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St. Maarten: when your ship stops here

The beach and boardwalk in Philipsburg, the 1631 fort with the pelicans, the French side, and the fence at Maho Beach to stay away from.

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Philipsburg is the capital of Sint Maarten, the Dutch half of an island that the Dutch and the French have shared since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648. The town sits on a strip of land between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. The cruise port, where up to six ships tie up, is about a 15 minute walk from town, and water taxis run to the waterfront.

Sources: Wikipedia: Sint Maarten; Wikipedia: Philipsburg, Sint Maarten; Port St. Maarten: Cruise

Top 3 things to do

  1. 1. Great Bay Beach and the boardwalk

    The town's own beach is right on Great Bay, with a boardwalk built in 2006 running between the town and the sand.

    Tip: Take the water taxi from the port to the waterfront; it saves the walk. It stops at Captain Hodge Wharf, Walter Williams Jetty and Bobby's Marina.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Philipsburg, Sint Maarten; Port St. Maarten: Cruise

  2. 2. Fort Amsterdam

    The Dutch built this small triangular stone fort in 1631 on the point between Great Bay and Little Bay; the Spanish took it two years later and held it until 1648. It is a ruin now, but it commands a great view of the harbour, and a colony of brown pelicans nests on the slope below it.

    Tip: Little is left of the fort itself; go for the view and the pelicans.

    Source: Wikipedia: Fort Amsterdam (Sint Maarten)

  3. 3. Marigot, on the French side

    The same island holds a second country: the French Collectivity of Saint Martin, with its main town Marigot. Fort Louis, built in 1789 to protect the warehouses in the port, looks down over the town.

    Tip: The island is small. A taxi or a tour gets you to the French side and back in a few hours.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Marigot, Saint Martin; Wikipedia: Sint Maarten

What to skip

  • Standing at the fence at Maho Beach

    At Maho Beach, planes land over the sand at less than 100 feet (30 m) up, and jets taking off blast the beach. In July 2017 a visitor holding the fence at the end of the runway was killed when the blast threw her against concrete. The government warns of serious injury or death: watch from well back on the beach, never at the fence.

    Source: Wikipedia: Maho Beach

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in St. Maarten

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in St. Maarten, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

Sources

Read on Nov 1, 2026. Opening days, hours and rules change: check with the place itself before you go. legtolegcruises.com is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or any place named here.

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