After visiting SXM on several cruises we had a week booked in Grand Case the week after Irma. We found the folks on this board so helpful as we planned our trip that was not to be.

We will be back for a day on a ship on January 7th and will be the only ship that day and it does not leave until late.

Realizing we can't do all the things we had planned for our trip we'd like to hit more beaches than we normally would in a day. These are my first thoughts let me know if doable or any advice.

Start off with a cab to Rainbow for a couple of hours. Does anyone know how early you can get chairs and food/drinks?
Next cab to Boat bar at Maho to watch a few planes.
Then we'd like to walk to El Zafiro and then Karakter (is this doable and safe?)
Maybe end the day at the Yacht Club

Thanks in advance for the advice and suggestions.

There may be 2 ships in that day. Celebrity Summit & Star Pride.

How many hours will you have?

Personally, I would HATE to make the walk from Driftwood boat bar through the streets of Beacon Hill to get to El Zafiro. And THEN it's a looonnnnggg walk down the beach from El Z to Karakers.

Agreed. If you are going to hire a cab, I would use them for everything or even rent a car for the day of that would work out.

January 8th. Was just planning JVD stuff on the 7th.

OK so best to cab from place to place.

Sounds like at least five cab fares. I agree with the "rent a car" for the day and go wherever you want....

I assume you're on Star Pride?? If so it doesn't leave until 10 PM. If it were ME, I might try to eat an early dinner somewhere, which I guess is why you're thinking about the Yacht Club? I agree with the others, you need to get a cab from the Boat Bar. Way too long a walk to either El Z or Karakter. To ME, I would pick one and go there. You might check to see whether Karakter is having music the evening you are there, and that might be MY choice, as you could eat whenever you want and then leave and you'd be on the beach for sunset.

I screwed up date it is the next day on Kolingsdam and we are in til. 11.

Wow....the cruise schedule shows 16:00, which is 4pm. I hope you are correct.

And on the 8th there are also 2 ships in.

Who knows. HAL says to 11:00 and so does cruise time tables. Who do you see as the other ship cause timetables just shows the one. Thanks
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Cruises To Philipsburg, St. Maarten



Cruises visiting Philipsburg, St. Maarten on 08 January 2019
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Cruise map for Holland America Line 9 Night Southern Caribbean Seafarer (53181) Arriving Tue 8 Jan 2019
9 Night Southern Caribbean Seafarer
Ship ms Koningsdam

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More details for 9 Night Southern Caribbean Seafarer at Holland America Line Cruise Prices Inside $599 Ocean View $829 Verandah $899 Vista Suite $1699 Signature Suite SOLD OUT Neptune Suite $3443

Cruise Schedule: Fort Lauderdale, Florida (04 Jan d1700); Tortola, British Virgin Islands (07 Jan 0800-1800); Philipsburg, St. Maarten (08 Jan 0800-2300); St Johns, Antigua (09 Jan 0800-1700); St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (10 Jan 0800-1700); Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (12 Jan 0800-1500); Fort Lauderdale, Florida (13 Jan a0700)
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Did you book through a cruise travel agent? If so, call and ask them. If not, call Holland America yourself, and find out for sure.

If it was me I would go to to ElZ for breakfast then go to Sunset Beach Bar to watch the planes. Then go to Karacters for lunch. Finish up with dinner at Pineapple Petes.
I would rent a car but if cads work go for it!!!

edhouk...have you considered doing the reverse trip? If you truly DO have until 11pm, you could start with breakfast at the Yacht Club...see some boats coming in.
Then hit Karakter and El Z for some lovely beach time.
Stop at Driftwood for a drink.
Then go to Rainbow and potentially have dinner and watch the sunset from Grand Case.
Taxi back to the pier.
Boom!

Brilliant, that’s the way to go.

BeachKitten--sounds awfully busy to me. I guess I'm old and decrepit!! I would pick at the most three places to visit. I definitely would have to take a cab if I went to 4 different beach bars and THEN had dinner!! To the original poster, if you do decide to do this ambitious itinerary, and you're going to drink, which I assume you will?? .. I might arrange with someone like TTOL sponsor Wilfred Brooks to be on call for the day.

There are rental car companies at the pier
Rent. $50 a day or less