St. Maarten

[Pickels]

Quick question, we're cruising on the Equinox next week, would someone tell me what side of St. Maarten we dock, Dutch or French?

Thanks.

[JonnyGUofD]

Quick question, we're cruising on the Equinox next week, would someone tell me what side of St. Maarten we dock, Dutch or French?

Thanks.

 

Dutch. $7 round trip water taxi into the town of Phillipsburg where there is some of the best shopping in the Caribbean and a nice beach right where the taxi stops in town. If you want to visit the French side you will have to taxi over or take a tour.

[catsdinner]

You dock on the Dutch side.

[Aloha 1]

Quick question, we're cruising on the Equinox next week, would someone tell me what side of St. Maarten we dock, Dutch or French?

Thanks.

 

Have you joined the Roll Call for our cruise?? Please do!

[ClaudiaB]

And.... if you want a nice little stroll, there is a great sidewalk you can take for about a 15 minute walk and you can avoid that noisy water taxi. Just follow the crowds out and around all along the waterfront and you'll be there about the same time the water taxi arrives in town.

 

Great shopping in St. Maarten and a decent (albeit crowded) beach right there in town. Quite a few nice places to get a meal or snack or drink.

[PowMacP]

If you like air planes, you need to hit Maho beach which is just at the end of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport. It is worth it and depending on the number of people taking the taxi the ride can be as low as $8.00 per person for a 40 minutes ride.

 

Just don't stand in the jet blast when the planes are taking off. :) You will be sorry.

 

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[gopro63]

Dutch. side French side is an hour about away.

[keesar]

Traffic can be real tough heading to the French side.

 

Food and beverages are reasonably priced along the beach on the Dutch side. Then in the streets behind the beach, you have your shops. Knowing your prices can really help. You can rent an umbrella and chairs at a long beach there while the cruise ships are in the distance. We usually walk to the beach/downtown and it takes 15-20 minutes. It is a safe walk and the sidewalks are fine. There is also a ferry service.

[Pickels]

Thanks all for taking time to post your info, we appreciate your input, Happy Cruisin' :)

[miched]

And.... if you want a nice little stroll, there is a great sidewalk you can take for about a 15 minute walk and you can avoid that noisy water taxi. Just follow the crowds out and around all along the waterfront and you'll be there about the same time the water taxi arrives in town.

 

Great shopping in St. Maarten and a decent (albeit crowded) beach right there in town. Quite a few nice places to get a meal or snack or drink.

 

We always walk. It is 1/2 mile and about a beer or two. One of the perks is buying a beer from a street vendor and drinking it on the way. :D. Besides being a nice walk it is actually faster than waiting for the water taxi.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[davekathy]

We always walk. It is 1/2 mile and about a beer or two. One of the perks is buying a beer from a street vendor and drinking it on the way. :D. Besides being a nice walk it is actually faster than waiting for the water taxi.

 

Happy cruising

 

Agree.

[jsf]

Be forewarned if you go to the French side to Orient beach that it is clothing optional, just sayin.

J.

[cherylroslyn]

Dutch. side French side is an hour about away.

Nowhere near an hour......

[cherylroslyn]

Be forewarned if you go to the French side to Orient beach that it is clothing optional, just sayin.

J.

Orient Beach is not exactly clothing optional. Club Orient, which is to the right when you are looking at the water is a clothing optional resort. The rest of Orient is basically clothed, with the occaisional topless woman. Once in a blue moon some nude people will walk through, but in all of my time on that beach I have only seen a completely nude couple once.

[miched]

Orient Beach is not exactly clothing optional. Club Orient, which is to the right when you are looking at the water is a clothing optional resort. The rest of Orient is basically clothed, with the occaisional topless woman. Once in a blue moon some nude people will walk through, but in all of my time on that beach I have only seen a completely nude couple once.

 

We took a bus tour that went to Orient beach. The bus pulled into the parking lot and in front of the bus was isolated clump of bushes. As soon as the bus pulled up a tall lanky elderly looking island native with grayish dread locks and ashy skin strolled out from behind the bush wearing a birthday suit and looked totally deformed with three legs. He casually strutted around the bus with his third leg swinging like a elephants trunk and then disappeared back behind the bushes. The only thing missing from that performance was a TIP jar. Other than that person the passengers on the bus were the only people on the beach that day. It was rather windy and cool.

 

happy cruisng 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

Edited March 19, 2015 by miched

[cle-guy]

It was rather windy and cool.

 

happy cruisng 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

 

Imagine what that 3rd leg would have looked like if it was warmer and there wsa no shrinkage. :D

[hcat]

What are some nice places we can get to by taxi on the Dutch side other than Maho? Dutch side looks so nice whenever we sail past..We have been to French side and Philipsburg many times, and off shore excursions. We are looking for something new..

[GottaKnowWhen]

We always walk. It is 1/2 mile and about a beer or two. One of the perks is buying a beer from a street vendor and drinking it on the way. :D. Besides being a nice walk it is actually faster than waiting for the water taxi.

 

[bouhunter]

 

Ah yes, luv St. Martin:D

 

BTW we like the water taxi, it's a nice little boat ride and cheap.

[keesar]

We always walk. It is 1/2 mile and about a beer or two. One of the perks is buying a beer from a street vendor and drinking it on the way. :D. Besides being a nice walk it is actually faster than waiting for the water taxi.

🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

 

We enjoy the walk after being on the ship. It is a safe walk and there are many people including crew on that walk. There are usually about 6 ships in port. Once at the beach, there are small bars, Internet cafe, and ice cream shoppes. The retail shops are located a short walk from there.

[ozark74]

We enjoy the walk after being on the ship. It is a safe walk and there are many people including crew on that walk. There are usually about 6 ships in port. Once at the beach, there are small bars, Internet cafe, and ice cream shoppes. The retail shops are located a short walk from there.

 

I agree it is a nice walk. There in December about half way to downtown there was a stand selling Caribe beer for $1.00 a bottle. A bargain.