Hi there,

I hope to be right here with my problem to be solved.

We arrive in Philipsburg by cruise ship which we must leave in the morning and have a flight home (AF) in the late afternoon. In the meantime we want to stroll around in Philipsburg for shopping and a bit of sightseeing, getting lunch, having a drink (or two)... just enjoying the last vacation day before we must head back to 'good (c)old europe'. But - what about our luggage which must be picked up by us even in the morning?

We have been several times on St. Maarten and in the past we asked at our pre-cruise hotel to store the luggage there for some hours. That was always possible and no problem. But now there are two issues: At beginning of cruise season, this will be a repositioning cruise, starting somewhere else and just ending up on St. Maarten. So there is no pre-cruise-stay this time. I would have asked our preferred hotel from the past, but they are still closed due to hurricane damages.

Now we are looking for a place to store our two o three peaces of luggage for about four hours at Dec. 22 in Philipsburg. Our tour operator only offers an airport transfer which means more than six boring hours at the airport. Cruise company only offers a 3-hour sightseeing tour, even ending up at the airport about 5 hours before departure. Both are not really good options for us.

It would be great if someone can suppoort us with a contact to arrange luggage storage during our short stay.

Greetings,

Diddn

Since you want to sight see the island, stop and have a drink etc how about getting your oun driver and keep the luggage with you before the driver takes you to the airport. You could prearainge this with a private driver like Wilfred Brooks or find someone at the cruise dock.

Hi. Welcome to TTOL!! My suggestion to you is to go to Karakter. They will hold your luggage for you. You can get something to eat, sit on the beach and watch the ocean or the planes, depending on which you prefer, and they have a shower where you can shower after your day on the beach and dress in your cold weather clothes for the awful flight back to cold reality. Just make sure you get to the airport at LEAST two hours before your flight, as the airport gets very crowded on weekends.

Earlier this week, upon arrival in SXM, JetBlue recommended getting to the airport THREE hours prior to departure time.

I think most airlines probably say three hours, all the time. For those that have left recently, how far in advance would you recommend? We left during the week in June and flew right through, but the island is busier now.

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.

Sorry, I missed the point about staying in Philipsburg. You really need to go shopping, after just coming off a cruise? Do have a relationship with any of the jewelers downtown? If so, one of them might offer to keep your suitcases for you.

You let me smile. Shopping and strolling through a town is common to most cruises, ashore and even on board. But this time we prefer the other way and take the Star Flyer (max. 170 passengers and just one onboard shop of less than 6 squaremeter size) and a routing mostly offering beach and nature stops with tender boats and zodiacs to be reached. That is the reason why beach and island will not our main interest this time. As we have been on St. Maarten several times before, we want to reduce our upcoming short stay to the town of Philipsburg.

We have no relationship to any shops (and even do not know which are now open for business again), so I look for an advice ho offers a luggage storage now. Maybe one of the members of this forum has such a relationship and can give that information.

OK, I get ya. You're right, Star Flyer doesn't have any shopping. Regarding a jeweler, I don't personally know any that would store luggage, BUT it stands to reason to me if they have a long term relationship with someone, they would do it. You might want to take a look at the TTOL sponsors list and send an email to a couple of those jewelers and pose that question.

You might want to look into Holland House on the Boardwalk in Philipsburg. Have lunch there, rent chairs and ask the bellman if you can store luggage there for a fee. They also have a changing room and shower for the patrons to use that rent chairs.

That's a good idea, Scuba, since they're a hotel... Makes sense.. Or check ahead of time about renting a day room, if they do that.

I completely agree with arranging something with Holland House. I know that they offer great deals for the day with chairs, umbrellas, drinks, and a room to shower in...it is incredibly affordable.

And their shower is MUCH BETTER than anything you would find at Karakters. Yuck. don't think I'd use their area to get ready pre-flight.

Thanks for all your suggestions and your help. I tried to get a reservation for lunch at Holland House, but their online reservation tool does not work, so I wrote an email days ago - unfortunately without any answer.

Definitely Holland House, best to call as Internet isn’t always working properly. But they offer chairs and umbrellas, very nice atmosphere at the bar restaurant and great location to walk town the. Sit on the beach a bit. I would just try calling direct and see if you get through. Maybe via WhatsApp.

Agreed, just call. Even if you use your regular phone, it will be a short call. Shouldn't cost more than a couple of bucks.

Keep in mind WhatsApp will only work if they have the app too.

I don't believe that's true. Whats App is a VoiP application. You can call any number from it.
My friend called my land line from New Zealand and it worked fine.

As it was a bit complicate due to time difference to find a time window to call Holland House, they answered my email last night before I could try a telephone call. Lunch reservation is placed, luggage will be stored. All will work to our best.

Once again, thank you for your suggestions and your help!

We will be happy to visit St. Maarten later this month - even while we know that this will be the last day of our vacation.

Great! Please post a report afterwards to let us know how it all finally worked out.

Back at home - thank you all again for for help and suggestions.

We did it the way I wrote, leaving the ship at about 9:30 h. After it was a bit difficult to catch a taxi at the port where three ships had their passenger exchange there at this day (total approx. 700 passengers) which was done in a new permanently (?) tent.

As we arrived at Holland House there was no problem to leave our suitcases there (as many other had done; mostly guests arriving there from one of the ships for a post-cruise stay). We even must not mention our lunch reservation and there was no charge to store the suitcases there. They seemed a bit surprised about getting tipped for their service. After some strolling (and shopping) we arrived back in the Holland House to have a pre-lunch drink at the bar and changed to the restaurant at our reservation time. It turned out that our lunch reservation was the only for that day, but it wasn't wrong, because at 1:15 h all tables were occupied. Service and food were excellent.

After lunch we picked up our luggage and a taxi was called by hotel staff.

So our thanks are also going to the staff of Holland House. We felt welcome, even without a reservation for accomodation. We have marked Holland House as our first choice for the next hotel stay in Philipsburg.

Good to hear it all worked out for you. Hope you had a great adventure.

Thanks for coming back and reporting on the outcome! People often come on and post questions and we never know how it turned out!!

Fantastic customer service by Holland House! Also, congrats on your cruise--we've been on all of the ships on the Star Clipper line and would never cruise on a non-sailing ship now. Started with a Caribbean cruise and have since done a Mediterranean and four transatlantic crossings. Endiing in St. Maarten is perfect. If I wasn't so addicted to SXM I'd be on the Clippers more often. LOL