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Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM

Posted By: Bigdaddy

Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 03:02 PM

Cruise ships have transformed the island from what is was 30 years ago in a very negative way. Now with homeporting, I guess the hotels, bars and restaurants can all wave at the buses when they roll past from the airport to the port. That's exactly what the island does not need... a few more thousand people jamming up flights and the airport that won't spend a nickel on the island. A few people get rich while the majority will suffer.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 03:22 PM

That was my thought way back when it was announced but I was told that the cruisers would spend money on the Island and it was needed....still don't see the big money from PJIA to Ship to PJIA other than transfer fees. Maybe some money spent at the port before or after the cruise but I just don't see most hanging around on the Island for days.....but that's just my opinion
Posted By: timnboston

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 05:47 PM

I've always found it puzzling why SXM caters to the cruisers who spend only a small fraction of their vacation money in SXM as opposed to those who stay on the island and spend their entire vacation money on island. As for jobs, those staying on the island must generate many more jobs than the cruisers. Maybe the sheer volume of cruisers makes up the difference? Quantity over quality I guess
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 06:18 PM

Before we started staying on island we visited as a cruise stop. Every port including SXM we spent many dollars.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 06:30 PM

Agreed....cruisers TO the Island do spend cash but cruisers FROM the Island probably not much
Posted By: SammyM

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 06:34 PM

My opinion is that all of the above comments are way off the mark, and basically short-sighted. St. Maarten is/was essentially the number one cruise ship port-of-call in the Caribbean. It was the centerpiece of most cruises to the Eastern Caribbean. How does bringing more visitors to an island that depends so heavily on tourism impact it in a negative way? Yes, many of the SXM ports-of-call are for just one day, but the cruise ship visitors spend money all over the island when they disembark. 80% of St. Maarten's economy is derived from tourism with four of every five jobs within the labor force connected to tourism. This goes back bit, but in 2013 prior to Irma and COVID, 1,800,000 cruise ship passengers and crew came to St. Maarten and I'm sure they did more than just walk the streets of Philipsburg. It was reported that $423 million in direct income is poured into St. Maarten's economy from tourism.

As for St. Maarten standing as a cruise ship home port, those who come to the island to embark on their cruise most definitely spend money there prior to sailing. Having stayed at Holland House several times in the past, I have met many, many people who have flown to SXM and stayed on the island for a few days prior to their cruise. They stay at the hotels, eat at the restaurants, and shop at the businesses along Main Street. In the past, this has been for smaller yacht type cruises like Windstar. If larger cruise ships that carry 2,000 to 2,500 guests home port here I honestly don't see what the big deal is.

But, the bigger picture is that many cruise ship guests who visit the island for the first time fall in love with it and long to return for extended stays. That's what happen with my wife and I many, many years ago when SXM was a port-of-call on our tenth anniversary wedding cruise. Once we sampled St. Maarten we were hooked, and have returned steadily (more times that I can count) staying at hotels and rental properties on both the Dutch and French sides, dining at the local restaurants, and shopping at the various establishments. And, for those who believe St. Maarten is too crowded with too much traffic to deal with, there are many locations on SXM for those who wish to avoid the crowds (especially on the French side).
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 06:43 PM

You seem to be combining two different topics....cruisers who visit on a cruise (spend money) and cruisers who use the Island to start their cruise....totally different beasts. To assume that most cruise (SXM originating) patrons will stay on the Island remains to be seen. I am, obviously, in the camp of: land, cab, ship....return to port, cab, PJIA group

If they all "stayed for a few days before their cruise" there would be no comments about the Saturday onslaught at PJIA...or any issues at all

Edit: I will add that if I was taking a Caribbean cruise it would make much more sense to start the cruise in the Caribbean rather than spend days on both ends just at sea
Posted By: RickandJulie

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 06:51 PM

Many years ago we left out of St. Martin on a Windjammer cruise (first time to the island). We decided to go a couple of days early to explore the island before we left on our cruise. 22 years later we continue to return to St. Martin for extended stays. Let us hope others do the same.
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by RickandJulie
Many years ago we left out of St. Martin on a Windjammer cruise (first time to the island). We decided to go a couple of days early to explore the island before we left on our cruise. 22 years later we continue to return to St. Martin for extended stays. Let us hope others do the same.



Coming at you from far left field...

Your names sounds familiar. We also discovered st martin 22 years ago on a back -to-back on the Poly in December. Any chance we sailed together?

Edited to add our names are Carl& Shirley
Posted By: RickandJulie

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 07:09 PM

Cruzer: Hard to say. The cruise we were on was supposed to be a singles cruise but at the last minute the cruise company allowed a retiree group from Michigan to join in (believe me, that is a whole other story). If that sounds familiar, then we were on the same boat. LOL
Posted By: cruzer

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 07:42 PM

No, that cruise doesn't sound familiar. We've been scheduled 3 rimes in the last 15 months for a 2 week cruise on the Mandy. First 2 were rescheduled due to Covid, and 3rd was cancelled due to Covid killing their business. Instead, today we head to the airport and will be in St. Martin tomorrow. Sure glad this island is still around.
Posted By: SammyM

