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Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts #269041
11/15/2021 05:16 AM
11/15/2021 05:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 201
AUCspouse Offline OP
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AUCspouse  Offline OP
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We just spent four days in St. Barts, and we're now back in St. Maarten. For anyone interested in taking the ferry from Philipsburg to Gustavia, here's the story on required paperwork: All you need is proof of vaccination. No Covid tests are required in either direction.

We bought our ferry tickets online. At the Great Bay Express office, we checked in for the ferry, showing our passports. The employee glanced at our U.S. vaccination cards, but hardly read them. The other formalities were as usual -- the St. Maarten immigration officials stamped our passport as we got on the ferry, and the French immigration officials stamped our passports on arrival in Gustavia.

When we checked in at the ferry office in Gustavia for our return boat trip, the employee at the ferry office said, "I don't need to see your vaccination card." He just scanned our passports and looked at our boat tickets.

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Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269043
11/15/2021 07:16 AM
11/15/2021 07:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
bdeeley Offline
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Thank you for the information.


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269056
11/15/2021 08:55 AM
11/15/2021 08:55 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,260
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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How long is the trip ?

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269058
11/15/2021 09:00 AM
11/15/2021 09:00 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,359
a little right of center
2
2fingers Offline
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a little right of center
post deleted by Carol Hill

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 11/15/2021 11:12 AM.

"It's 5 o'clock somewhere!"

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Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269063
11/15/2021 09:36 AM
11/15/2021 09:36 AM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 201
AUCspouse Offline OP
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AUCspouse  Offline OP
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Kenny,
The ferry trip is advertised as taking 45 minutes, but the actual time, from dock to dock, is 50 minutes. Of course you have to be at the dock ahead of time -- 30 minutes is enough in Philipsburg, and 15 or 20 minutes should be plenty in Gustavia.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269064
11/15/2021 09:47 AM
11/15/2021 09:47 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 106
AlohaMates Offline
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AlohaMates  Offline
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Could you please post a link to the ferry operator? Thanks.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269065
11/15/2021 09:49 AM
11/15/2021 09:49 AM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 201
AUCspouse Offline OP
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AUCspouse  Offline OP
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Aloha,
Here is the link: https://www.greatbayexpress.com/

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269072
11/15/2021 10:51 AM
11/15/2021 10:51 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,260
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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Thanks .

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269081
11/15/2021 01:08 PM
11/15/2021 01:08 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 122
Trinidad/Houston
Trinigerl Offline
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Trinidad/Houston
Thanks for this information. We are going to St Barths for a few days in December from St Maarten and we are concerned about the 72 hours covid test requirements for entry into St Barths.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269083
11/15/2021 01:16 PM
11/15/2021 01:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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Are there still entry/exit fees? I'm guessing "yes".


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: BeachKitten] #269094
11/15/2021 03:23 PM
11/15/2021 03:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 201
AUCspouse Offline OP
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AUCspouse  Offline OP
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Beach Kitten,
I've been to St. Barts seven times, and I've never paid an entry fee or an exit fee. Just buy a ferry ticket and go.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269095
11/15/2021 03:26 PM
11/15/2021 03:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 201
AUCspouse Offline OP
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AUCspouse  Offline OP
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Trinigerl,
I'm not sure why you are worried about the 72-hour Covid test requirement -- unless you are planning to fly to St. Barts. If you fly, you still need a Covid test, as far as I know. But if you take the ferry, no Covid test is required.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269099
11/15/2021 04:46 PM
11/15/2021 04:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 336
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freedomfighter Offline
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To prepare you for your trip to St Barts, I recommend that you read this:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1763826/posts

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: freedomfighter] #269103
11/15/2021 06:13 PM
11/15/2021 06:13 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 122
Trinidad/Houston
Trinigerl Offline
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Trinigerl  Offline
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Trinidad/Houston
lol yes thanks... we know we have been spending NYE on St Barths for the past 6 years...we usually fly to St Maarten for Christmas week, then we go over to St Barths for New Year’s 4-5 nights then back to St Maarten for a week or so then we fly home. We usually split our time between SXM and SBH for the past 18 years or so. We've been for Regatta, summer time with our kids, early November, early December, but we like late Dec- Jan

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269106
11/15/2021 06:54 PM
11/15/2021 06:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 92
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moontide Offline
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Was the trip over to St. Barts smooth sailing?

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: moontide] #269111
11/15/2021 07:25 PM
11/15/2021 07:25 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 201
AUCspouse Offline OP
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AUCspouse  Offline OP
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Moontide,
Smooth sailing -- like the other six trips were. I don't know why people say it's rough.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269116
11/15/2021 08:04 PM
11/15/2021 08:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
AUC--I guess you need to play the lottery, as the trip to St. Barts is OFTEN barf city..


