We were avid cruisers until we took a boat tour around Saint Martin while on a cruise. On that tour as we rushed to several places. We stopped for lunch at Grand Case. At that stop I had a truly enlightening moment- who in the heck are the lucky people who get to stay here. So from that point forward we have not and do not have any desire to cruise. We now just stay in Saint Martin as long as we can. Works by far the best for us- an yes I understand other prefer the other and that is ok. One other note- on our first stay trip to Saint Martin we went and spent a day at Friars- a bunch of buses from cruise ships unloaded- we had a great time with the travelers for the short time they were able to stay. The large group asked me as they were being herded back to the bus. How we were able to be so lucky to just stay.