St Maarten is one of the easiest and busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean. Ships dock alongside at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility at Pointe Blanche, about a mile from the center of Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, so there are no tenders. From the pier you can walk to Great Bay Beach and Front Street in 15 to 20 minutes or hop on a water taxi across the bay. With one island split between two nations, you can also spend the day plane spotting at Maho Beach, lunching on the French side or racing a real America’s Cup yacht. This guide covers where you dock, what you can walk to, the best excursions and how to beat the traffic back to the ship.
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St Maarten at a glance
- Where ships dock: Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility, Pointe Blanche, on the east side of Great Bay. No tender boats.
- Walk to town: Yes. Philipsburg’s Boardwalk and Front Street are a 15 to 20 minute walk, or a short water taxi ride.
- Closest beach: Great Bay Beach, which runs right along the Philipsburg Boardwalk.
- Currency: Caribbean guilder on the Dutch side and the euro on the French side. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
- Best for: an easy beach day, duty-free shopping, plane spotting at Maho and a taste of the French side.
Where cruise ships dock in St Maarten
All large cruise ships use the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facility at Pointe Blanche, on the southern, Dutch side of the island. It is a deep-water port with two cruise piers; the newer A.C. Wathey Pier, added in 2009, alone stretches almost 1,800 feet with four berths, so on peak days several ships can be alongside at once. Ships tie up directly at the pier, and Harbour Point Village, a colorful shopping and dining area, sits right at the foot of the piers.
As you leave the port area, the water taxi dock is to one side and the organized taxi dispatch area to the other. Taxi rates are set by the government, but always agree the total fare, and whether it is per person, before you set off. On days with several ships in port, traffic around Philipsburg and towards Simpson Bay slows to a crawl, so drives take longer than maps suggest.
Things to do within walking distance
- Great Bay Beach and the Boardwalk: a 15 to 20 minute walk along the harbor (turn left out of the port gates), or a few minutes by water taxi. The long, calm beach is lined with bars that rent chairs and umbrellas, often with Wi-Fi and restrooms included.
- Front Street: Philipsburg’s main shopping street runs parallel to the beach, packed with duty-free jewelry, watch, liquor and electronics stores, plus casinos and cafes.
- Water taxi stops: water taxis run from beside the port to stops along Great Bay, including Bobby’s Marina at the start of town, Captain Hodge Pier in the middle of the beach and Walter Plantz Wharf at the far end. A round-trip ticket is usually the better deal.
- Guavaberry liqueur: look for the island’s signature spirit, made from wild berries, as a bottle to take home.
- Fort Amsterdam: about 10 minutes by taxi at the far end of Great Bay, with ruins and views back over Philipsburg and the cruise ships.
Best St Maarten shore excursions
St Maarten is easy to explore independently by taxi, but these are the experiences cruisers rate most highly. Leave a generous buffer for traffic on busy days and aim to be back at the pier at least an hour before all-aboard.
| Excursion | Time from the ship | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Maho Beach | About 25 minutes by taxi, longer in traffic | Watching jets land just overhead at Princess Juliana International Airport |
| America’s Cup 12 Metre Challenge | About a 10-minute walk from the pier, roughly 2.5 hours | Crewing a real America’s Cup racing yacht in a head-to-head regatta, no experience needed |
| Rainforest Adventures at Rockland Estate | Short drive inland | A chair lift up Sentry Hill and the Flying Dutchman, billed as the world’s steepest zip line |
| Orient Bay | Across the island on the French side | The island’s best-known beach, with water sports, beach restaurants and lively bars. One section is clothing optional. |
| Marigot and Grand Case | Island tour, around 4 to 5 hours | The French capital’s waterfront market and Grand Case, the island’s dining capital, with lookout stops on the way |
There is no border control between the Dutch and French sides, so you can cross freely, but bring your cruise card and photo ID as you would in any port.
Beaches and food
Great Bay Beach is the hassle-free choice when time is short. For a beach worth the drive, Orient Bay on the French side is the island’s showpiece, while Maho is more about the planes than the swimming. Mullet Bay and Cupecoy, near Maho, are good for snorkeling.
Food is one of St Maarten’s great strengths. Grand Case on the French side is known for its mix of French, Creole and Caribbean cooking, and is worth building a tour around if you enjoy a long lunch. In Philipsburg, the beach bars along the Boardwalk serve seafood, burgers and cold Carib beer with your toes in the sand.
Tips for a day in St Maarten
- Decide your plan before you dock. Pick one focus, such as Great Bay, Maho or the French side, rather than trying to do everything.
- Use the water taxi. It is quicker than walking in the heat and avoids the traffic into town.
- Allow extra time for traffic. Return from Maho, Orient Bay or Marigot earlier than you think you need to.
- Agree taxi fares first. Confirm the total and whether it is per person before you set off.
- Stand well back at Maho. Jet blast from departing aircraft is strong enough to knock people over, so obey the warning signs at the fence.
St Maarten is often paired with the US Virgin Islands on eastern Caribbean sailings; our St Thomas cruise port guide covers Havensight, Crown Bay and Magens Bay.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk from the St Maarten cruise port to Philipsburg?
Yes. It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk along the harbor to the Boardwalk and Front Street. A water taxi is a pleasant alternative and drops you right on Great Bay Beach.
Is St Maarten a tender port?
No. Ships dock alongside at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility, so you can walk straight off the ship.
How far is Maho Beach from the cruise port?
About 25 minutes by taxi in normal traffic, but it can take much longer when several ships are in port, so leave plenty of time to get back.
What currency should I bring to St Maarten?
US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. The Dutch side’s official currency is the Caribbean guilder, which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder in 2025, and the French side uses the euro.
Planning an eastern Caribbean cruise? See this week’s cruise deals, our guide to the best Caribbean cruise ports, and more cruise port guides.
