St. Maartern Beach at the Port

[PiperG]

Hi everyone,

We are not big on excursions, and enjoy being on the ship so much that we don't want to stray far from the port. On our last Eastern, we strolled around St. Maarten a bit after taking the water taxi. I thought this time we might lounge on the beach and watch the ships and play in the sand.

I was wondering if the port beach at St. Maarten is nice. Is the water clean? Can you rent chairs? Are there people trying to selll you stuff?

Thanks for your feedback

 

[jmcross]

bump

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

Yes the water is clean. It gets stirred up in the afternoon when the beach gets crowded so it becomes cloudier. You can rent chairs.

Yes, you will be hassled to buy trinkets, drinks and hair braids. Just tell them no and they'll move on.

 

[Grumbo]

Here is a photo of the beach at the port. The cruise ships are on the left of the photo.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3880&size=big&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[PiperG]

Sounds great! Thanks for the feedback.

Grumbo, that is a great picture!

 

[musicgirl]

Thanks for the picture. We plan on going there after lunch.

We're going to try Dawn Beach earlier in the day. do you have any pictures for this one?

Thanks, Lorie

 

[TheWog]

The beach at the port is pretty nice, the sand is a little different, but it is fun. The water is warm and clean and you can rent jet skis and chairs with umbrellas. Some places will also deliver drinks. There are a lot of people selling their stuff and approaching you. A polite no, usually sends them on their way.

 

[amtmommy]

The beach is fine, the sand is a bit gritty almost like kitty litter, but the water is blue and the kids love it.

My best advice is shop around for a good chair deal. The chairs are in sections run by different people. We sat in the first chairs we saw and paid $10.00 for two chairs, umbrella and table.

Then we noticed the chairs next to us were padded and the guy was giving out one free drink and them taking drink orders for you.

The people walk by and try to sell you but I poloitely said no and they just kept walking.

 

[TheWog]

Like amtmommy said, work your way down the beach, we got drinks for a dollar delvered, two chairs (not padded) with umbrella, water trampoline and 1/2 hour jet ski rental for $45.00. Bargaining is fun.

 

[preb]

The Wog, we also worked the same deal! Someone had posted their experience before we left, so I was ready to work it! Great Bay Beach was actually one of the highlights of our cruise, as I was able to relax in the shade and read while my DD and DH swam and jetskied. Very relaxing!

 

[kimkatmom]

Well, I hate to be the negative Nellie as I pride myself as being the eternal optimist, but I wouldn't go to St. Maartan again on a bet! We were there on DCL in 2/2003 with my mom and dad. My dad, then 73, was a big man 6'3" - 250 lbs. Didn't walk well, but was able to get around fine until a "local" BIG WOMAN decided to "guide" him down the street, away from him family. NOT!!!

Now, mind, you, I'm no little girl, but I do believe that woman got my message when I pushed her aside. She was not a happy camper and if she wouldn't have been SO BIG I think I could have done some bodily harm. I didn't care for the surroundings -- didn't feel safe and I thought the restaurants and bars were horrible.

So, we went back to the ship -- I wasn't going to eat there! We were the ONLY one's on the ship -- had everything to ourselves and had a wonderful time and my parents were safe. If you have children -- hold tight! Watch your personal belongings, etc.

Having said all that -- I can't wait for our next cruise on June 5th!!!

 

[PiperG]

o.K. . . .One more question!

Its been a while since we were in St. Maarten. If memory serves, there was a beach to both the right and the left of where the water taxis docked. Is one side better than the other? For example, are chair rentals only on one side?

 

[christinou]

That is what we did, and we really enjoyed it, when we got of the water taxi, we went to the left, and went to the first beach that had the water trampoline, which was the requirement from my kids, we had a great time, went back to the ship for lunch, and then back to the beach in the afternoon, we had left our towel on our chairs, and told them we were coming back, and the water taxi bracelet that you get is good all day.

 

[TheWog]

There are chair rentals to both sides. The side to the left seems to have more action, jet skis, water trampolines, etc.

The bargaining was fun, I would go back again, but I would agree that there are hustlers there, more so than St. Thomas. I didn't feel threatened anywhere when we were walking around or shopping, but I didn't let my guard down either. We swam and played all morning then returned to the ship for lunch and to shower and change and then went back to shop. So for us it was fun. But I can see where some people would be uneasy (and I don't mean that in any bad way). Just be careful as stated, watch your belongings and surroundings and you should be ok.

 

[dis4me]

I posted this before but sine you specifically asked about this beach I thought I would post again.
We went there for our 3rd EAstern cruises. First 2 were great and although not very scenic it was a highlight as it was shallow water and the kids loved it. DH loved the umbrella /chair/drink service and I got to stay in the water all day.
That being said on our 3rd and last trip my 7 year old daughter was grabbed by a local drunk.We were in the water and it was close to the end of the day 4ish when all of the sudden this man comes over mumbling about people stealing his business. He grabbed my dd's arm and pulled her but when I and several big men yelled and started going to help her he dropped her arm and continued cursing and screaming at us. He called one woman some very unpleasant words and said we were trying to kill him by breaking his business. He went and picked up a brick from the pier and came back towards us. At that point we decided it was time to go so we were all packing up. The children were all crying because they were terified. He saw us walking towards the pier and turned into a crowd of people. I notified a policeman on the pier and he said Oh that guy yeah he does that a lot. We will take care of it.
Just a warning.It was one bad egg out of millions of people. I know and have been told here plenty of times it could have happened anywhere. I realize that but I have traveled all over and have never had any other problems ( thank God).
Have a great trip. Just be aware of your surroundings.

 

[jrabbit]

I've spent time at Great Bay and Orient Bay. MUCH prefer Orient to Great bay. There's less people wanting to sell you something. you have the facilities needed (bathrooms, chairs, drinks, water toys (trampoline etc), jet skis, parasailing etc).

For me and my family was that there were waves in the ocean at Orient and it was abosolutly calm at Great Bay (which is better for the real small children)

 

[bassoongirl]

We really enjoyed the morning we spent at Great Bay Beach on our February cruise! The water was a beautiful blue and it was pretty warm. We didn't get bothered by people trying to sell us stuff, probably because we spent most of the time in the water. Here are some pictures from the beach and the stores right off the beach.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bassoongirl

Gayl

 

[CRB#33]

I tried clicking on your link Bassoongirl, but it says I'm not the owner, so I can't go in there. It looks like the link is the link to edit your photos.

I'd love to see the pics though!

 

[bassoongirl]

CRB#33,

Sorry about not being able to see my pictures! I am not very good at this computer stuff. I changed the web address, so I hope you can see them now.

Gayl

 

[CRB#33]

Yep! There they are!

Thanks! Loving the color of that water