Eastern Caribbean Ports

[laughinplace2]

Hi everyone!
I'm doing the 7 night Eastern Caribbean on the Magic, which stops at St. Marten and St. Thomas.
I have NO experience whatsoever with these islands, nor with cruises---its my first cruise ever!
I was under the impression that they both had beaches within walking distance, but now I'm not so sure. Do either of them have any decent beaches that one could walk to off of the boat?
Also, what beaches would you recommend on each island, and how much is a taxi to get there and back per person?
I guess my biggest fear is getting to a beach and then getting stuck there and missing the boat!! Is it easy enough to get taxis back to the boat?
Thank you in advance...as you can see, I'm so new to this cruise thing!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Our 1st Disney cruise was an Eastern but it was in early 07 so I don't recall taxi prices to beaches. We went to Orient Beach (French side) of St. Martin and to Megens Bay at St. Thomas.
Both times we asked our cab driver to meet us back where he dropped us off at a specific time and they were right there on time. (We also do this is Grand Cayman.) So much easier than worrying about how to get a taxi later on.
We always allow plenty of time to return to the ship. So if all aboard is at 4:30, we would ask to be picked up by 2:30 or 3 at the latest. We always have early dining so by then it's time to start showering for dinner anyway.

hth

 

[lsjones]

I just returned from an Easern cruise with RCI. I've been to St. Thomas once before and went to Magen's Bay, and had to do it again this time!! I love it there, and will definetly go again! It cost us about $25 hiring a taxi (and renting beach chairs and a water raft). Taxi's were very easy to come by. It is a very popular beach and I would not be worried about getting stuck there. In St. Marten, you have to take a water taxi to get to the island from the ship dock. I want to say it was $4 per person, that takes you to the Dutch side of the island. There is a beach right off the landing for the taxi. You can also take a cab to the other side and other beaches. We stayed on the Dutch side and walked around, didn't do any beaches because DH was too sun burned! It is absolutely beautiful though!!

 

[laughinplace2]

Thanks for the input guys...so I guess nothing is really within walking distance, but if we just plan on hiring a taxi and having them come back at a certain time we should be fine.
Anyone else have any suggestions for good beaches or places to shop?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I do recall the skyride to Paradise Point being within walking distance. The view is really beautiful with lots of photo ops. We did that before taxiing to the beach. There not enough up there to spend the day though. I'd estimate around 1 hr for that. Maybe 2 tops.

 

[jcarwash]

You can read my trip report (link is in my signature) for my details on Orient Bay on St. Martin and Magens Bay on St. Thomas.

Have you already ruled out booking organized port adventures through DCL? Some people do (we did) and some people don't. If you want to go to beaches at both ports then DCL has excursions you can book. That removes the logistics of your figuring out transport on your own.

That said...if you read my trip report you'll see that the tour operator for St. Maarten was great and the tour operator for St. Thomas was just okay. But I did like not worrying about how to get around and we enjoyed both beaches we went to.

On St. Maarten the ability to rent a car looked very convenient, and several fellow cruisers did just that. That might be another option for you to consider.