St. Maarten, Philipsburg
Two nations on one small island: Dutch-side duty-free shopping, French-side beaches and bistros, and jets landing over Maho Beach. Here’s how to make one day ashore count.
Two countries, one island
St. Maarten is one of the busiest stops in the Eastern Caribbean, and one of the few places where you can visit two countries in a single port day. The island is shared by Dutch Sint Maarten in the south and French Saint-Martin in the north, with no border checks in between. Ships dock on the Dutch side near Philipsburg, the capital, known for the duty-free shops of Front Street and the boardwalk along Great Bay.
The trick is splitting the day. Maho Beach, where jets land just over the sand, is the famous photo stop. Orient Bay is the classic French-side beach day, and Marigot adds a waterfront market, a hilltop fort and a French café lunch. Most island tours string several of these together, so you can see a lot in five or six hours without rushing.
Which pier you’ll dock at
Nearly every ship docks at the same cruise facility, but some smaller ships anchor instead. Confirm yours on your itinerary a few days before you arrive.
Point Blanche cruise pier
The Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility has two long piers that can berth six ships at once, including the world’s largest. At the foot of the piers, Harbour Point Village has shops, bars and the meeting point for shore excursions. Philipsburg’s Front Street and the Great Bay boardwalk are about a mile away.
Used by: Celebrity, Cunard, Disney, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn and Virgin Voyages.
Tenders & smaller ships
On the busiest days, and on some smaller ships, you may anchor in Great Bay and ride the ship’s tender to the Philipsburg waterfront. A few small ships call at Marigot on the French side instead. Your daily program will say which applies.
Used by: smaller ships from lines such as Atlas and Windstar. Check your itinerary for your pier.
Excursions we’d book
Hand-picked shore excursions from local operators, bookable through our partner Project Expedition. Every tour here carries Project Expedition’s Back to Ship Guarantee. Prices are per person and can change; check the live price when you book.
Adventure Island Sightseeing Tour with Maho Beach Plane Spotting
An easy loop of both sides of the island: Oyster Pond, Grand Case or Orient Beach, the Marigot market, the border monument and Maho Beach to watch the jets come in. It leaves from the tour area beside the cruise port.
View on Project ExpeditionSt Maarten Beach Hopping Tour (Orient Beach And Maho Beach Combo)
Split the day between Orient Bay on the French side, with beach bars and water sports (extra cost), and Maho Beach for the plane landings. Good to know: Orient Bay has a clothing-optional section at one end.
View on Project ExpeditionSt. Maarten Best Island Tour
Six stops in about six hours, with the view from Cole Bay Hill, shopping time in Marigot, a fort and both Maho and Orient Beach. A good pick if you want the whole island in one go.
View on Project ExpeditionSt. Maarten 6-Pack Island Tour
The island highlights in a group of six to ten: Maho Beach, Orient Beach, Marigot and duty-free shopping in Philipsburg. Guests must be 12 or older.
View on Project ExpeditionSt. Maarten 4-Hour Sightseeing Tour
Four stops in four hours, from Philipsburg to the island’s best viewpoints, with time at each to look around. It meets right at the cruise terminal.
View on Project ExpeditionDo It Your Way (Private Customized Tour)
A private driver-guide and an itinerary you design: a beach, the iguana farm, the market or the French side. A good fit for families and small groups.
View on Project ExpeditionThe Back to Ship Guarantee and refunds if your ship skips St. Maarten are covered by Project Expedition’s shore excursion terms. Your advisor can walk you through them.
Cruise line favorites
Book these in your cruise planner. Ship-sold tours cost a bit more, but the ship waits for you if the tour runs late.
- America’s Cup-style sailing. Crew a former racing yacht in a friendly regatta off Philipsburg. No sailing experience needed, and it’s one of the island’s best-known excursions.
- Zip lines & hilltop views. Rockland Estate on Sentry Hill pairs a long, steep zip line with a chairlift ride and views over both sides of the island.
- Catamaran & snorkel. Sail-and-snorkel trips to the French side or the small islands off Orient Bay, usually with a beach stop and drinks onboard.
- Two-nation island tours. Sightseeing tours that cross into French Saint-Martin, with time in Marigot and a stop at Maho Beach for the plane landings.
Exploring without a tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? These are the highlights to know, wherever your day takes you. Keep an eye on the clock.
Philipsburg & Front Street
Duty-free jewelry, watches and spirits along Front Street, the white Courthouse from 1793, the Guavaberry Emporium for the island’s signature liqueur, and beach bars along the Great Bay boardwalk.
Maho Beach
The famous strip of sand at the end of Princess Juliana Airport’s runway, where jets pass low overhead. Fun to watch, but take the warning signs seriously and keep away from the fence during takeoffs.
Marigot & the French side
Marigot’s waterfront market, the hilltop ruins of Fort Louis and French cafés, plus Grand Case, known for its restaurants, and the long, bright sweep of Orient Bay.
Before you go ashore
- All-aboard is firm. If you book independently, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Ships do leave without late guests.
- Two countries, no border. You can move between the Dutch and French sides freely, but carry the ID your cruise line asks you to bring ashore.
- Busy days are busy. With up to six ships in port, beaches and roads get crowded. Booking your tour ahead keeps the day on schedule.
- Respect the jet blast. At Maho Beach, the blast from departing jets can knock people over. Watch from a safe distance and keep children close.
- Disney is adding calls. Disney Cruise Line made its first call here with Disney Destiny in July 2026 and has announced about 14 calls for 2027.
Sailing to St. Maarten
Most Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries call here, from Florida, San Juan and the Northeast.Find a cruisePlan with Harr Travel
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