St. Maarten Cruise Port Guide: Maho Beach, Prices, Water Taxi & What to Actually Do
I’ve visited St. Maarten several times now, and my opinion of the island has changed with every visit.
The first time, I wanted to see everything. We took island tours, chased beaches, visited Maho, and tried to fit as much as possible into a single port day.
These days? I’m just as happy taking the water taxi into Philipsburg, finding a beach chair, and spending the afternoon watching the ships from the sand.
That’s what I like most about St. Maarten. It can be an action-packed island adventure or one of the easiest beach days in the Caribbean—and after experiencing it both ways, I can honestly say there’s no wrong answer.
Quick Verdict:
Best for:
- Easy beach days
- Maho Beach plane spotting
- Walkable port options
- Experiencing two cultures in one port
Not ideal for:
- People stressed about traffic delays
- People who hate tourist-heavy areas
Why I Almost Always Take the Water Taxi
One thing I’ve learned after multiple visits to St. Maarten is not to overcomplicate getting into Philipsburg.
Most people can walk from the cruise port, but I almost always take the water taxi. It’s quick, convenient, and drops you right where you want to be.
For my mom, it’s an easy decision. Whenever Google tells us a walk will take 15 minutes, I usually assume it’s going to take us much longer. The water taxi saves her energy and gets us to the beach in just a few minutes.
Over the years, we’ve taken it several times, and it’s become part of the St. Maarten experience for me. You hop aboard, enjoy the short ride across the harbor, and before you know it you’re standing on the Philipsburg boardwalk with the beach, restaurants, and shops right in front of you.
It’s one of the reasons I think St. Maarten is such an easy port for cruise passengers.
Simple, convenient, and hard to mess up.
My Favorite St. Maarten Beach Day
After several visits to St. Maarten, I’ve done the island tours, visited Maho Beach, and explored both the Dutch and French sides.
But one of my favorite days on the island was actually one of the simplest.
We took the water taxi from the cruise port into Philipsburg and spent the day at Holland House Beach Hotel.
What I liked immediately was how easy everything felt. The hotel sits right on Great Bay Beach, so within minutes of leaving the ship we were sitting by the water with a drink in hand and nowhere we needed to be.
The beach itself was beautiful. The water was clear, the sand was clean, and unlike some Caribbean beach clubs that feel packed with cruise passengers, this area felt much more relaxed.
My mom spent part of the day walking around Philipsburg and even stopped inside a nearby church while I stayed near the beach. At one point I even got a beach massage. If you decide to do the same, my advice is simple: agree on the price before anything starts. It’s a good habit no matter where you travel.
One thing I remember clearly was how comfortable the entire day felt. There were a few friendly dogs wandering around the beach, plenty of yachts in the distance, decent Wi-Fi, and just enough activity to keep things interesting without feeling crowded.
Being myself, I wasn’t exactly looking to spend a fortune either. I remember grabbing food nearby in a subway shop instead of ordering a full beachside lunch and still having a fantastic day.
Looking back, this is probably the experience I’d recommend to most cruise passengers visiting St. Maarten for the first time. It’s easy, relaxing, and gives you a chance to enjoy one of the island’s best assets: that beautiful stretch of beach sitting right in the heart of Philipsburg.
If I return tomorrow, there’s a good chance this is exactly how I’d spend my day again.
If you’re comparing Caribbean beach ports, I personally enjoyed the beaches in Cozumel and Bermuda even more, though neither is quite as easy to access from the ship as Great Bay Beach in St. Maarten.
Maho Beach: Yes, We Held Onto the Fence
Maho Beach is probably the most famous attraction in St. Maarten, and after finally experiencing it for myself, I understand why.
Photos and videos don’t really prepare you for how close the planes actually are.
We visited Maho Beach as part of a tour with Bernard’s Tours after spending much of the day exploring the island. By that point there had already been plenty of rum punch involved, so my uncle and I decided we were absolutely going to try the famous fence experience.
My mom, aunt, and the rest of the group thought we were completely crazy.
They were probably right.
When the jet engines started spooling up, I immediately understood why there are warning signs everywhere. The noise is incredible. You can feel the vibration in your chest before the plane even begins moving. Then comes the blast of hot air, the smell of jet fuel, flying sand, and enough force to make you realize very quickly that this is not something to take lightly.
Holding onto the fence was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done in a cruise port.
Would I do it again?
Probably.
Would I recommend being careful?
Absolutely.
People have been injured here, and the area around the fence is not a place to be reckless. Pay attention to the warning signs, watch for traffic, and use common sense.
That said, watching those planes roar directly overhead is one of the most memorable experiences in the Caribbean. Even years later, it’s still one of the first things I think about when someone mentions St. Maarten.
For aviation fans, Maho Beach is one of those places that’s worth seeing at least once.
Maho Beach is one of the most unique attractions I’ve experienced on a cruise, but if you’re looking for a port that’s more about relaxing than adrenaline, I’d take a look at my Castaway Cay guide as well.
Exploring Both Sides of St. Maarten
One of my favorite visits to St. Maarten wasn’t a beach day at all.
