San Juan or St. Maarten

[kuxiam]

Which is the better port?

[EngIceDave]

Whatta you wanna do?

[sgttami]

Been going to both for over 50 years (before cruising)  so I'll say

that either one is OK for me.

Nice hotels, restaurants and beaches and plenty to do in either port.

[hard_eight]

St Maarten by miles and miles.

[mz-s]

I like both equally but for different reasons. Neither is better than the other.

[canes20]

St. Maarten

[EngIceDave]

I like St Maarten because of the two unique sides, Dutch and French.

[Illbcruzn4life]

1 hour ago, kuxiam said:

Which is the better port?

St Maarten by a long shot if you are a beach person

[Cherries Jubilee]

Like others said it really depends on what you want to do. I’m a beach person so I prefer St.Maarten.

 

Also look at what time the ship gets to San Juan. It would be a better port stop if ships got there early like they do in most places but they usually arrive after noon which limits what you can do.

 

 

[mondello]

Both are good. I’d give the nod to St. Maarten. We had one of our best excursions ever on a private catamaran, with snorkel, awesome lunch spread, and beach break. The jets flying right over your heads on the beach was a hoot.

[phoneman69]

2 hours ago, hard_eight said:

St Maarten by miles and miles.

No Doubt i agree with St. Maarten. Never had a bad time there.

[NCMtnBoys]

Much prefer St Maarten over San Juan. Love going to Maho Beach. 

[MeganGC1983]

Love St Maarten… Grand Case and Mullet Bay, gorgeous beaches. 

[ledges1]

I like beaches and history. I have a cruise in January on the Magic that goes to St Maarten and San Juan. Best of both worlds.

[jsglow]

Both are wonderful ports. That said, St. Maarten is among my favorite Caribbean islands.

[IntrepidFromDC]

St. Maarten by a longshot whether you want beaches or culture.  I recommend, for first trip, an excursion that visits the major towns on both the French and Dutch side, plus a beach stop that includes time for both beach and eating.  There are plenty of these excursions.

[ObstructedView2]

22 hours ago, kuxiam said:

Which is the better port?

 

There's a bunch of Carnival sailings from Miami that visit both San Juan & St Maarten within the same voyage😉

 

 

 

✌

[jordanaire]

23 hours ago, hard_eight said:

St Maarten by miles and miles.

Agree! Our favorite port of all time.

[jsglow]

We've yet to do it (although we have spent some time there as an embarkation port) but we fully intend to do an extended land vaca to St. Maarten. What we'd really like to do is combo 10 days there w/ 2-3 over in St. Barts. Been to the latter I think 3 times. Spectacular.

[seaman11]

how about both?  going to both on dec 10th cruise 

[havanadaydreaming]

put me in the St Maarten, by a mile, club.  

 

i do like San Juan mainly for the historical sites and food in old san juan.   St Maarten has one of my favorite places on earth, Maho Beach.   The water around the island is gorgeous.  

[coondog99]

If you like beaches and shopping....St Maarten

If you like history and food....San Juan

[natefish95]

St. Maarten is my absolute favorite port. Orient Beach is my personal paradise on the French side. 

[keels81]

I'm a foodie, so San Juan is my pick.

[kona_wahine]

San Juan is cool….once. St Maarten way better.