Shore Excursion: Orient Beach and Maho Beach Adventure

4.4 (14 reviews)5 h–6 hSt. MaartenFits a typical call
Fits your day

Back at the ship by about 2:40 pm, 1 h 50 min before all aboard. That keeps your 1 h safety margin with 50 min to spare.

Safety margin
Ship in portGetting ashore (20 min)Safety margin (1 h)All aboard 4:30 pm
  1. 8:00 am
    Ship docks in St. Maarten20 min to get off the ship and through the terminal
  2. 8:20 am
    Leave the pierThis tour meets at the pier
  3. 8:30 am
    Earliest tour startTour runs 5 h–6 h; we plan for 6 h. Latest sensible start: 9:20 am.
  4. 2:30 pm
    Tour ends10 min back to the pier
  5. 2:40 pm
    Back at the gangway1 h 50 min before all aboard
  6. 4:30 pm
    All aboardGangway closes; the ship won't wait for independent tours

Estimates based on the tour's longest published duration, our researched travel times and typical pier queues. Confirm the departure time on the booking page and keep your watch on ship's time.

Our verdict

This tour fits a typical St. Maarten call (8:00 am–4:30 pm). It runs up to 6 h; ashore by 8:20 am, you can start by 8:30 am and be back at the gangway around 2:40 pm — 50 min to spare on top of a 1 h safety margin.

Rule of thumb: it keeps the safety margin as long as all aboard is 3:40 pm or later. On a short call (ship leaving by 2:00 pm) skip it or ask for the first departure.

The operator picks up at the cruise port (it is on their pickup list), so the trip to the start point is part of the tour. We allow 10 min to walk off and find the pickup; look for the ground-transportation area outside Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility (Port St. Maarten), Harbour Point Village.

Among the 400 St. Maarten shore excursions we track, this is one of the longer ones (the median runs 4 h); 77% of them fit a typical call.

Computed from the tour's published duration, the distance from the cruise pier to its start point and the typical St. Maarten call. Adjust your ship's times above to recheck.

About this tour

THIS IS NOT A TOUR BUT A BEACH ADVENTURE - THIS IS A GROUP RENDEZVOUS, Group rate starts at 6 person and up (below will be personalized), Email, call or best WhatsApp to join the Group. Spend 2 hours at Orient Beach where you can hang out at the beach, walk on the white sand, swim in the ocean, enjoy our water sports activities or rent a beach chair and relax while sipping on your favorite drink. Then we head off to Maho Beach (Sunset Beach) where some of the largest aircraft come in for landing right overhead and take off right before your eyes, for another two hours of fun. With the day well spent at the beach with a tan line to show for it, we head back to town where you have an option of remaining or be dropped back to your cruise ship.

Max 100 per group

What's included

  • Profession driver/guide
  • Port pickup and drop-off
  • Access to Orient Beach and Maho Beach

Not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
  • Activities and rentals at the beaches
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Itinerary

Enjoy this shore excursion that allows you to visit two sought after beaches in St Maarten. After meeting at the designated meeting point near the cruise ship port, begin your adventure by heading first to Orient Beach. At Orient Beach you can hang out, walk on the white sand, swim in the ocean, or rent a beach chair and relax while sipping on your favorite drinks. For the more adventurous, there is also the option to go parasailing, snorkeling, kite surfing and kite flying. You can also rent a jet ski, water trampoline or banana boat. The options are endless! There are lots of bars and restaurants with Creole and French cuisine where you can grab some authentic local food. You will have two hours at Orient Beach to enjoy the sand, sun, water and breeze. Next, the adventure will continue to Maho Beach (Sunset Beach) for another two hours. Maho Beach is famous for being located in front of the Princess Juliana International Airport where some of the largest aircraft come in for landing right overhead and take off right before your eyes. These planes land so close you feel like you can reach out and touch them! This is an unforgettable experience that will not soon be forgotten. With the day well spent at the beach with a tan line to show for it, head back to town where you have an option of remaining or being dropped back off at your cruise ship, thank you.

Meeting point and getting there

Start point
Philipsburg
Caribbean
The Meeting Place is the EDC Parking Lot which is all the way left (do not go right) going out of the Port, until you come to a green fence with the EDC Parking Lot Sign Overhead, and a white tent inside. Know you are looking for Diederick SXM Tours, see you soon.
From the cruise pier
Meets at the pier
Allow 20 min to get off the ship first. Taxi fares and pier details.
Returns
Back to the start point

Good to know

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Minimum drinking age is 18 years old
  • At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Traveler reviews

4.4
14 traveler reviews
5
79%
4
7%
3
0%
2
0%
1
14%

Read all 14 reviews

Operated by Diederick SXM Tours. Prices, availability and tour details come from the booking partner and can change; the booking page is authoritative.

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