What should we do in St. Maarten?

[Disnut4925]

The market pictures are awesome! So colorful. And your daughter is so pretty! Could I ask where that beach is, with the cruise ships behind her? It's such a great shot!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

We've been to SXM on two cruises and spent a week there in April of this year. There are some fantastic beaches for those looking for a low key day, but here are a few things I've done and highly recommend for anyone looking for a more active day:

1. Soualiga Destinations (http://soualigadestinations.com/soualiga_destinations/Welcome.html) - We spent a day with Capt Brett on the Genevie when we stayed on the island in April and all 7 in our party (including two 12-year old girls and an 11-year old boy) had an amazing time.

2. Random Wind (http://www.randomwind.com/) - We sailed on the Random Wind when we stopped in St. Maarten on our 2014 spring break cruise on the Fantasy. Fantastic day. The biggest differences between this trip and the one above is that you cover less ground/move more slowly on this one (it is a sailboat, after all) and the Tarzan swing. We had so much fun with that thing! I did prefer the lunch on land that we had with Soualiga over the lunch served on the boat with Random Wind.

3. Kayak to Pinel Island (http://www.caribbeanpaddling.com/) - We did this in April and it was possibly the best day of an incredible week. Just take a taxi to Cul de Sac, rent the kayaks (they can be reserved in advance), and paddle over. Beautiful beach, gorgeous water, and two restaurants. We ate a Karibuni and loved it. If you go this route, arrange to have your taxi driver come back and get you at a specific time.

 

[JimmyV]

The market pictures are awesome! So colorful. And your daughter is so pretty! Could I ask where that beach is, with the cruise ships behind her? It's such a great shot!

Thanks!
The beach is along the Boardwalk in Philipsburg, to the right of the water taxi pier as you face the beach. There is a rather famous, old Courthouse on Front Street (aka Voorstraat) in Philipsburg. That is where we had our taxi driver drop us off after we returned from Marigot. From there, we would walk back to the ship. We strolled a bit of Front Street where all the commercial shopping is but quickly grew tired of the jewelry scene and walked a block toward the water to the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk lines the beach, and it was along that strip that we stopped for pictures. If you don't want to walk all the way back to the ship, you can turn around and head in the opposite direction (West) and walk to the ferry pier and take a water taxi to the ship. ON the map below, the photo was taken where the green #18 appears, more or less. The water taxi pier is between the red #s 6 and 3.

 

[Joel0917]

I'll chime in and say Maho Beach. At least for a couple hours. Be the first folks off the ship and rent a cab..not much like $4 or $6PP to Maho Beach. Rent on or two lounge chairs from Sunset Bar. Then kids can play in the water, swim and watch the jets fly in for the next 2-3 hours. It is UNREAL and like nothing you have every done. They post the times, so you could watch till 1230 or 1 when the last of the big ones comes in from New York, then get a cab back to the market and explore in plenty of time till you get back on the ship.