St. Maarten
Walkability: 8/10Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin
Hours in Port
~9 hours
Walk to Town
5 min walk to Philipsburg from cruise pier
Currency
ANG / EUR (USD accepted)
WiFi
Good
Cell Coverage
Good
Time Zone
AST (no DST)
Time Zone Alert
St. Maarten uses AST year-round. Same as EDT in summer. In winter it is 1 hour ahead of EST.
Overview
Direct answer
St. Maarten is a docked cruise port with 8/10 walkability, about 9 typical port hours, and ANG / EUR as the local currency.
St. Maarten is unique: one island shared by two nations (Dutch and French). The cruise port is on the Dutch side in Philipsburg, with great beaches and duty-free shopping steps away. The French side offers European flair, topless beaches, and gourmet dining.
Destination Snapshot
St. Maarten
Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin
Port-area planning notes
Arrival Style
Docked port
Walkability
8/10
Connectivity
good Wi-Fi, good cell
Top Excursions
Maho Beach (Plane Spotting)
Orient Bay Beach
Loterie Farm Treetop Pool
12 Metre Sailing Regatta
Rhino Rider Power Boat
Book Tours & Activities
Hotels Near St. Maarten
Flying in the night before? Find hotels near the cruise terminal in St. Maarten, Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin.
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Rent a Boat in St. Maarten
Skip the cruise excursion desk — rent a private boat and explore St. Maarten at your own pace.
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Free Things To Do
Great Bay Beach
Long stretch of sand right next to the cruise terminal. Lounge for free or rent a chair for $5.
Front Street Shopping
Duty-free shopping along the Philipsburg boardwalk — jewelry, electronics, and liquor deals.
Courthouse & Historic Philipsburg
Walk the old town center and see the 1793 Courthouse, the oldest in the Dutch Caribbean.
Restaurants Near Terminal
Getting Around
Water taxis run from the pier to downtown Philipsburg for $7 round trip. Taxis to Maho Beach are $15-20 per person (fixed rate). Buses to the French side run $2-3. Rent a car ($40-50/day) to explore both sides of the island.
Cruise Port FAQ
Is St. Maarten a tender port or a docked port?
St. Maarten is listed as a docked cruise port in CruiseKit's guide, which usually makes the port area simpler to plan than a tender stop.
How walkable is St. Maarten from the cruise port?
St. Maarten has a CruiseKit walkability score of 8/10. The port-area note is: 5 min walk to Philipsburg from cruise pier.
What currency is used in St. Maarten?
ANG / EUR is the local currency for St. Maarten. US dollars are commonly accepted in many visitor-facing places.
Does this St. Maarten page use a live map provider?
No. This port guide uses a static destination snapshot for planning. CruiseKit's optional Explore Map is a separate app view and is only loaded when enabled and opened by the user.
Emergency Information
Police
911 (Dutch side) / 17 (French side)
Hospital
St. Maarten Medical Center
US Consulate
No US Consulate — nearest in Curacao
What will a cruise to St. Maarten really cost?
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