It has been 5 yrs since we were there last, but i really think it was 50 total. I will ask DH if he remembers. I remember 50 very well because on our last trip we got to st. Johns & realized we didn't have enough $ to get back.
Thought we would have to borrow $ from a total stranger on our ship, but luckily there was a bank on the island that gave us a cash advance on our cc. It seems like the taxis were 12 & 8 and the ferry was 6. Prices have probably gone up since then though.
Agree with you about CC snorkeling and crowds. We don't like crowded beaches either. I hear the further down the beach you walk the less crowded so that's what we will be doing. We're hoping to get away for a little while to serenity bay minus DS 9 & DS 5 too.
Our first
DCL cruise is in 6 weeks.
When we were there last there was a nice guy from CA who rented us kayaks and told us about some other good spots to snorkel.
When you get off in st. maarten there are a ton of taxi drivers there offering the exact same excursion as on the ship for less $ of course. Ours did a tour of the island and stopped at 3 places, Orient Beach, Marigot, and somewhere else i can't remember now. I think Marigot was last and we just stayed there to explore and had a great snack in a little french bakery. It was very lovely. In our experience Orient Beach had a lot of full nudity, humorous to us as we were without kids and most sunbathers seemed to be retirees.
It was also very crowded. The ship docked on the dutch side. There was an uncrowded beach there within walking distance. Not supposed to be nudity there, but there was. Don't know if that's an issue for you, but with kids i thought i should warn you.
Hope this helps.
PS I'm a Tracy too, minus the 'e'