Anyone who has been to St. Maarten...

[boomersoonercruiser]

What did you do and did you enjoy it. I have not heard much of this island and was wondering if it was the similar as St. Croix, St. Thomas ect.

 

8/07/04 Carnival Glory

 

Live on University!

[CruiseVirginfromBrooklyn]

St. Maarten is wonderful!! One of my favorite islands in the Caribbean. As I'm sure you know, one side is Dutch and the other side is French. Personally, I like the French side better - lots of cafes, great shopping and I just prefer it. Some of things we've done on St. Maarten include parasailing at Orient Beach (more than likely you'll have to book this on your own - I have yet to see a cruise line offer it but, I could be wrong about that), the Butterfly Farm in the French Quarter is pretty neat and of course, there is always the beach!

 

Vinnie from NY

 

Grand Princess - December, 2001

 

Carnival Destiny - February, 2002

 

Crystal Harmony - July, 2002

 

Carnival Triumph - September, 2002

 

Dawn Princess - December, 2002

 

Grand Princess - March, 2003

 

Celebrity Zenith - July, 2003

 

Crystal Symphony - December, 2003

 

Celebrity Constellation - February, 2004

 

Celebrity Zenith - July, 2004

 

And always open for suggestions and recommendations!!

[Juliah67]

We rented a van and drove to Orient Beach. It was beautiful and we had a GREAT time! We went parasailing and rented a jet-ski. We were on the nude/clothed border. I LOVED St. Maarten!!!! Love, Juliah

 

Glory Eastern 5/29/04

[sea-cruise]

We were there a few years ago, and we docked on the Dutch side. There was a small casino in the center of a small strip of shops. Quaint little houses in multicolors. We took a taxi/van (the driver was a lady; professional boxer) over to the French side, which was beautiful! The beaches are very nice.

 

 

 

Celebrating 30th cruise soon....

[Travelitis]

Time for rebuttal:

 

St. M is like St. T only in that they lie in the Caribbean. It's our least favorite port, with Nassau is a close second. I've enjoyed an island tour of St. M, but the snorkeling is pathetic. We can always buy in St. T, but in St. M it's easy to shop with no result. Many people rave about Orient Beach (one side is clothing optional), but I don't get it. It was a beach with nothing extraordinary about it. The folks on the nude side would've done us a big favor by covering their carcasses. One man went out of his way to walk right in front of us (who were standing on the clothed side) proudly exhibiting himself as if he didn't realize he looked like a cross between PeeWee Herman and a raisin. Ick! The last thing on our list of dislikes about this island is the trash.

There's a difference between an island being poor and an island being littered and trashy. St. Thomas is cleaner, prettier, etc.

 

Friends of ours love St. M, and they like to rent a car. We're at the point that we have no interest in leaving the ship when we port in St. M. Keep in mind that our dislike of this island isn't representative of the masses.

 

Gael

 

Norway 1994

Norway 7/00

Grand Princess 7/01

NCL Sun 7/02

Zuiderdam 9/03

Elation 11/04

 

 

 

[Guest]

We did the America's Cup Regatta Excursion while in St. Martin and LOVED it! Didn't see much more of the island except where we docked but what was there was beautiful. Went to the beach close to the dock and Everything Cool Bar and relaxed for a while before we sailed. We would go back to St. Martin anytime!!

 

Lisa T.

Paradise...May 1999

Sensation...May 2000

Sensation...May 2001

Pride...June 2002

Triumph...May 2003

Glory....April 2004

 

[Jdleong]

We rented a van for 7 ($60) and drove around the island. Stopped in Margot, drove thur most of the towns(?). We ended up swimming at Mullet Bay, whick is beautiful. The Jets go over, but not like Mayo, and the water is clear and the sand is white. No snorkeling. There are food vendors,umbrellas,and chairs. It was hard to find, but well worth it. Driving in St Maarten is so much easier than St Thomas, (I wouldn't drive there), traffic is light and streets are well marked.

 

5/2 Victory Cruise

[jemingway]

A vote here for the Butterfly farm and shopping in Marigot.

