Thank you all for the first suggestions and the tip regarding check-in-timeframe.

As we want to stay in Philipsburg a day-in-the-cab or in a beach club/restaurant is not what we really want after two weeks mostly on small islands with even some days at sea inbetween.

I know that only a few ships have their passenger turnover on St. Maarten, but some hundred passengers are there every week during high season. As our former spot for luggage storage does no longer exist I still hope to find a new place, if someone offers that now; maybe as a side business.

Air France still ask for beeing at the airport two hours prior departure time (check-in closes 1 hour prior departure, due to AF information). We always plan a bit more and usually show up 2.5 to 3 hours before departure, even as time in spare for possible traffic jam.