Port Description

What to See and Do

Scuba diving around Proselyte Reef, named for the British frigate HMS Proselyte, which sank here in 1801. It lies in depths ranging from 15 to 45 feet. Divers need to book through a local dive site operator.

St. Maarten 12 Metre Regatta consists of yachts that raced in the 1987 America's Cup; you can sign up through your cruise ship or through a hotel. Be prepared to pitch in--everything from trimming sails and winching to being the cooler queen (passing out sodas).

Take a trip to the isle of Anguilla. This peaceful British-affiliated island, about a 25-minute ferry ride from Marigot, is known for its gorgeous white-sand beaches and phenomenal gourmet restaurants. At the ferry terminal here taxis are available. Most folks head straight to Shoal Bay (east), full of activity and barbecue shacks, and fronting tranquil waters. Another option, especially for foodies: Ask the taxi driver to take you to Trattoria Tramonto, a fabulous waterfront Italian restaurant on Shoal Bay West (the restaurant offers free lounge chairs for lunch guests); make sure you arrange for the cabbie to pick you up again! Logistical note: Ferries operate between Blowing Point (Anguilla) and Marigot every half-hour or so during the day. Cost each way is $12 and is paid in cash onboard. Both St. Martin and Anguilla charge "departure" fees ($2 and $3 respectively). Critical: make sure you bring your passport, or you'll be denied entry.

Best Beach for a Half-Day Visit: Mullet Bay.

Best Beach for the Dedicated Beach Bum: Orient Beach, aka Baie Orientale, is located in St. Martin but is an easy taxi ride from Philipsburg. The beach has a section for nudists as well as more crowded areas for plain ol' beach bums. You can rent water gear and beach lounges, and there are numerous bars and food shacks. Windsurfing is good here and you can rent equipment.

Best Beach for Active Types: Dawn Beach for snorkeling and body surfing.

Secluded Beach: Cupecoy Beach, which has caves and rock cliffs, has lots of private nooks and crannies. Also, try Dawn Beach for snorkeling.

Shopping

Philipsburg's main drags of Front and Old Street are crammed with duty-free jewelry shops, electronics, and liquor.  For offbeat finds in Philipsburg, consider Greenwith Gallery (33 Front Street) for a wide variety of Caribbean artwork and upscale crafts, Dutch Delft Gallery (37 Front Street), Ikemba-African Art Gallery (125 Front Street), and the Belgium Chocolate Factory (Old Street Arcade).

Marigot, St. Martin: This hub of the French St. Martin is filled with designer boutiques and fabulous restaurants, bistros, and cafes (duty-free merchandise, while occasionally available, isn't as much a focus).

Where You're Docked

The A.C. Wathey Pier & Port Facility, St. Maarten's new pier and cruise terminal, is a boon to cruise passengers, especially those who find tendering unpleasant, inconvenient or physically challenging. In most cases ships will dock here, but on busy days tendering to Little Pier, right in the heart of Phillipsburg, is still a possibility.

Getting Around

On Foot: The main on-foot attraction at the base of the new pier is a set of duty-free shops. Though you can hike the 20-minute route into downtown Philipsburg, the streets are narrow and there are no sidewalks (and the views are incredibly un-scenic to boot).

Taxis: In the past taxi operators in St. Maarten were totally independent, setting their own rates and schedules. Now they are under government regulation -- though we heard grousing from some passengers that it was better in the good old days when you could negotiate a price with a cab driver and get a personalized island tour thrown in to boot. The problem was that if you just wanted, for example, to go directly to Marigot on the French side, drivers would often refuse to take you, waiting for the possibility of a group seeking a more lucrative island tour. We think things are better under the new system, where passengers at the new port facility queue up under signs designating per-person rates and destinations -- everything from one-way to Phillipsburg to a full island tour. Vehicles range from standard taxis to large vans and open safari-style vehicles, and rates improve based on the number in your party. The per-person savings aren't that huge, so if you are on a tight schedule and dont know your taxi-mates well, it's probably best to go it alone, lest one of them pipes up that they want to add an island tour or a detour to the beach.

Water Taxi: A water taxi operates between the cruise pier and the heart of downtown Philipsburg; cost is $3 each way (a roundtrip discount price of $5 is often available).

Renting a Car: This is a destination where renting a car can be a benefit (particularly if you have four or more people and want to see sights on both St. Maarten and St. Martin). There are a handful of agencies at the cruise pier.

Where to Eat and Drink

Casual, in-town joints: Chesterfields (Great Bay Marina) and The Greenhouse (Bobby's Marina), both open from 11am.

Gourmet Lunching: L'escargot, for French (84 Front Street, 11am to 3pm weekdays); St. Antoine, for French and Creole (103 Front Street, 11am to 5pm every day).

Staying in Touch

Internet Paradise (corner of Front Street and Yrausquin Boulevard).