It's not only cheap ($6 for all day pp), the view is great, it leaves you in the center of town, where beers are $1 and there is a beach right there........No need for an excursion at all Agree. St Maarten is better for shopping. Although, we still managed to spend plenty of money in St Thomas! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiffymom Posted September 16, 2012 #6 Share Posted September 16, 2012 what is the beach down town Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffi001 Posted September 16, 2012 #7 Share Posted September 16, 2012 When you exit the water taxi, you are basically in the center of town. Along the water, there is a boardwalk with restaurants, bars, souvenir shops etc. I'm not sure of the name , but adjacent to the boardwalk is a sandy beach. You can rent chairs/ umbrellas, enjoy drinks from the shops on the boardwalk, all within ten steps of the water taxi dock and in full view of the docked ship. It's the only port that I can think of that has this amenity. You can do all of this with virtually no walking , no effort , and no excursion expense. If you google Phillipsburg, St Maartens or look at some photos from previous cruises I'm sure you can see photos of the beach/boardwalk. Front street ,which is where all of the shopping is located, is only a short block away from the water taxi dock. It is a port where you can go ashore, and enjoy an awful lot with very little effort and walking I googled it myself...the name of the beach is Great Bay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UandMe4Ever Posted September 16, 2012 #8 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Sounds great...next cruise we'll do that! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveling1969 Posted September 16, 2012 #9 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Another vote for St Maarten. The beach is great and the water and sand are sparkling clean. There are several discount liquor stores with better prices than St Thomas. Turn left when you reach Front street as those shops offer better value. Be sure to walk all the way to the end and compare prices along the way. Some shops offer significantly lower prices than others. Cheaper cigs too if that's a concern. Plenty of jewelry stores as well and prices are as good if not better than St Thomas. One thing though; St Thomas has a bigger and better Mr. Tabelcloth:D. You can walk to town in St Maaten if you so desire but it's not scenic. It is however a shorter distance than from either St Thomas port into town. As others have mentioned, the water taxi costs $6 per person for all day; a better option in my opinion. Enjoy! Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue d. miller Posted September 16, 2012 #10 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Another vote for St Maarten:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunsetbeachgal Posted September 16, 2012 #11 Share Posted September 16, 2012 And another vote for St. Maarten...nice beach right downtown...some little beach bars selling reasonably priced drinks and beer...and lots of shopping!! A great port!! And lots of excursions in St. Thomas to choose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakelorain Posted September 16, 2012 #12 Share Posted September 16, 2012 I spoke with a business owner in St. Thomas who lives on Anguilla. She said if you shop around, St. Thomas and St. Martin have similar prices with one exception. Electronics are less expensive in St. Martin due to favorable tax treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macruisefan Posted September 16, 2012 #13 Share Posted September 16, 2012 You are sailing Oasis. The shopping is NOT right off the dock at St. Thomas. You will need to take a taxi. Both islands have all the same shops. Most of which are all owned by the same companies. Shopping in the islands isn't really what it once was. Pick one island and you should be good. I would suggest St. Maarten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLHugh Posted September 16, 2012 #14 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Duty Free allowances on Liquor and Cigarettes are much more liberal on goods bought in St. Thomas since it is a US Possession. I agree the water taxi in really nice in St Martin. The dollar beers are right at the town landing and the Barefoot Terrace restaurant right at the town landing is good also. Nice to sit on the terrace and watch beach and walkway. I guess it also depends on what you are shopping for. Have a great cruise!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vrock Posted September 16, 2012 #15 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Another vote for St. Maarten. I really liked the water taxi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bungle Posted September 16, 2012 #16 Share Posted September 16, 2012 You are sailing Oasis. The shopping is NOT right off the dock at St. Thomas. You will need to take a taxi. Both islands have all the same shops. Most of which are all owned by the same companies. Shopping in the islands isn't really what it once was. Pick one island and you should be good. I would suggest St. Maarten. Oasis doesn't dock at the main pier in Havensight(sp)??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lionesss Posted September 16, 2012 #17 Share Posted September 16, 2012 When we did Eastern route on Disney I enjoyed shopping At St. Thomas, newer shops, nice stuff. Too me St. Martin was more islandy stuff, perfumes ---I guess it is just personal preference. Safe travels Sue and crew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherylroslyn Posted September 16, 2012 #18 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Another vote for St. Maarten. I really liked the water taxi. I love your security system........ I have a similar one. I sometimes step over mine and he doesn't even wake up....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkwolfe Posted September 16, 2012 #19 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Oasis doesn't dock at the main pier in Havensight(sp)??? Nope, it docks over in Crown Bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marci22 Posted September 16, 2012 #20 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Friendly Duty Free had cheap liquor prices (St. Martin) and they deliver to the ship. http://www.best-stmartin.com/detail.asp?storeID=5137&catID=2&typID=16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Familygoboston Posted September 16, 2012 #21 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Another vote for SMX...again Oasis and Allure dock at Crown Bay, so the real shopping is a cab ride away ( there are a few shops at Crown Bay, but not much) whereas in SMX you can walk, or take the water taxi or a regular taxi. We've also found better deals on jewelry, though if you are spending real money and expect to go over your customs limits (800 pp) then you might prefer ST T as it US, and not subject to th limits. I also like SMX for more inexpensive islands stuff, ST T is a lot of International jewelry shops and duty free, SMX seems to have more interesting and varied shops. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UandMe4Ever Posted September 16, 2012 #22 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Sounds wonderful! Will do it next time..Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmdicato Posted September 17, 2012 #23 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Another vote for St. Maarten....and you definitely can't miss out on the guavaberry rum there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froedrick Posted September 17, 2012 #24 Share Posted September 17, 2012 +1 for St. Maarten - only island (that I know of) with a Yoda Guy shop. Definitely one of a kind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rissandave Posted September 17, 2012 #25 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Does Freedom dock by the water taxi? Does it take you anywhere else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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