Sint Martin, Philipsburg St Maarten is divided between the Dutch Side (Philipsburg) Sint Martin, and the French Side called Saint Maarten has it’s capital at Marigot. Thus, Sint Martin, Philipsburg and St Maarten Shore Excursions was born!
Philipsburg has a fairly new cruise terminal and is a popular stop for ships. Once the ships dock here, it is just a short water taxi ride over to the Philipsburg, or you can walk to town that will take you about 20 minutes. Once in town, you will find a beach and a paved area that resembles a board walk at some of the USA beaches on the east coast. The mile long paved walk is lined with shops, cafes, and bars. There are also hotels around this area. There are also very nice cafes and bars along the strip. So, if you wanted to do something on your own, you can explore the shops and cafe’s spread across Philipsburg and experience some local cooking.
When you walk into town just outside this beach area on Front Street, there are plenty of shops, so this is definitely a port-of-call for shoppers.
Many shops line the streets in both directions. Jewelry shops, electronics, and alcohol cater to those looking for duty free shopping.
The water and beach areas are very beautiful and clean. This is a very beautiful stop for cruise travelers. Check with your cruise shore excursions list to see what beach tours they have available. This port-of-call has many shore excursion opportunities as it is a popular stop for Cruise Lines. However, if you plan to just use the water taxi and head into Philipsburg’s town, there is plenty to see and shop too.
Phillipsburg Cruise Terminal, Sint Martin
When you are ready to head back, simply catch the water taxi back to the cruise port. At the cruise port, you will also find more shops and duty free shops so you don’t need to rush back on board.
There was also a local steel drum band playing at the pier. While waiting to board, you can stop at a cafe, local bar, and just hang out on the pier listening to the local bands playing.
Cruise Lines: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Disney, Celebrity.