Carol Hill
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: Carol_Hill] #269120
11/15/2021 08:53 PM
11/15/2021 08:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,568
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
AUC--I guess you need to play the lottery, as the trip to St. Barts is OFTEN barf city..

For sure. Ride over is most always rough but back usually calm.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: SXMScubaman] #269123
11/15/2021 09:09 PM
11/15/2021 09:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Scuba--yup. Over--very rough; back--much better.


Carol Hill
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: freedomfighter] #269125
11/15/2021 09:17 PM
11/15/2021 09:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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freedomfighter--that was funny as h*ll!!! Thanks for posting!!!!!


Carol Hill
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: Carol_Hill] #269127
11/15/2021 10:11 PM
11/15/2021 10:11 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 336
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freedomfighter Offline
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freedomfighter  Offline
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Yeah, after reading that, we flew over!

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269129
11/15/2021 11:18 PM
11/15/2021 11:18 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
kim Offline
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kim  Offline
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Originally Posted by AUCspouse
Moontide,
Smooth sailing -- like the other six trips were. I don't know why people say it's rough.


Last time I did it was March of maybe 2016 or 2017. Waves were so bad water was coming in the roof!!!!! I was a on sick, ruined the day. We left out of Captain Oliver’s. Will never take the boat again! Only fly! Been back 3-4 times. Do enjoy it as a day trip!

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: Carol_Hill] #269155
11/16/2021 12:00 PM
11/16/2021 12:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,568
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
Scuba--yup. Over--very rough; back--much better.

Yes. Going with the following seas on the return is much nicer.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269157
11/16/2021 12:09 PM
11/16/2021 12:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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Years ago we used to make the day-trip in small sailing cats - some days it was rough and some days, not too rough at all going out to StB snd somedays it was truly HORRIBLE, but the sail back, usually under full sail, was always lovely. A cold drink in hand snd some easy Buffet or music of that ilk playing in the background. It didn’t get any better back in the day. Wait a minute, yes it did. You used to be able to fly over and sail at back. The very best if the best, IMHO.

Last few trips we flew over and back - much more expendive - but if you were even remotely inclined to the dreaded ‘mal de mer’ it was the far better way to do it. We always flew from PJIA but I understand it’s much easier to fly from L’Esperance on the French side.

Last edited by pat; 11/16/2021 12:12 PM.

Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269899
11/26/2021 06:11 PM
11/26/2021 06:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
jmbcomms Offline
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New England (home), St. Maarte...
Flying is better. The trip over can be quite rocky.


Jeff Berger
Visiting SXM Since 1978
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: freedomfighter] #269908
11/26/2021 09:23 PM
11/26/2021 09:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 865
Mississauga, ON, Canada
Southshore Offline
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Laughed 'til I cried over the description of St. Barts. Some years ago we did the ferry trip to and from St. Barts. It is indeed very French.

However, the highlight of our trip was the very, very rough ride back. My husband and I and another couple that we travelled with sat at the back of the ferry, thinking we could avoid the salt spray. Wrong. The water came right over the top of the boat and drenched us. Somehow, the boat managed to rock from front to back and from side to side at the same time.

We watched with interest as a young man struggled to stay on his feet as he made his way to the small men's room that was very close to where we sat. He finally made it, opened the door and went in. We assumed that he had not taken the time to lock the door. With the next big side- to- side shift of the boat, the door flew open, the kid fell out backwards with his willie in his hand. The boat then rocked back in the opposite direction, throwing him back into the washroom and slamming the door behind him.

The lady beside me quipped: " Do you think he'll do that again? It happened too fast to get a good look at it".

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: AUCspouse] #269909
11/26/2021 09:37 PM
11/26/2021 09:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 168
Allentown, Pa
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bobbarb Offline
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We took the ferry over several years ago and my wife took some no drowsy Dramamine as she gets seasick. .long story short she didn't feel sick and wondered why everyone that passed by her asked if she was ok. I was out on the deck for the sea breeze and she was inside, when I went to see her she was white as a ghost and dripping from sweat but felt OK. It was more than choppy going over but much calmer coming back.

Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: freedomfighter] #270099
11/30/2021 06:12 AM
11/30/2021 06:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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I had to read this twice, as I fell out of my desk chair laughing to death! Thanks for sharing!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Taking the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts [Re: Colour1] #270111
11/30/2021 10:19 AM
11/30/2021 10:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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For someone reading quickly, David is talking about this link from a previous post in this thread, which is a piece by Dave Barry. I don't know if Dave Barry is retired now, probably is, but he surely is an entertaining writer.

Link

Anyone who hasn't read that link should do so, if you want a laugh. ...or even if you have read it, read it again. Funny stuff!! clapping


Carol Hill

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