need for tenders?

[goofysgirl]

Does the Magic dock in St Marten and St Thomas or are you tendered in by boat? I just read something about taking a water taxi in to shop on St Marten?

[candleonwater]

I'm not sure if the Magic EVER has a need for tenders in St Maarten... but the water taxi is from the dock to towntown Phillipsburg.

[MFan]

Magic docked at both St. Maarten & St. Thomas when we cruised in Jan 2001.

[Valerie3kids]

The Magic docks at both ports. There is a water taxi you can take in St. Maarten that will take you to the center of town. You can purchase an all day pass for the water taxi for $5. It is well worth it. The boats run often and it is about a 5 minute ride across the water. In St. Thomas we took a cab to the center of town. I believe it was about $3 per person.

Valerie

[goofysgirl]

THANKS! I musunderstood and got a little nervous thinking I had to taxi in three kids and my 75+ year old in-laws.

[Señor Ferrari]

Note that in the high (winter) season in the past, the Magic has had to anchor in the outer harbor at St. Thomas on occasion. I don't believe it happened last winter, but it did the year before. I think every third week. They are improving the Crown Bay dock on St. Thomas and I believe that it can now handle large cruise ships. When we were last there in December, there were three ships at the WICO pier (where the Magic docks) and two more at Crown Bay.

The St. Maarten pier can handle four ships. I haven't heard of the Magic having to tender there since the new pier opened.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

The pier for cruise ships at the Great Bay Port in St Maarten opened in January 2001. Prior to that, cruise passengers were tendered in at St Maarten. There is a water taxi from the pier to the small dock adjacent to the downtown shopping area. For an idea of the Great Bay layout, refer to my FAQ page about St Maarten.

www.dcltribute.com/faq/philipsburg.htm

The ship <b><i>usually</i></b> docks at St Thomas. They use the West India Company Pier at Havensight (eastern shore of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor). But when there are more than three ships in port that day, the Magic will sometimes have to anchor and tender in. You can usually find out in advance if that will be the case on the date you're there.

The dock and tender schedule can usually be found at this site...

www.ships.vi

...although it is sometimes not kept current.