Bad Experience at Saint Marteen WARNING

[dis4me]

We went to Great Bay Beach on Saint Marteen for the third time this trip. We were having a great time and didn't want to get out of the water. I was talking to a nice couple who I met from NJ and it was getting late as the beach was clearing out.All of the sudden I see this man screaming at us and cursing. He proceeded to grab onto my daughters arm. With that the man I was chatting with and I both screamed at him and he let go, but continued cursing and yelling. He then went to the end of the beach and picked up some bricks all the while screaming that we were stealing his business. He was obviously quite drunk. I was so scared that he was going to throw the bricks at us or try and hit us with them. I went over to the security/police and they said yes they saw him and they'll get him.They knew exactly who he was which makes me think he has done something like this before.
Luckily my daughter only got a small bruise on her arm but is still upset about the incidient. I can ony hope he wasn't trying to kidnap or hurt her but was grabbing her arm for effect.
PLEASE be careful when the beach starts emptying out and the local people start heading out. It only takes one bad person to ruin it for everyone.
Everyone else we met on the island were extremely polite and greatful for everything we bought. The beach is perfectly safe when it is crowded but this was really scary.

 

[mmouse37]

We felt very uncomfortable as soon as the tourists starting to thin out in downtown St. Maarten. The locals do come out when the shops close and there are some unsavory characters wondering about. We were approached and offered drugs, saw some local fights in the street and stuff on our way back to the ship at the end of the day.

I would definately stay away from that area after 6:00 pm.

MJ

 

[takemeaway]

Wow, what a horrible experience. Thanks for the warning.

 

[FLeisure]

In every walk of life there is the odd nutter. St. Maartin is a wonderful island and I have never felt safe there even after 6.00pm.

 

[GenieDana]

Unfortunately, You risk experiencing things like this. My first bad expereince was when I was a kid, and the family was in Acapulco on vacation during the Iran hostage crisis.

A middle eastern man approached my mother in the hotel lobby and started screaming / cursing her in her face. He then shoved her, and Dad pounced. My father beat this guy sensless until the military dragged him (the fight starter) away.

I just don't understand why some people want to take out their frustration on innocents. If they do, they deserve what's coming to them.

 

[Viking]

We were on Oriental Bay during our Eastern Cruise and the beach was deserted, we nearly had the whole bay for us and never felt unsafe.

 

[LarryC]

Drunken people approaching us, leering at my wife.....Others coming up to us and offering to sell us drugs......Witness to many fights...............General feeling of danger...............A place I wouldn't want to be after dark..........

This was at a beach in New Jersey.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by LarryC
Drunken people approaching us, leering at my wife.....Others coming up to us and offering to sell us drugs......Witness to many fights...............General feeling of danger...............A place I wouldn't want to be after dark..........

This was at a beach in New Jersey.

Good point!

We visited Orient Bay, downtown Marigot, and Front Street on our curise in May. We never really felt unsafe. We did experience several people attempting to sell us Mary Jane but we didn't feel unsafe because of it.

We also kind of figured that we experienced so many people attempting to sell us drugs (on St. Thomas as well) because of our age and gender.

 

[alexandrew]

they tried to sell you Mary-Jane? Prostitution in these islands is running rampant!!!!

LOL-just kidding

 

[dis4me]

I wasn't saying it couldn't happen anywhere I just was warning you that it has obviously become a problem. We had ben there twice before and I never encountered any problem and I was there at night and still felt safe. Just wanted people with children to be aware. Guess I should have kept it to myself.

 

[my3kids]

dis4me Thanks for the warning. I would have been terrified, and will head the warning to stay around groups of tourists when on islands and not wander alone without a larger group. Thank you for posting that. It must have been so frightening!

 

[jgalecpa]

they tried to sell you Mary-Jane? Prostitution in these islands is running rampant!!!!

Oh where is BD when you need him.


Mary Jane?

My aren't we dating ourselves. Mary Jane is so old that term is going through menopause....



Jim

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by alexandrew
they tried to sell you Mary-Jane? Prostitution in these islands is running rampant!!!!

LOL-just kidding

Well, I'm sure that that may have been going on as well! It is a tropical paradise and may just get people in that kind of mood...

Originally posted by jgalecpa
Mary Jane?

My aren't we dating ourselves. Mary Jane is so old that term is going through menopause....

Hmmmm... I had to consider my audience?

Just kidding everyone!


BTW, where is BD? Haven't seen him around in a while.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by LarryC
Drunken people approaching us, leering at my wife.....Others coming up to us and offering to sell us drugs......Witness to many fights...............General feeling of danger...............A place I wouldn't want to be after dark..........

This was at a beach in New Jersey.

ROFL!

Anne

 

[jlawall]

I thought that the ship sails early from St. Maarten. Aren't we already on the ship by around 5pm?

 

[dis4me]

All aboard in St Marten is 7pm However the last ferry from Phillipsburg is 6pm. The Magic used to stay until 11pm pre 9/11.
BTW This incident took place at 430-5pm when it was plenty light out.

 

[rae519]

We got conned into a "timeshare scam" by a pretty slick talker - suffice it to say, the Oscar goes to my son, Michael for his performance as a sick, bratty child who was going to "throw up all over the place" if we didn't get him back to the ship NOW!

God love that kid - he really scared those cockroaches and they took us back to the Magic PRONTO. I don't care much for St. Marten to begin with, but it's lovely to sail away from at night!

A good excuse to stay on the ship or go off ship with an excursion (we did this our second time, a See and Sea DCL excursion - very nice!).

Rae

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for your post. Yes, as others have pointed out, that can happen ANYWHERE and yes, it probably doesn't happen normally, but it's good to get a reminder once in a while that even though you are on a Disney vacation, the real world is still out there. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security by the luxury and service on DCL and let down your guard when you wouldn't dream of in most other places. I'm so sorry that this had to happen to you (and especially your daughter) but glad everything turned out in the end.

 

[dis4me]

Thanks Lisa When I posted this I never thought it would be perceived the way it was but I just thought it was a good reminder to be aware of everything and stay with the crowds.I got so many tips and great infoI was trying to pay it forward.I honestly thought that it was much safer due to the security/police posted at the port I never expected local drunks to be roaming the beach. Obviously I was naive. Luckily it turned out fine.

 

[blueswoman]

Originally posted by LarryC
Drunken people approaching us, leering at my wife.....Others coming up to us and offering to sell us drugs......Witness to many fights...............General feeling of danger...............A place I wouldn't want to be after dark..........

This was at a beach in New Jersey.

<<LOL--or Baltimore for that matter.

We have had similar experiences in Antigua. My husband and I went a few years ago to the Sandals there and even though it was an all inclusive resort, they didn't "own" the beach so anybody could come over. I was propositioned more than once!

tara