Instead, we booked a full island tour with Bernard’s Tours, one of the most recommended tour companies on the island. Our driver, known as “Mailman,” had a great personality and kept the day entertaining from start to finish.
The tour gave us a chance to see much more of St. Maarten than we ever would have on our own. We crossed between the Dutch and French sides of the island, stopped at scenic viewpoints, visited beaches, and learned a little about the history of both sides along the way.
One thing that stood out was how different the two sides felt. Philipsburg on the Dutch side felt more cruise-oriented and lively, while the French side felt quieter and more relaxed. We also had some excellent food on the French side, which is something many visitors talk about after visiting the island.
The weather wasn’t perfect during our tour. We had periods of rain throughout the day, and there were moments when the skies looked pretty threatening. Still, St. Maarten is such a beautiful island that even on a cloudy day the scenery was impressive.
One stop allowed us to get out near the water, where we saw sea urchins, conch shells, and some of the marine life that makes these islands so special. Another stop gave everyone a chance to get their passports stamped, which quickly became one of the highlights for many people on the tour.
And then there was the rum punch. There was plenty of it.
One of the stories our guide told us involved the famous legend of how the island was divided between the French and Dutch sides. According to the story, representatives from both sides started at opposite ends of the island and walked to determine how much land each country would claim. The Dutch were supposedly drinking gin, the French were supposedly drinking wine, and by the end of the day the Dutch covered more ground. Whether it’s completely true or not, it’s one of those island stories that’s too entertaining not to repeat.
By the end of the day, most of the group was having a great time, my uncle included.
Looking back, I think Bernard’s Tours is one of the best options for first-time visitors who want to see more than just Philipsburg. Beach days are great, but this was the visit that helped me appreciate how much there is to see beyond the cruise port.
Orient Bay Beach: Beautiful Even on a Bad Weather Day
As part of our island tour, we also spent some time at Orient Bay Beach on the French side of St. Maarten.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t really cooperate that day. The skies stayed cloudy, there were periods of rain, and we never got the postcard-perfect beach day you see in so many photos.
Even so, it was easy to see why Orient Bay is one of the island’s most popular beaches.
The beach itself is wide, beautiful, and lined with restaurants, beach clubs, and water sports operators. If the weather had been better, I probably would have spent a lot more time in the water.
Instead, we mostly relaxed, enjoyed the scenery, and took in the atmosphere before continuing the tour.
One thing first-time visitors should know is that Orient Bay is also home to a clothing-optional section. You can easily stay on the traditional side of the beach if that’s your preference, but it’s something worth knowing before you visit.
While Maho Beach gets most of the attention, Orient Bay showed me a completely different side of St. Maarten—one that’s slower, more relaxed, and focused on enjoying the beach rather than chasing attractions.
Philipsburg Is Worth Exploring
One thing I like about St. Maarten is that you don’t have to plan every minute of your day.
After taking the water taxi into Philipsburg, it’s easy to spend a few hours simply walking around town. You’ll find shops, restaurants, bars, casinos, and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view.
My mom usually enjoys wandering around Philipsburg more than I do. On one visit, she stopped inside a small church while I stayed near the beach. Other times we’ve browsed a few shops, grabbed a quick meal, or simply walked along the boardwalk watching the yachts anchored offshore.
Is it touristy?
Of course.
But unlike some cruise ports that feel completely manufactured, Philipsburg still feels like a real town. That’s one of the reasons I keep enjoying visits there.
Philipsburg is one of the easiest cruise towns to explore on foot, similar to Key West, where you can spend an entire day wandering around without needing much of a plan.
One Thing I’d Be Careful About in St. Maarten
If there’s one practical tip I’d give first-time visitors, it’s to respect the island’s traffic.
I’ve never had an issue getting back to the ship, but St. Maarten is one of those ports where traffic can build up quickly, especially around popular areas like Maho Beach and parts of the French side.
That’s one reason I like simple days in Philipsburg. The water taxi makes getting back to the ship easy, and there’s very little stress involved.
If you’re taking a tour, I wouldn’t worry too much—reputable operators like Bernard’s Tours do this every day. Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time if you’re exploring independently and heading far from the cruise port.
Final Verdict: Is St. Maarten Worth It?
Absolutely.
St. Maarten is one of the most flexible cruise ports in the Caribbean.
If you want a simple beach day, take the water taxi into Philipsburg and relax on Great Bay. If you want to explore, book an island tour and see both the Dutch and French sides. And if you’ve always wanted to experience Maho Beach, there’s really nothing else quite like it.
What I like most about St. Maarten is that it works no matter what kind of day you’re looking for.
Over the years I’ve toured the island, spent time at Maho Beach, relaxed at Holland House, and simply enjoyed walking around Philipsburg with my family. Every visit has been a little different, and that’s part of the appeal.
One of those visits was aboard Oasis of the Seas, where Royal Caribbean ended up moving our cabin after ongoing issues with heavy cigarette smoke from a neighboring balcony. Oddly enough, that’s become one of the memories I still associate with that St. Maarten stop.
If this is your first visit, don’t feel pressured to do everything. Pick one or two things that interest you, enjoy the day, and save the rest for next time.
Because if you’re anything like me, there’s a good chance St. Maarten won’t be a one-time visit.
