Bernards Tours on St Maarten Oct 20 Fantasy Cruise

[onecoolpilot]

Originally Posted by OMD13

I am looking to book a tour in St. Maarten but the website asks what time we dock. Does anyone know the answer?

It was 8am for our cruise. I'm not sure if it's always 8am. Hang on and I'll go find the link that I used to find the time...

Ok, I found the site again (and bookmarked it this time), but something is odd. The DCL site shows, for example, the Fantasy leaving on 12/14/12 on an eastern, and according to the itinerary, will be in St. Maarten on 12/17/12. However, this site, shows her leaving PC on 12/15, St Thomas on 12/18, and then San Juan on 12/19. I'm not sure what's going on there, but for what it's worth, here's the link. Just click the link at the top that page for the month that you're sailing:

Disney Fantasy Port Schedule

[owensamo]

Originally Posted by OMD13

I am looking to book a tour in St. Maarten but the website asks what time we dock. Does anyone know the answer?

If you log into your reservation on the DCL site, the itinerary should have port times listed.

[disney1990]

Originally Posted by neg58

Where do you get the passport stamp? Do you get one on the French side and the Dutch side?

So you recommend a tour? We are first timers, but I think we would just like to go to the beach for 3 hours, then to both capital cities. I was thinking a taxi?

Nancy

LOL - it took us about 2 hours to find out the answer to that one. You should be able to get it stamped on both the French and Dutch sides, but we only had ours stamped once. If you go straight out to the street from the cruise ship and make a right. It is about a 15/20 minute walk. If you decide you want to go, I will go into more detail.

[neg58]

I've been reading these St Maartens posts and want to get your ideas.

I think what we'd like is to go to Orient Beach and then go to the French capital, eat, shop, (get a passport stamp!) and then go to the Dutch capital and do the same.

Is there any reason to pay $60/each to do this as a tour? We wouldn't mind using a taxi or even a public bus, and then doing a more expensive tour on St. Thomas. I'm rather confused why so many people pay $60 for a beach day. I'm pretty sure I can buy a lot of lunch and drinks for less than $180.

All tips appreciated on the passport stamps/taxis/shopping, or even if we should do a tour rather than going to the beach at all.

Nancy

[JD&LYD]

We took this tour (Bernards) in Feb this yr. very good tour. $40 pp. Bernard himself rode with us for over half the tour. He went w/another vanafter Orient beach. Maho is on the second half. Very good tour We would do it again. If you do this or any other that goes to Orient Beach and other places on St. Maartin, be aware that there is a 50 cent charge to use the rest rooms/toilets at the beach. Have a great cruise and take Bernards.

[keishashadow]

Originally Posted by JD&LYD

We took this tour (Bernards) in Feb this yr. very good tour. $40 pp. Bernard himself rode with us for over half the tour. He went w/another vanafter Orient beach. Maho is on the second half. Very good tour We would do it again. If you do this or any other that goes to Orient Beach and other places on St. Maartin, be aware that there is a 50 cent charge to use the rest rooms/toilets at the beach. Have a great cruise and take Bernards.

we used bernards the end of june. they dropped us off so we could rent chairs/umbrellas at a beach cafe (close to the divider line between the two beaches). We had a great time there and were able to use the bathroom on the parking side of the building without any charge but it was a single toilet very rustic.

We wondered why so many men were wearing sarongs. The chair attendent told us they've cracked (no pun intended) down on the men's nudity when they cross the divider.

[Big Mo]

Looks like Bernard's e-mail got hacked. Perhaps this goes without saying, but you shouldn't send him $1,900 to the Philippines.