Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility → Great Bay Beach
Walk from the cruise port toward Great Bay Beach in Philipsburg.
Cruise port in Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
Philipsburg
Allow about 10 min each way from the terminal to the city center. Average time in port: 10 hours. 34 places to explore.
- Ships calling here
- 66 ships
- Upcoming sailings
- 1,160 sailings
- Average time in port
- About 10 hours
- Lowest fare
- From USD 442
Photo: ©St. Maarten Tourist Bureau
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility. Allow about 10 min each way from the terminal to the city center.
- Where the ship docks
Cruise ships dock at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility.
- Sint Maarten Taxi Fares
Taxi fares in Sint Maarten are set according to the route and number of passengers.
- Philipsburg cruise terminal
The cruise terminal is in the south of the island and within walking distance of downtown Philipsburg.
- Night and Public Holiday Surcharges for Taxis in Sint Maarten
Taxis charge a 25% surcharge from 22:00 to 06:00 and on official public holidays.
About 10 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
- Philipsburg city centreAbout 10 min each wayTime at destinationAbout 9 hr 30 min
- Orient BayAbout 25 min each wayTime at destinationAbout 9 hr
- Maho BeachAbout 30 min each wayTime at destinationAbout 9 hr
Return travel Time at destination
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility → Emmaplein
Walk from the cruise port to the Emmaplein bus stop in Philipsburg.
Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility → Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Take a taxi from the cruise port to Airport (SXM). The listed 25 USD is the fare for the 1–2 passenger bracket.
Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility → Philipsburg
Take a taxi from the cruise port to Philipsburg. The listed 10 USD is the fare for the 1–2 passenger bracket.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) → Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility
Take a taxi from the airport to the Cruise Port. The listed 25 USD is the fare for the 1–2 passenger bracket.
Emmaplein → Maho Beach
At Emmaplein, take a minibus marked ‘Maho’ on the windshield. Pay the one-way fare of about 2 USD in cash to the driver when you arrive.
Philipsburg places to explore
Explore 20 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Fort Amsterdam
The ruins of a fort dating back to the 1600s. Read the history on information panels at the site and look down over the nearby beach.
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Daily 24 hours
You must walk from near the resort entrance to Fort Amsterdam, and the final section is steep and uneven, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
St Maarten Heritage Museum
A heritage museum in Philipsburg with free admission.
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00
Sat 10:00–15:00
Sun Closed
Courthouse
A building in Philipsburg depicted on the Sint Maarten flag, located in AC Wathey Square.
- Admission
- Free
Trips nearby
With enough time in port, you can explore beyond the city. One-way times are approximate.
Orient Bay
About 25 min each wayTime at destination About 9 hr
NeighborhoodsPinel IslandThe bay side of the island has shallow, calm water for swimming and snorkeling with children.
SightsOrient BeachA lively beach on the French side of Saint Martin, considered one of the Caribbean's most activity-filled family-friendly beaches. It has beach bars and water sports such as jet skiing, as well as swimming and snorkeling.
Reviews say Orient Beach can be windy with large waves, so check the water conditions that day if you plan to swim.
Food and cafésBikini Beach RestaurantNext to a water-sports rental facility, it serves grilled fish, salads, and cocktails.
Food and cafésKontiki BeachA restaurant with a stylish beach-club atmosphere, where tuna tataki, sushi rolls, and mojitos are recommended.
ActivitiesLa Playa Orient Beach Resort Beach ChairsA service renting 2 beach chairs for the day at Orient Beach. Food and drinks can be ordered at your seat, and restrooms are available.
Food and cafésYellow SubA casual beach bar near Orient Beach, selling burgers, baguette sandwiches, and beer.
ActivitiesBikini WatersportsAt Orient Beach, it offers jet skiing, paddleboarding, and parasailing. There is also an inflatable trampoline you can jump into the sea from.
Food and cafésGood Morning CafeA French cafe near Orient Beach, selling baguette sandwiches, quiche, croque-monsieur, and coffee.
Food and cafésLa Playa RestaurantA restaurant at a beach resort, serving seafood and cocktails; cocktails can also be brought to guests' beach chairs.
Reviews say ordering and payment at La Playa Restaurant were delayed, so allow plenty of time if you are dining before your ship departs.
Maho Beach
About 30 min each wayTime at destination About 9 hr
NeighborhoodsMaho BeachRight beside the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport, where landing planes fly low over the beach.
SightsMullet Bay BeachA beach reached by traveling farther from Maho Beach, popular with swimmers and lined with waterside bars and restaurants.
