(Slightly less so) Cheapo dad's trip report on Independence of the Seas

[harryfat1]

Harry - Do you know if Sarafina's restaurant in Marigot was open? I heard rumors that it was severely damaged. This seemed to be the standard place to stop for lunch on a Bernard's tour in the past. They had great sandwiches and outstanding macarons.

 

I was just wondering about that, too. We stopped there with Bernard's in March and had a delicious croissant and some chocolate cake. :)

Heather

 

Mailman didn't say anything about a pastry shop when we were there. The lunch stop is now at the beach for 1.5 hours.

 

I just looked up Sarafina at trip advisor and someone said they are closed

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147348-d1754928-Reviews-Sarafina-Marigot_Saint_Martin_St_Martin_St_Maarten.html

[harryfat1]

Harry: I agree, I drive my vehicles until the wheels fall off.

 

I think many accountants like the fact that a fully depreciated asset on the balance sheet is still providing value instead of having to use the resources to acquire a new one and take a hit on the P&L.

[harryfat1]

So as we wind our way back to the Dutch side of the island, Mailman stopped here right at the border

 

Note the 2 color difference on the road. That is the boundary between the 2 countries

 

 

Also check out the power line just stops here - there is connection to the left but not the right. As you typically see power lines connect with others in the endless chain, this one stops here as that is the boundary for the French side.

 

I didn't know both sides uses different voltage system (110 versus 220) until the Mailman informed us

 

 

This is the spot where they sign the annual agreement between the two sides

 

 

[harryfat1]

As we approach the airport area, we saw some fairly large boats by the side of the road from the hurricane damage

 

 

Now this bad boy is pretty big (compare it with the car on the road) and the storm carried it onto land

 

 

Don't think the car is supposed to be in this position...

 

 

Another boat flipped over on its side

 

[harryfat1]

Here we are at the entrance to Princess Juliana airport. Technically the airport is open for business with flights coming in and out but that is don via the auxiliary building on the side.

 

Mailman said the main airport building sustain water damage to its electrical system from the hurricane so that is still not in operations. So people that flies in and out of SXM is being processed on the auxiliary side building.

 

 

Totally empty parking lot as the main terminal is still closed

 

 

You see the entrance to the main airport building is still closed

 

[harryfat1]

More pics of structural damages as we head for Maho beach

 

 

 

 

As I have no zoom camera on me, can't get a close up shot here

 

 

The building's top floor is basically gone

 

[harryfat1]

So we are here at the world famous Maho beach. It is my first time here.

 

Per Mailman, after hurricane Irma, there were couple boats that were washed up at the runway that had to be cleared before the planes can land.

 

 

 

 

Warning sign for the few dumb people who are clueless on basic dangers of life

 

 

The Mailman parked the bus at the parking lot of the Sunset bar and grill and we all just walked over to the beach. Maybe some the pictures I saw of the place was old but it sure looked like there were more sands by the big rocks area in the past.

 

[harryfat1]

Now the area is all big rocks such that you can’t walk on it to get to the beach easily coming from the parking lot. So if you are coming from the Sunset bar area to the beach, you either have to walk the balance beam like an Olympic gymnast or walk onto incoming car traffic to get to the middle of the beach to be close to the planes.

 

As before, they have the plane schedule written in chalk on the surf board. Think the bigger planes are later in the day. I want to say I read somewhere that the bigger planes from Europe might not be running as regularly as before since many of the hotels are still not 100% repaired

 

A whole lot of rocks by the Sunset Grill & Bar.

 

Lots of people waiting for the next plane

 

 

There was one small propeller plane taking off just as we got there

 

 

Plane schedule

 

 

Sunset Grill in the back serving food and drinks.

 

So without much sand to walk on, to get to the beach, you either do the balance beam maneuver or walk onto incoming one lane traffic at which point, you will need to move out of the way

 

 

Everyone get out of the way when there are cars coming

 

[harryfat1]

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

The beach itself is pretty and when a plane comes in, the whole beach area stop whatever they were doing and everyone gears up their phones and cameras for the pending plane arrival.

 

I will do my Fantasy Island impersonation of Tatoo, “Hey, boss, DE PLANE, DE PLANE” (Al l the young readers have NO CLUE what I am talking about – Go Google it).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, yeah, get that selfie stick ready...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

After the plane lands, you hear all kinds of car horns honking as every the drivers just STOPS in the middle of the narrow 2 lane road to look/take pictures and the whole traffic flow grinds to a stop. So if you are driving around the area, be aware that the car in front of you will likely stop if a plane is coming in.

 

I must admit, trying to photograph a moving plane right above you takes some practice. But time was something we didn’t have a lot of. If Maho beach is important to you, then come early on your own, and camp out at the beach and enjoy yourself watching planes land and take off.

 

There’s isn’t much to do at the area while you wait for the next plane to arrive. So we took few more pictures and tried the family selfies.

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

OK, people, squint really hard over at the horizon. Is there a plane coming yet?

 

Nada...

 

 

Oh, wait. I see something...

 

 

 

 

 

 

We don't have enough experience in judging the speed of the planes in getting the right angles and shots as prop planes come in at different speed compared to jets. If we have the 1.5 hours here at this beach instead of Friars, we would have had better pictures but you get the idea. Just go online to find the better pictures of Maho beach.

[harryfat1]

So 30 minutes came and went really fast and time to head back to the bus. While inside the bus waiting for another family to show up there, we saw a much bigger Delta jet landing. Dang, only if we had 15 minutes more at the beach. We could have taken a picture of that. Instead, you get to see the plane landing on other side of the roof. Not nearly as dramatic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Coralc]

Wow! That is an awesome house at the end of the bluff with the deck. I would be a little concerned about the very large hole in the cliff underneath it if it was my house. :) But maybe that is a California concern with our larger waves.

