Cruise Visitors
St Maarten Shore Excursions for Cruise Passengers
Saint Martin is one of the Caribbean’s most visited cruise destinations. With both a Dutch and a French side to explore, a range of beaches, water activities, and cultural experiences, a well-planned port day can be one of the highlights of your voyage.
Use this guide to understand your options, compare experiences and plan a shore excursion that fits your available time and interests.
Port Day Planning
Planning Your Port Day
Saint Martin is one of the Caribbean’s most popular cruise ports. Ships typically dock at the Philipsburg cruise pier on the Dutch side, giving passengers direct access to Philipsburg’s main street, beaches, and a range of excursions across both sides of the island.
Port days vary in length. Some ships allow six to eight hours ashore; others may offer a shorter window. Before choosing an excursion, confirm your ship’s all-aboard time and build your plans around it.
Important Planning Note
We recommend aiming to finish any excursion at least two hours before your all-aboard time. This is a planning buffer, not a guarantee. Traffic, weather, and unexpected delays can all affect return journeys. No independent tour can guarantee that you will be back at the ship on time. Always confirm your ship’s all-aboard time before you depart and factor in realistic travel time from your excursion’s return point to the pier.
Departure Locations
Excursions may depart from the cruise port, Simpson Bay marina or other island locations. These departure points can be approximately 20–45 minutes apart. Always verify the exact meeting point and return location with your provider before booking.
International Day Trips
If you are considering a day trip to Anguilla or St Barths, you must verify passport, immigration and entry requirements for your nationality before traveling. Requirements vary and are your responsibility to confirm.
Matching Your Time Ashore
Excursions That Fit a Cruise Schedule
The right excursion depends on how long your ship is in port. Shorter stops suit focused beach visits or a guided town walk. Longer windows of four to eight hours open up catamaran charters, island sightseeing tours, and more involved water activities. When comparing options, always check whether the advertised duration includes transfers and check-in time at the departure point.
Shorter Port Stops
Focused Experiences
A shorter port stop is well suited to a beach visit close to the pier, a guided walk through Philipsburg, or a brief water activity near the harbour. Keep travel distances short and allow extra time to return. Maho Beach is approximately 20 minutes from the pier; Orient Bay is approximately 30–40 minutes. Traffic and pickup location can change journey times, so treat these as planning references only.
Four to Eight Hours Ashore
Full-Day Experiences
A longer port window opens up catamaran charters, island sightseeing tours covering both sides, private boat excursions, food and culture experiences, and more involved water activities. These are not guaranteed durations — always check the advertised itinerary and confirm whether transfers and check-in are included in the stated time.
Always Confirm
Before You Book
Check whether the advertised duration includes transfers and check-in. Confirm the exact departure point and return location. Verify the provider’s cancellation and late-return policy. Build in your two-hour buffer before all-aboard time, and do not rely on any excursion to guarantee your return to the ship.
Sun, Sand & Water
Beach and Water Excursions
Saint Martin’s beaches are among its most celebrated attractions. From the famous Maho Beach — where aircraft pass directly overhead on final approach — to the long white sands of Orient Bay on the French side, there are options to suit different preferences.
Maho Beach is approximately 20 minutes from the Philipsburg cruise pier. Orient Bay is approximately 30–40 minutes. These are approximate planning references only — traffic and your specific pickup location can change journey times.
Water excursions from Saint Martin include catamaran charters, snorkeling trips, jet ski adventures and private boat experiences. These vary in duration, departure point and group size. Always verify departure logistics and return times with the provider before booking.
Always check whether a beach excursion includes transport, beach chair rental, food and drink, or whether these are additional costs.
Sailing the Caribbean
Catamaran & Boat Excursions
A catamaran or boat excursion is one of the most popular ways to spend a port day in Saint Martin. Depending on the experience, options may include sailing along the coastline, island hopping, snorkeling stops, and time on the water away from the cruise terminal.
Many catamaran excursions depart from Simpson Bay marina, which is a separate location from the Philipsburg cruise pier. Travel time between the two points is approximately 20–45 minutes, depending on traffic and your starting location. Factor this transfer into your planning and confirm the exact meeting point with your provider.
Explore Both Sides
Island Sightseeing by Taxi or Tour
A guided island tour or taxi excursion is one of the best ways to see both the Dutch and French sides of Saint Martin in a single port day. Tours typically cover key viewpoints, local towns, and cultural landmarks across the island.
Marigot, the capital of the French side, offers a waterfront market, French Caribbean architecture, and a different character from Philipsburg. Grand Case is well known for its restaurant scene. The island’s scenic viewpoints and hilltop lookouts are accessible on guided tours.
When comparing island tours, check the itinerary, whether a guide is included, how many stops are made, and the return time to the pier. Confirm that the tour’s return point is the cruise pier, not another location on the island.
Know Your Options
Ship-Sponsored or Independent Excursions?
Both ship-sponsored and independently booked excursions have their place. Understanding the differences helps you make a more informed decision for your port day.
Ship-Sponsored Excursions
Booked through your cruise line, these excursions are typically coordinated with the ship’s schedule. Policies vary by cruise line and excursion — not every ship-sponsored tour guarantees the ship will wait for late-returning passengers. Always read the terms of your specific booking before assuming any return guarantee applies.
Independent Excursions
Independently booked excursions offer a wider range of experiences and can offer more flexibility and value. However, no independent tour operator can guarantee your return to the ship. If you book independently, you are responsible for managing your own time ashore. The two-hour buffer rule is especially important when booking outside the ship’s program.
Before You Book
Booking Tips for Cruise Visitors
- Confirm your ship’s all-aboard time before choosing any excursion.
- Allow at least two hours as a buffer before all-aboard. This is a planning guide, not a guarantee.
- Check whether the advertised tour duration includes transfers and check-in time.
- Verify the exact departure point and return location with the provider — not all excursions return to the cruise pier.
- If traveling to Anguilla or St Barths, verify passport, immigration and entry requirements for your nationality before booking.
- Read the provider’s cancellation and late-return policy before confirming.
- Do not rely on any independent excursion to guarantee your return to the ship.
Explore Available Saint Martin Shore Excursions
Compare available shore excursions for cruise passengers visiting Saint Martin. Browse beach trips, water activities, island tours, and more. Check inclusions, departure logistics, and duration before booking.
Shore Excursion Listings
St Maarten Shore Excursion Orient and Maho Beach Half Day Tour
While in port in St Maarten, enjoy fun in the sun at two of St Maarten’s renowned beaches – Orient Beach and…
ATV/UTV Guided Tour to Maho Beach – Cruise Passengers
Explore St. Maarten on a guided ATV or UTV adventure to the world-famous Maho Beach. After a safety briefing and operating instructions,…
St Maarten Shore Excursion: Snorkeling and Speed Boat Tour
When you are in St Maarten, spend your time exploring its top snorkel sites. Your 7-hour shore excursion takes you by speedboat…
Affiliate disclosure: Saint Martin Experiences may earn a commission when you book through qualifying links on this website. Bookings and payments are completed through the third-party booking provider. Saint Martin Experiences does not operate the tours.
Make the Most of Your Saint Martin Port Day
Compare available shore excursions, check the details, and plan a port day that fits your time, interests, and all-aboard schedule.