The seabed on the southern side of Mullet Bay Beach drops off sharply, which may make it difficult to get out, so watch where you enter the water.
Food and cafésTortuga Beach BarOne of the beach bars at Maho Beach where you can watch planes while ordering food and drinks.
Food and cafésSpices of IndiaA restaurant in Maho Village next to Maho Beach, listed as one of the area's dining options alongside the food court.
Food and cafésSunset Beach BarA beach bar at Maho Beach where you can watch planes take off and land. Flight arrivals and departures are written on a surfboard-shaped chalkboard.
Cruises calling at Philipsburg
1,160 sailings are grouped into 353 cruises by ship and route.
MSC Cruises38 departure dates24 sailings available to book
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2028.10
Princess CruisesSailing 2026.11South America cruises · 33 nights · Long cruise
Brazilian & Cape Horn Grand Adventure
Fort Lauderdale, Florida → Santiago
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Princess CruisesSailing 2026.11South America cruises · 18 nights · Long cruise
Brazilian Adventure
Fort Lauderdale, Florida → Buenos Aires
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Princess CruisesSailing 2026.11Caribbean cruises · 9 nights · Mid-length cruise
Eastern Caribbean with Puerto Rico & Celebration Key
Port Canaveral, Florida departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Emerald CruisesBook now
Sailing 2026.11Caribbean cruises · 9 nights · Mid-length cruise
Classic Caribbean
Bridgetown departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 9,920
Emerald CruisesBook now
Sailing 2026.11Caribbean cruises · 16 nights · Long cruise
Discover the Best of the Caribbean
Marigot → Bridgetown
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 15,965
MSC Cruises8 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.02Caribbean cruises · 14 nights · Long cruise
Fort de France
Fort-de-France departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 1,526
Virgin Voyages2 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.03Caribbean cruises · 8 nights · Mid-length cruise
Southern Caribbean Cruise
San Juan (Puerto Rico) departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 1,032
Royal Caribbean International11 departure dates
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.04Caribbean cruises · 7 nights
7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day
Miami, Florida departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 963
MSC Cruises4 departure dates3 sailings available to book
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.03Caribbean cruises · 14 nights · Long cruise
Miami, Philipsburg, Basseterre, Charlotte Amalie, Amber Cove, Miami, Grand Turk Island, Ocean Cay, Nassau
Miami, Florida departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 1,443
MSC Cruises5 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.03Caribbean cruises · 8 nights · Mid-length cruise
United States, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Dominican Republic
Miami, Florida departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 667
Royal Caribbean International29 departure dates
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2028.04353 cruises call at this port.
Ships calling at Philipsburg
Explore cabin types, dining and deck facilities for each ship.
MSC Cruises · 214 sailings
MSC Opera
10 cabin types · 7 dining venues · 38 entertainment options · 9 decks
Explore the ship
Emerald Cruises · 73 sailings
Emerald Sakara
6 cabin types · 2 dining venues · 13 entertainment options · 6 decks
Explore the ship
Princess Cruises · 57 sailings
Regal Princess
6 cabin types · 18 dining venues · 24 entertainment options · 15 decks
Explore the ship
MSC Cruises · 56 sailings
MSC World Asia
29 cabin types · 19 dining venues · 61 entertainment options · 17 decks
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About Philipsburg
The capital of Dutch St. Maarten stretches about a mile (1½ km) along an isthmus between Great Bay and the Salt Pond and has five parallel streets. Most of the village's dozens of shops and restaurants are on Front Street, narrow and cobblestone, closest to Great Bay. It's generally congested when cruise ships are in port, because of its many duty-free shops and several casinos. Little lanes called steegjes connect Front Street with Back Street, which has fewer shops and considerably less congestion. Along the beach is a ½-mile-long (1-km-long) boardwalk with restaurants and several Wi-Fi hot spots.Wathey Square (pronounced watty) is in the heart of the village. Directly across from the square are the town hall and the courthouse, in a striking white building with cupola. The structure was built in 1793 and has served as the commander's home, a fire station, a jail, and a post office. The streets surrounding the square are lined with hotels, duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafés. The Captain Hodge Pier, just off the square, is a good spot to view Great Bay and the beach that stretches alongside.
Cruise lines calling here: 10 places
Celebrity CruisesDisney Cruise LineEmerald CruisesMSC CruisesNorwegian Cruise LinePrincess CruisesRegent Seven Seas CruisesRoyal Caribbean InternationalThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionVirgin Voyages
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