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This Can't Be Very Relaxing #304597 07/27/2023 12:16 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 I get claustrophobia just watching. Attached Images

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304599 07/27/2023 12:43 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Yikes. Correct. Someone said there are three ships in today, so guess that explains it. Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Carol_Hill #304609 07/27/2023 01:43 PM Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada C CaribbeanCanadians Traveler CaribbeanCanadians Traveler C Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada We were in SXM last Jan/Feb and stayed close to Maho Beach. It was crowded like that almost everyday. Trying to get through the Maho area was crazy. We'll never stay in that area again, people are banging in to each other trying to get selfies of the planes coming in, when they leave it's a mess full of plastic bottles and garbage.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304614 07/27/2023 02:34 PM Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 744 Likes: 1 L lcote Traveler lcote Traveler L Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 744 Likes: 1 They are used to being on cruise ships

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing lcote #304615 07/27/2023 02:36 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 One of several reasons I don't do cruise ships.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304619 07/27/2023 03:48 PM Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada C CaribbeanCanadians Traveler CaribbeanCanadians Traveler C Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada The big problem is that now, there are ship excursions that bring the people to airplane beach as they call it, they didn't in the past and Sunset beach bar/Maho beach was never that packed. We couldn't get in to Buccaneer beach bar/kim shau beach because the cruise ships had booked a hundred beach chairs and umbrellas.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304620 07/27/2023 04:16 PM Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 359 E eightzerobits Traveler eightzerobits Traveler E Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 359 Cruise ship passengers invaded the beach at Divi today too. Fortunately they mostly stuck to the beach and left the pools to us.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304626 07/27/2023 05:51 PM Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 436 Greer SC B bostonbob Traveler bostonbob Traveler B Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 436 Greer SC We saw that earlier and commented that the ships have a lot of nerve to actually charge passengers for that “experience.” Lived most of my life in Massachusetts

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304632 07/27/2023 07:16 PM Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada C CaribbeanCanadians Traveler CaribbeanCanadians Traveler C Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada When we were at Sandbar next to Sunset beach bar we met a lady from US somewhere and she said she will never come back to SXM because she thought all beaches were like that (Maho). We said no, you have to visit other beaches on both sides to see the island.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304633 07/27/2023 10:37 PM Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 352 crsxm Traveler crsxm Traveler Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 352 We went over to orient today. I like it when there's people and it's a little busy. We had a great day at Le String. Made reservations via what's ap and had front row when we arrived. Had a nice lunch along with several passion fruit mojitos which were delicious. Most of the beach was filled with cruisers but we never felt the crowd. It was just nice to see many of the beach bars enjoying a busy day. There was a little bit of traffic going but none coming back to Divi.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304640 07/28/2023 03:39 AM Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,083 Westchester /NYC Colour1 Traveler Colour1 Traveler Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,083 Westchester /NYC I like to print out the cruise schedule before we leave for SXM. This way I know if I have to run out early that morning and or if we are going to stay on property at Beachside villas. It's crazy how the ships dump hundreds of people at Maho, you can move in or out of Beacon Hill!! Sand Gravity, got to love it!

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304643 07/28/2023 07:09 AM Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,615 Vermont sxmmartini Traveler sxmmartini Traveler Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,615 Vermont I like the people watching but for a limited time and return to the villa for peace & quiet.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing crsxm #304654 07/28/2023 09:02 AM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Orient can handle big crowds much better than Sunset, as there is a huge expanse for them to spread out. Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304661 07/28/2023 12:29 PM Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,613 M MotownTim Traveler MotownTim Traveler M Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,613 It is crowded….but I would love to be down there. Just not in hurricane season.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing MotownTim #304663 07/28/2023 12:38 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Today there are just a few people, but lots of rocks, which you couldn't even see the other day. Link Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Carol_Hill #304665 07/28/2023 01:36 PM Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,106 Massachusetts boucharda Traveler boucharda Traveler Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,106 Massachusetts Yup...counted 12 people at 136pm Edit: weird...no ships in port? Last edited by boucharda; 07/28/2023 01:40 PM.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing MotownTim #304667 07/28/2023 02:16 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 If all goes well, I will be there in 10 days......with a view of that beach from my balcony.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing boucharda #304668 07/28/2023 02:49 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Right. No ships in port through the rest of this month. Cruise schedule is linked above. CaribLee--enjoy your trip! Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Carol_Hill #304669 07/28/2023 02:52 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 Thanks Carol.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing boucharda #304670 07/28/2023 04:51 PM Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 359 E eightzerobits Traveler eightzerobits Traveler E Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 359 It’s been a weird day for a no ship day. Quite a bit of snorkel excursion activity in Little Bay. And even the beach was busier today than any other day this week except yesterday. We’re planning on a trip to Maho tomorrow for lunch and plane watching while we wait for our room swap. Hoping for no crowds but who knows.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304676 07/29/2023 06:49 AM Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 5,925 New England (home), St. Maarte... jmbcomms Traveler jmbcomms Traveler Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 5,925 New England (home), St. Maarte... It gets way, way, WAY more crowded than that. Jeff Berger Visiting SXM Since 1978

