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What to expect at Princess Juliana? #205912
10/03/2019 07:35 AM
10/03/2019 07:35 AM
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 28
Chelsea, MA (near Boston)
DavidC2065 Offline OP
Traveler
DavidC2065  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 28
Chelsea, MA (near Boston)
Arriving on October 12, on Jet Blue and this is our first trip post-Irma.

How will the airport experience differ, if that much, at all?

SXM Sponsors
Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205913
10/03/2019 07:43 AM
10/03/2019 07:43 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
A lot will depend on what arrivals are around your arrival time. The fewer planes at one time, the smoother it should be. If there are two or three larger planes arriving just prior to you, it may take a while to get through. It will be a much scaled-down experience than prior to Irma.


J.D.
Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205919
10/03/2019 08:44 AM
10/03/2019 08:44 AM
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 305
Rhode Island
E
eightzerobits Online content
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eightzerobits  Online Content
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 305
Rhode Island
You’ll probably walk down a ramp and then walk to arrivals. No jet bridges. Our experience was pretty smooth this summer. Baggage claim is now functional with a carousel.

On departure there are plenty of food outlet and seating. It was crowded but not overbearing.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205929
10/03/2019 10:28 AM
10/03/2019 10:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 35
D
dm25vac Offline
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dm25vac  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 35
Agree with Ruralcarrier. Saturdays are busy, but if you're on an earlier flight, it should be smooth. Mid-afternoon gets busy. Our last visit was in March, when we arrived around 3:00 on a Saturday. it was really busy, and took about 40 minutes to get through customs. The good thing was our bags were waiting for us! On other occasions we've had zero wait time.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205931
10/03/2019 11:30 AM
10/03/2019 11:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 343
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Coffee Offline
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Coffee  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 343
Agree with Saturday being the busiest. We arrived September 28th on Spirit and Air France and American arrived about the same time. Customs was super crowded and it did take time. Baggage was busy but as long as you can spot your bag it won’t be bad. Go out exit door and taxis and car rental people are right there.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205965
10/03/2019 09:52 PM
10/03/2019 09:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
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sxmmartini  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
I would say once you land expect both doors on the plane to open. Passengers exit from both the front and back of the plane and if you are half way it is a challenge to exit smoothly. The next challenge is boarding buses that put as many people on before they transport you to the terminal that is in walking distance from your plane. The immigration line moves quickly and retrieving luggage is not a problem. The rest of your experience after exiting the terminal is up to you.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205968
10/04/2019 05:55 AM
10/04/2019 05:55 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 467
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bizzottom Offline
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bizzottom  Offline
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Posts: 467
whatever time it takes it is well worth it cuz this place is awesome..........practice b4 u leave on getting on ISLAND time

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205977
10/04/2019 08:30 AM
10/04/2019 08:30 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 190
Hamilton Ont
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George1234 Offline
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George1234  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 190
Hamilton Ont
Try to eat somewhere else before you leave. We just came back on Sunday, 1 burger and 1 cheeseburger with 2 small bottes of water was $31 USD.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: George1234] #205993
10/04/2019 11:38 AM
10/04/2019 11:38 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by George1234
Try to eat somewhere else before you leave. We just came back on Sunday, 1 burger and 1 cheeseburger with 2 small bottes of water was $31 USD.

That doesn't sound to bad for SXM or any airport for that matter.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: SXMScubaman] #205998
10/04/2019 12:15 PM
10/04/2019 12:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 190
Hamilton Ont
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George1234 Offline
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George1234  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 190
Hamilton Ont
Hence my recommendation to get something before the airport

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #205999
10/04/2019 12:22 PM
10/04/2019 12:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 50
Wichita, KS
fritzks Offline
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fritzks  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 50
Wichita, KS
There used to be an airport lounge (pre-Irma) that you could buy a day pass and spend some time, they served drinks and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Nice place to hang out and wait for your flight. Has it re-opened or any plans on bringing it back?

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: SXMScubaman] #206001
10/04/2019 12:38 PM
10/04/2019 12:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by SXMScubaman
Originally Posted by George1234
Try to eat somewhere else before you leave. We just came back on Sunday, 1 burger and 1 cheeseburger with 2 small bottes of water was $31 USD.

That doesn't sound to bad for SXM or any airport for that matter.

I would add that those prices pretty much reflect average pricing for the same selections at a typical restaurant in St Maarten within a dollar or two.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: fritzks] #206003
10/04/2019 01:07 PM
10/04/2019 01:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
No, the lounge is not open, will not be open until the full airport is open. It will be there once the full airport is open, but I wouldn't expect that until probably 2021.


Carol Hill
Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: SXMScubaman] #206065
10/05/2019 01:52 PM
10/05/2019 01:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 190
Hamilton Ont
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George1234 Offline
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George1234  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 190
Hamilton Ont
Originally Posted by SXMScubaman
Originally Posted by SXMScubaman
Originally Posted by George1234
Try to eat somewhere else before you leave. We just came back on Sunday, 1 burger and 1 cheeseburger with 2 small bottes of water was $31 USD.

That doesn't sound to bad for SXM or any airport for that matter.

I would add that those prices pretty much reflect average pricing for the same selections at a typical restaurant in St Maarten within a dollar or two.


Yeah, but elsewhere on the island those burgers could come with fries, beers, service and atmosphere.Which I think most people would prefer, all for about the same price.

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #206074
10/05/2019 05:31 PM
10/05/2019 05:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 28
Chelsea, MA (near Boston)
DavidC2065 Offline OP
Traveler
DavidC2065  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 28
Chelsea, MA (near Boston)
We will land late morning next Saturday.. Hopefully not too busy. We shall see, I guess.
Thanks for the info, everyone. As usual, this forum is awesome !!! smile

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: DavidC2065] #206300
10/10/2019 12:38 PM
10/10/2019 12:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
K
Kbells2 Offline
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Kbells2  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
my flight arrives at 12:45 Saturday David C maybe see you at the airport smile

Re: What to expect at Princess Juliana? [Re: Kbells2] #206303
10/10/2019 02:10 PM
10/10/2019 02:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Saturday is by far the busiest day. We arrived on Thursday around 3 PM and were the only plane on the ground, other than one small one.


Carol Hill

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