Mtltraveller

We just got back yesterday in Baltimore from the Grandeur of the Seas Holiday cruise. We were in St Maarten on Dec 30 and here's what we did: we got off the ship very early (8h15, before the crowd) then took a taxi to Mullet Bay - 20 minutes, $9 pp no traffic at all. Beach was lovely, white sand, water calm, no waves, and totally clear. Some snorkeling at the rocks on the left side (towards Maho). Ribs at Rosie's fabulous as advertised, beers $2.50, daiquiris $6. Lots of European tourists. Chairs and umbrella $5 each. In the afternoon, there were no taxis waiting so we walked towards the Sonesta resort (5-10 min) and found taxis waiting in front of the pharmacy. As it was 3pm, the old bridge had just closed but the driver took the new one (which had opened 8 days before), ran into minor traffic but in 20 mins we were on Front St, $30 total for the 4 of us.

We loved Mullet Bay so much that we skipped Maho (and the Air France was delayed that day). Very happy with our choice!

From downtown, we walked to the cruise terminal, 15 mins (alert walking).

As we are not into shopping, we had about 45 mins to buy two T-shirts and walk the Front St. Definitely, lots more to do in St Maarten, so we're planning to go on a land vacation soon!

Thank you Karysa! Really appreciate your time and help!

Can you walk from Karakter to Sunset Bar on Maho? On google maps there seems to be some roads at the end of Simpson Bay Beach.

thanks!

Having a great time reading the review, in anticipation of our cruise in two weeks. Loved the Christmas tree in Centrum!

How does the $3 an hour internet work at Starbucks? It's the first time I read about it, my two teens would absolutely love that.

I also tried emailing them yesterday and it didn't work, so if someone has an email address for them please post it here.

Thanks

Thank you!

The prices on Chez Pat's web site are in Euros, does anyone know if they take USD when paying cash, at what exchange rate? TIA

any opinions on Anse Marcel? I didn't see many posts about it (or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough :) ), but the most recommended beaches seem to be Orient and Galion. Anse Marcel looks nice from pics, and high end, is that true? Galion looks pretty, and quiet, but maybe a little bit too quiet for my two teens/young adults. Orient on the other side looks too 'party'...

Ideally I would like a nice beach, with coconut trees, lively with music and good food (but no nudity), safe (there were some reports of mugging in Grand Case, no? or is that at night only), and which one would fit the bill? I know I'm not asking much :D

Hello,

we will be docking in OSJ on Saturday Dec 28, from 14h30 to 22h. I would like your advice on my current plan: go to Playa Escambron until sunset (about 6pm), then stroll around OSJ until boarding. Are there any areas to avoid at night? what are the most lively parts of OSJ? someone mentioned bands playing on Saturdays in a small town square - any ideas where would that be/name? what sights are there not to be missed, but open after 6pm?

thanks all!

I'm also interested in hearing recommendations, we're going to St Maarten in December and I'm trying to figure out where to go. My preference at this time is Le Galion, but seems to be remote so not sure if there will be taxis to go back to the pier?

Dawn seems another possibility, any comparisons betwen them?

For our friends in TO, my sympathies from Montreal, at least our mayor had the decency to go away quietly :) but yours is way more entertaining :D

good idea to hit both Coki and Sapphire, they seem pretty close on the map.

I do expect rocks for snorkeling, that's usually where the fish are! but don't particularly like them when I walk on the beach or right at the shoreline, which is what some reviews on TA implied :)

thanks for your quick replies! I sure hope for a nice sunny day at the end of December, my son will be first afraid of the iguanas but he'll like them in the end :)

I am trying to decide between Coki and Sapphire, and for now I tend to prefer Sapphire based on all the reading I've done here, but on Tripadvisor several people are mentioning that it's rocky and water shoes are a must. We are going to have our own snorkeling equipment, do we need to bring shoes as well?

thanks!

many thanks to all, really appreciate your feedback. I booked the 10 bottle package for our Christmas cruise on Grandeur, hope to try the Mer Soleil that everyone raves about.

Hi,

I have a question for Wine and dine package - I was looking to buy the 10 bottles package thinking that the three adults in our party can share a bottle every night (we're booked on a 10 night Christmas cruise), but after calling RCI it seems that we can't share, we'd have to all buy the package. This is not what I was told a few months ago when I booked the cruise, so I'm confused now. There's no way we can each drink a bottle a night, this doesn't make sense?!

How does this package work??

Many thanks for clarifying this!