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Carol_Hill #304687 07/29/2023 01:28 PM Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,995 Connecticut The_Lurker Traveler The_Lurker Traveler Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,995 Connecticut Originally Posted by Carol_Hill Today there are just a few people, but lots of rocks, which you couldn't even see the other day. Link That's funny, I have been seeing those rocks, for weeks, on the cam. I was surprised.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304688 07/29/2023 01:39 PM Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 14,681 Brookfield, CT. pat Traveler pat Traveler Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 14,681 Brookfield, CT. Consider the source…….. Respectfully, pat "Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing pat #304691 07/29/2023 09:18 PM Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 19,252 Auburn, WA SXMScubaman Traveler SXMScubaman Traveler Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 19,252 Auburn, WA Originally Posted by pat Consider the source…….. And what source is that?

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing eightzerobits #304693 07/30/2023 10:24 AM Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 831 ME singbeach Traveler singbeach Traveler Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 831 ME Wow, I thought Divi was a private AI?

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing crsxm #304694 07/30/2023 10:26 AM Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 831 ME singbeach Traveler singbeach Traveler Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 831 ME CRSXM, you can reserve beach chairs at some beaches? WOW, good to know! Do any of those Orient Beaches have live music? Thanks for any info!

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing singbeach #304698 07/30/2023 10:57 AM Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,965 Likes: 1 Portland, OR jazzgal Traveler jazzgal Traveler Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,965 Likes: 1 Portland, OR Originally Posted by singbeach Wow, I thought Divi was a private AI? AI is an *option* at Divi.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing singbeach #304708 07/30/2023 04:22 PM Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 352 crsxm Traveler crsxm Traveler Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 352 I'm sure you can either call, message or stop in to reserve what you want. It was very easy to do at LeString. I didn't see any beach bars on orient with live music but there's music playing from each beach bar for your enjoyment.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribbeanCanadians #304737 08/01/2023 09:55 AM Joined: May 2023 Posts: 45 J Jeff thorton Traveler Jeff thorton Traveler J Joined: May 2023 Posts: 45 That place has always had the loudest and drunkest tourists. I go there every now and then and look at it as an anthropologist would do. As far as relaxing, even if people calm down you will still get the noise of planes.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Jeff thorton #304738 08/01/2023 11:17 AM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! I love watching planes. Prefer to do it at Beachside over Sunset, but regardless, it's fun for me. Different strokes! Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Carol_Hill #304740 08/01/2023 02:27 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 I'm with you Carol. Kind of hard to beat this view as you are lounging by the pool. Attached Images

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304741 08/01/2023 02:41 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Nice picture, although the angle of departure seems a little steep? I can't tell, is that toward the ocean or the mountains? Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing Carol_Hill #304742 08/01/2023 02:44 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 Towards the ocean. AirFrance gaining altitude very quickly.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304743 08/01/2023 02:46 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! OK. Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304744 08/01/2023 03:24 PM Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,106 Massachusetts boucharda Traveler boucharda Traveler Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,106 Massachusetts I've posted this before but it brings back memories of the old KLM 747's over Sunset Attached Images

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing boucharda #304745 08/01/2023 03:25 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Great picture! I miss seeing the 747's in SXM, especially the KLM.. Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304747 08/01/2023 03:51 PM Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 CaribLee OP Traveler OP CaribLee Traveler Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1,207 I took this photo in 2009 of what I believe is the four engine Corsair that used to fly into St. Maarten. It is about the lowest I have ever seen one fly in. You can see the heads of people at the bottom of the picture which shows how low it was. I was so close and the plane so low, I couldn't fit it into the picture frame. Also, note the seagull trying to flee. Attached Images Last edited by CaribLee; 08/01/2023 03:53 PM.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304748 08/01/2023 03:58 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Carol_Hill Traveler Carol_Hill Traveler Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 83,654 Central Florida! Yes, I remember the Corsair. And that seagull probably unloaded something at that time! Carol Hill

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304749 08/01/2023 04:20 PM Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada C CaribbeanCanadians Traveler CaribbeanCanadians Traveler C Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 161 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada And a few people too, ha, ha.

Re: This Can't Be Very Relaxing CaribLee #304764 08/02/2023 10:02 AM Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 703 Rhode Island Bluesfan Traveler Bluesfan Traveler Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 703 Rhode Island What is the Islander Club building? Upscale suiites ?