 

JV The 4 stages of cruising: planning, anticipation, experience and reflection.

[Knights on the Beach]

St. Maarten is one of my favorite ports! We thought Orient Beach was beautiful; we had a great day there. We enjoyed shopping on the Dutch side -- the Guavaberry Emporium is a great poace to shop! The whole place was very clean when we were there, no trash anywhere.

 

Beth

~~~~~~~~~~~

Glory Pictures (Part 1), Costa Maya:

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/153054619sWISTk

 

Emerald Seas 6/86 & 11/87, Royale 10/88, Celebration 6/97, Grandeur of the Seas 6/98, Sensation 6/99, Carnival Triumph 6/00 & 11/17/01, Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02, Carnival Victory 5/25/03, Carnival Glory 5/22/04

[bride and groom]

Travelitis - the last time I checked a map, St. Thomas IS in the Caribbean. You might want to get your facts straight before acting like authority on a subject....

[Tropicalconcrete]

St. M is like St. T only in that they lie in the Caribbean

 

Bride and Groom. If you can't read, stay off the boards. The expession was that "the only thing they have in common is that they are in the Caribbean". Don't get hyped if you're going to screw it up. Peolpe are just here to give there opinion and each has their own. You shouldn't go down on someone so fast. Lets all ahve some fun.

 

Sun Princess 4/74

Windjammer Fantome

7/78-8/79 (Employee)

Carnival Tropicale 06/83?

Regal Empress 6/02

 

Til Triumph

 

 

[premiumrican]

St. Martin one of my Favorite islands!!! Orient beach is just perfect. Lots of facilities, perfect beach in terms of waves, not too force yet not minute like the waves at magen's bay in St. T. Shopping is great in st. Martin. where can u get stoli vodka for $4.75 a liter!!!! And don't forget to get that dutch cheese the Gouda! fabulous

[*christina*]

Don't forget the jewelry shopping in St. Maarten. I found that that prices were quite a bit better on St. Maarten vs. St. Thomas. I loved both ports (st M and st T) very much.

 

Triumph June 2004

Jubilee July 2002

 

Time till Triumph on 6/5

[dbauknight]

My wife got a NICE new wedding ring in St. Maarten at the Amsterdam Diamond Gallery which is right off the pier. Our last cruise was an anniversary cruise, Valentines week 2002 on the Legend. She could not find the cut or clarity she liked here in the states. (I want to say it’s an “Fâ€, but don’t hold me to that.) We had been to St. Thomas twice before and could not find a better deal. I also got a DV Camcorder which at the time was a good deal, but was the same price here in the states 6 months later. St. Maarten is very similar to St. Thomas, but St. Maarten seemed less crowded to me.

 

I too thought the snorkeling was not as good as some of the Western ports. We took a catamaran which was a lot of fun and I can’t remember where. Stopped at a beach for about 2 hours to snorkel and relax on the beach. On the way back, we lost one of the members of the group who we searched for over an hour down the coast line. (We never did find her, but did see her that night on the ship. She ended up hiring a taxi.) We should have gone to Orient beach, which got rave reviews by some of the others on the ship.

 

The tour made us late getting back to the ship and we were having the ring mounted and sized. In the rush back the owner had given the ring to CD Michael Malone to give to us on the ship. He was afraid we wouldn’t make it back. That was a nice touch.

 

The funny thing is we know the owner in St. Thomas of Diamonds International, who is from Macon, GA, and could not get a better deal from him.

 

Carnival Imagination - October 1998

Carnival Triumph - November 1999

Carnival Victory - Valentines Week 2001

Carnival Legend - Valentines Week 2003

 

Carnival Legend - Our Last Trip To Paradise...

Carnival Fantasy Weekend Getaway!

Carnival Glory - Valentines Week!

[drwestlake]

My husband and I and 3 kids decided to just do the beach thing. We walked maybe 2 blocks into town and then cut in between two shops to the beach. The had a water trampoline which my kids loved and spent the whole day on. My husband and I just relaxed, got some sun and drank beer. Before we headed back we did some shopping. It was a great day and very inexpensive.