Long time reader, first time poster. We will be returning to SXM for the first time in 30 years. We spent our honeymoon in Dawn Beach (Sep 1985). We are very excited to make it back this coming March. We tend to like to chill out, but are planning a few activities, including a day & sunset cruise. We have done a little research (including this forum), but wanted to ask for some specific feedback. 'Looking to do the cruises on separate days and could be separate companies. Also, looking for the day cruise to include a trip to a neighboring island. Sailing cruises preferred over power boats. The little research we have done suggests Celine Charters and Random Wind could be good choices. Ideally, the smaller the group the better. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

Wow, you will see a lot of changes on the island if you have not been here for 30 years, especially in Dawn Beach with the Westin taking over.

We took the Celine sunset cruise last week and had a great time. Two years ago we did a day sail on the Passat which was a unique experience. Wonderful lunch served on board and time to swim at Long Beach.

Random Wind is great, but you won't see any neighbouring island that way, it's just too far for a day cruise under sail. The big catamarans go to Prickly Pear which is a nice outing, but they are motoring most, if not all the day.

We have been with them twice and just loved it ! Maximum of 28 passengers , a fantastic lunch served with wine and a choice of different destinations! Used to be Winner Touch ( destroyed by Gonzalo last year ) now it's a new boat called Solana !

http://www.winner-touch.com/en/

For the day cruise to another island on a sailboat with a small group we would recommend the Tiko Tiko trip to Tintamare which departs from Club Orient on Orient beach. We have taken it several times and thoroughly enjoyed it each time. You can choose either a day which includes a picnic lunch on the beach or a day which includes a very nice noontime meal cooked onboard and served under the canvas at tables around the stern.

Like Club Orient, the cruise is clothing optional so you can wear a swimsuit if you are reluctant. (We have found through the years that nearly all "reluctant" passengers are no longer reluctant within a half hour of going ashore to the beach...)

We've enjoyed the Passat on a few different cruises over the years, both all day and sunset cruises and would highly recommend them.

We've also done an all day round the island ecocruise on Quality Time, a good sized cat but while we did stop just off Tintamarre for a swim and some snorkeling, it doesn't do any of the other neighboring islands. The good news, though, for those who enjoy it, once we left the Philipsberg area, most of the trip was done under full sail. The lunch stop was at Calmos Cafe in Grand Case. I Don't recall the price but I'm thinking it was around $95.00 pp and was all inclusive,including transportation to and from your hotel as well as the all day sail with lunch included. The ecotour is particularly nice because it's a large cat but they keep the passenger list at about 26 or thereabout. The libations are free flowing but I wouldn't really term it as a booze cruise if that matters one way or the other. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

As someone else said, if you're looking to do another island like St. Barts or Anguilla, the sailing cats are not going to get you there in time by sailing. You have Tango and Lambada that go to Anguilla, that are 'technically' sailing cats, but the sails are basically decoration. If however you want to go to a 'deserted' island like Tintamarre, you could get there on a boat that actually sails. If you are not into clothing optional or nude cruises, then probably Tiko Tiko wouldn't be for you. If you are up for that though, it is a fantastic choice for an actual sailing excursion, either for the trip to Tintamarre, or around the island, not sure whether they do sunset cruises or not. You'd have to check their website on that. For a boat that does an actual SAILING sunset cruise, check out TTOL sponsor Passaat, or Random Wind. I haven't been on Celine Too, so I don't know whether they actually SAIL or not, but they stay within the lagoon, so your view of the sunset isn't as good as Passaat or Random Wind, that actually sail on the ocean.

Otherwise, I think you will scarcely think it is the same island, from 30 years ago. Enjoy!

Lots of choices with aqua mania. www.stmaarten-activities.com

Definitely would recommend Passat for the sunset cruise.

Farewell cruise on "eagle" out of Phillipsbugh sails around the whole island with many swim stops. Get to see prison from water. Governors home. Lunch in grand case. Late afternoon swim with drinks in water at la Sammana Ck them out. It was a nice cruise and they picked us up at Ocean club and returned us also. Tipped the boat crew and driver but a great day <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

OUR VERY FIRST TRIP WAS ALSO 1985 Dawn Beach Resort. LOL

Sailing, you will LOVE Passaat and Random Wind. Celine Too is now a power yacht, and well worth the day sail!

Thanks to all of you for the information. Looking forward to making some decisions I am sure we will enjoy.

I see Random Wind has a 22 approx. head count. Do you know what the Passaat is? Want to do a day trip in the first week of May early in the week before the ships are in port.
Thanks Tim

Passaat will do around 14-16 people or less. If you get your own group they might work with you for 10-12 passengers. We have done this twice in the past, including a sunset cruise 2 weeks ago.

Interesting about the Random Wind number. We used to do private charters under a prior owner and they told us they limited their day sails to fifteen or less for both size and safety so I guess things change.

On the Passaat, I believe their lunch, dinner and sunset sails range between 12 and 15 guests and I think that has more to do with dining space than the size of the boat. We love the Passaat, btw......the most relaxing sail trip we've done over all our years and all our boat trips. Any believe me, there have been a lot of them.......

Never been on Random Wind but I know when they roll into Mullet Bay it looks pretty crowded. I think this might be with tours off a cruise ship.

Passaat did a private lunch for us with I think 14 people last year and the prior year we had 10-12 people and there were 4 others joined us. This year we did a private sunset sail (best one ever!) for 12 people.

With just Pieter and Mirian running the boat they will not take a large group as it would be overwhelming for them to handle. For Regatta I think Mirian said they would take perhaps 30 people but this was just for Regatta watching.

It is more expensive, but, last year we chartered for the entire day with SXM charters out of Anse Marcel. The captain is Alain. They will take you anywhere you want to go. We did sail in the area between St Martin and Anguilla. They even cook lunch on the boat.