TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Cruise ship day...?

We're going to be on the island for our first visit 6/2 - 6/9. If I'm understanding the website correctly, it looks like 6/5 (Thursday) is a cruise ship day. How much (if any) should that impact our plans for that day? Is their presence noticeable? Should be pick a more secluded beach for that day to avoid the crowds? Any other tips for first-timers are appreciated - thanks.

Stay away from the airport beach bar at Maho on heavy cruise ship days. One or two cruise ships of the smaller variety may be fine, but when a couple of the big ones are in it becomes not worth going. Others will have more detailed advice.

The zip line at rainforest adventures is worth doing. Check them out. They may be closed if no cruise ships are in. The view from the top is the best you will get anywhere on the island.

View from the zip line and the airport beach bar

Above advice is good. Just not sure if you are correct on your date, I see June 5 has no cruise ships that day. If you click on the SXM cruise ship schedule at top of page it defaults to this month (May) you have to change the month to see the June schedule.
Hope you enjoy SXM.

One ship on Monday and Tuesday and 2on Wednesday that week.

The ship on Tuesday is Icon of the Seas, which is currently the largest in the world. Other than that, compared to the schedule when we are typically there in January and February, this is not a lot of cruise ship passengers. We routinely see 4, sometimes as many as 6 ships in port in one day. Other than the maybe the beach bars mentioned above, I don't think there would be much impact on the other beaches.

There are only 4 total cruise ships for you entire visit, don't worry about it at all. Also its low season so don't worry about being overwhelmed with too many tourists and needing a secluded beach.

Hopefully you have a rental car set up, enjoy driving around and exploring the many beaches.

Have a nice French meal in Grand Case and check out Orient Beach for a nice beach bar experience, should be easy enough to enjoy yourself!

You didn't say where you where staying. On heavy cruise ship days. If you need anything when staying on the Dutch side get out early and get back to your "unit"!!! Even one BIG ship can jam up the roads!!! We either stay on property at Beachside villas or leave EARLY for Orient for LaPlaya beach and restaurant!!! Plan for HEAVY traffic from 9am to 3pm apx!!! Here are the bridge open times: Outbound traffic is allowed at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM, while inbound traffic is allowed at 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM.

In general, as others have said, I wouldn't really worry about it, as that week is not very busy with ships. 6/4 is the day that week when there are two ships in. I would avoid Maho and SSBB that day, but other days, the cruise ship crowd does sometimes add to the fun, especially downtown. I would go shopping downtown one day when there is only one ship in. As far as traffic, cruise ship traffic isn't really going to affect you that much, except if you're staying in Beacon Hill area, like at Beachside Villas. As far as beaches, other than Maho, it should have little effect. Enjoy!!