 

Great photos of the hurricane damage Harry! I think that all of us on Cruise Critic were wondering how the island had fared.

[harryfat1]

After Maho Beach, the tour made couple more photo op stops before making it back to the pier.

 

Overall, it was a solid tour. The island is still in the recovery phase. The French side has further to go compared to the Dutch side as they wait for the insurance settlement money to help them rebuild. It may not be the exact St. Maarten people want it to be prior to the hurricane but still very beautiful island to visit if you are willing to make some adjustments.

 

As things are likely to change on a daily/weekly basis, the info I have provide will likely be outdated by time you visit. But just be sure you do visit. I read so many people wringing their hands about not visiting the island. That’s silly.

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Our bus:

 

 

Our ship:

 

Look at the color of the water

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Wow! That is an awesome house at the end of the bluff with the deck. I would be a little concerned about the very large hole in the cliff underneath it if it was my house. :) But maybe that is a California concern with our larger waves.

 

Great photos of the hurricane damage Harry! I think that all of us on Cruise Critic were wondering how the island had fared.

 

Hi, Patti,

 

Didn't realize you dropped in a post here as I was busy uploading pictures earlier. Only when I saw the email notification did I see your comment.

 

We too were wondering what was shape the island was in. Our sailing was the second wave of ships to go there from RCI after the Grandeur went there the week before so there wasn't much info. Even when I email Bernard couple weeks before we left, he wasn't sure how much of the planned itinerary he can keep by time we arrive.

 

Hopefully our info will benefit others in the pre planning for the island this year.

 

As for earthquake, actually Mailman told us on the tour that the day before we visited St. Maarten, on December 24, there was a 5.8 earthquake centered near their sister island of St. Barts few miles out and people at St. Maarten felt it. So if we had gone in the day before, we would have felt it as well. With my luck, I would be just at the unsecured platform that we talked about before when the earthquake hit...

[harryfat1]

Few more pics of damaged buildings as we head back to the cruise terminal:

 

 

This place doesn't look like it's ready for any cocktails yet

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

So we are back at the cruise terminal.

 

Time to visit the uncle in prison to see if he can make a special parole visit to have dinner with the family it was Christmas Day at all (aka shopping). I’m telling ya, every port I go, I see many people milling about at all the shops. But hardly anybody talks about shopping at the ports in their trip reports at CC. People talk about the wonderful sexy cool excursions or the fancy cold drinks they had at the port but shopping must be a bad word on CC.

 

Look, kids, remember that wonderful T-shirt grandma got you from last year’s cruise? It only cost $5.

 

But keep telling yourself it’s the thought that counts as grandma rather spend $10 sipping on a frozen alcohol drink and only budgeted $5 on you as grandma has her priorities, you know...

 

 

 

 

The wife inquiring about prison rules...

 

 

[harryfat1]

You can't cruise in North America/Caribbeans without running into a Diamonds International somewhere.

 

 

We made a quick stop at the welcome center as I wanted a map of the island similar to what Mailman had so I can remember all the places we saw today

 

 

Big map on the back wall

 

 

Time to walk back to the ship

 

 

This part of the cruise terminal is not ready for visitors yet

 

[SenatorsFan]

Mailman didn't say anything about a pastry shop when we were there. The lunch stop is now at the beach for 1.5 hours.

 

I just looked up Sarafina at trip advisor and someone said they are closed

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147348-d1754928-Reviews-Sarafina-Marigot_Saint_Martin_St_Martin_St_Maarten.html

 

 

Thanks, Harry, for the update. I've been meaning to look this up myself. Hopefully, they are able to rebuild (maybe they're waiting for their insurance money to come through). I've been to St. Maarten before, but had never been to the French side until my DH and I took Bernard's tour in March 2017. It is truly heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the hurricane. This won't stop me from going back in the future if I have the opportunity.

Heather

[harryfat1]

Following the bare chested Santa back to the ship

 

 

Their butt

 

 

Our butt

 

 

I think we easily won the "butt off" competition

 

[harryfat1]

Thanks, Harry, for the update. I've been meaning to look this up myself. Hopefully, they are able to rebuild (maybe they're waiting for their insurance money to come through). I've been to St. Maarten before, but had never been to the French side until my DH and I took Bernard's tour in March 2017. It is truly heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the hurricane. This won't stop me from going back in the future if I have the opportunity.

Heather

 

The insurance money will partially help rebuild some of the place as we all know insurance won't be able to restore you to be 100% whole prior to any disaster. Some of the damage payments will have to come out of their personal savings.

 

Another issue is if their main livelihood is offline, they have no current income so it's a double whammy to not have regular cash inflow as well as having to pay out of pocket to restore the store/home to the way it was.

[harryfat1]

After making a prison visit, it time to get back to the ship as we need to chow down. Officially the WJ is only opened until 3 PM for lunch per the daily compass, but the sign at the front (which I don’t believe I took a picture) and on the compass said from 3 to 4 PM, WJ serves a light snack. Whatever that means? Light snack?

 

Who cares? Food is food. When you are hungry, it matters not. So we rushed back to the cabin to freshen up and made it to the WJ 5 minutes before they closed their doors at 4 PM.

 

Since they will take away the food soon after the closing time, I told everyone to grab all their dishes now (including dessert) and just lay them out at the table. This is what it looks like. Dang, we can eat or what?

 

After walking around in the hot sun, I wanted a cold salad to start

 

 

Then load up on the meats and carbs...

 

 

There's always dessert

 

 

Grab all the food before they are gone...