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 07:48 PM

I do see your point, Boucharda, and yes I am combining two different topics here, but I believe both are relevant for the future of St. Martin. After what Irma and COVID has done to this beautiful island I just want tourism of all kinds to bounce back on SXM. My wife and I wouldn't likely embark on a cruise from port SXM (unless a deal came up that was too good to pass up), but building up the port to handle larger ocean going vessels I believe would be a 'win-win' for everyone. It would surely help Philipsburg, which in all honesty can get pretty depressing after dark. I also believe that the hotels and restaurants in the Simpson Bay area would also prosper from guests who hopefully visit for a few days then arrange transportation to the cruise port. The hotels could even possibly establish 'cruise packages' to lure people in. I suppose only time will tell.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 08:20 PM

I was under the impression that the cruise port was already handling large ships. Sometimes 6 at a time. What has changed?
Posted By: bettenan

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 09:21 PM

The first cruise departing SXM left last night. It left with around 850 passengers on the Celebrity Millennium. The ship holds around 2100 and will sail with no more than 50% capacity, because of Covid. I am reading most of the Passengers are extending their trips either before or after the cruise.
I've heard over the years from so many people that they discovered SXM while on a cruise and come back as guests for weeks on end every year.
I'm surprised at all the negativity.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 10:15 PM

Scubaman--there is a HUGE difference between a ship home porting in SXM, and using it as a cruise port of call.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/07/2021 10:45 PM

Absolutely...and thus my point

..and...has anyone else tried to fake book a cruise from SXM? I mentioned that nothing seems to exist past June but I may be missing something

Edit: never mind....answered in a similar thread
Posted By: jazzgal

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/08/2021 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by SammyM
As for St. Maarten standing as a cruise ship home port, those who come to the island to embark on their cruise most definitely spend money there prior to sailing. Having stayed at Holland House several times in the past, I have met many, many people who have flown to SXM and stayed on the island for a few days prior to their cruise. They stay at the hotels, eat at the restaurants, and shop at the businesses along Main Street. In the past, this has been for smaller yacht type cruises like Windstar. If larger cruise ships that carry 2,000 to 2,500 guests home port here I honestly don't see what the big deal is.


I dunno. I sat next to someone on the plane who was going on the cruise. He was going direct to port from airport and had no plans to stay on SXM after the cruise. Granted, that's one person, but he can't be the only one with that view.
Posted By: SammyM

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/08/2021 02:53 AM

Jazzgal, I'm not saying everyone will take this approach but I would bet money that a significant number of folks will look to arrive one or two days in advance of their cruise departing date if not to explore St. Maarten, but just to assure they reach SXM in plenty of time to make the cruise. That should help boost tourism revenue even if its just for a day or two. Same approach that so many people use when taking cruises departing from Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. My wife and I never chance making a cruise departure by flying in the same morning of embarkation. Not with the (un)reliability of today's airlines. We always arrive a day or two in advance, stay at a hotel in the vicinity of the cruise port that provides a shuttle to the port, and dine at local establishments in the area. My guess is that a high volume of people will take this same approach on SXM (and hopefully return to the island in the future for a longer visit after experiencing it for a few days).
Posted By: PelicanPirate

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/08/2021 03:50 AM

Lets see. Our first visit was a whole family thing on a Princess cruise and the excursion took us to Marigot market and then a very happy to have us Boo Boo Jam for half beach day and we bought lunch and drinks and beach shop souvenirs until say 1230 and back to the ship where we got in a cab to Maho for a few minutes to watch planes and then to Mullet where we had chairs, drinks and ribs. Excursion for 8 about 800. Chairs/Ribs/drinks for 8 much less. Who knows how many cheap sxm tshirts were bought. More stuff at port. Van fare for afternoon.

Spent way more on that cruise day on SXM then I ever have on land tour.

Sounds like things people that stay on the island do everyday except of course Boo Boo Jam is no more.

We immediately booked a land vacation for 6 months later.
Posted By: NeilRooney

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/08/2021 05:49 AM

Homeporting is also good for the islands wholesalers who are provisioning the ships. Food, beverage, cleaning supplies, various parts and repairs. And don't forget the impact of the crew members when off duty.
Posted By: Colour1

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/08/2021 09:54 AM

If coming through customs/testing and baggage claim ( did I tell you we were so relived to make it through all that, we walked out without our luggage!! LOL) wasn't a nightmare un to it's self with one plane in. This is coming to be #*&! SHOW!!! Has anyone seen that video on the progress of the airport or lack of progress going into 2023!!! I can see cruisers and plane people going at it!! Nice way to start a vacation on a line that raps it's self around a hot steaming hallway!! They had better start handing out cold water and a bunch of Caribs!!
Posted By: bonsie

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/08/2021 05:34 PM

On the Celebrity cruise line web site it says that as of now they are only listing cruises until Aug. 21 from SXM . The Millenimium will only do three
cruise's and the it will be replaced by the Celebrity Summitt. We were scheduled to be on the Summitt on July 25 out of Bayonne N.J. to Bermuda and they cancelled our cruise to move the Summitt to SXM..
Posted By: jazzgal

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/09/2021 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by SammyM
Jazzgal, I'm not saying everyone will take this approach but I would bet money that a significant number of folks will look to arrive one or two days in advance of their cruise departing date if not to explore St. Maarten, but just to assure they reach SXM in plenty of time to make the cruise.


You may be right eventually. Based on the number of jets arriving last Saturday, however, I think most folks for that sail were arriving the day the ship sailed.
Posted By: eightzerobits

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/10/2021 11:56 PM

Two passengers have tested positive on the Celebrity Millennium.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...ailing-100-vaccinated-cruise/7645511002/
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 12:16 AM

....and now it begins
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 12:34 AM

Lordy lordy. No way is the cruise industry ready.
Posted By: erb923

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 12:50 AM

You can still test positive even after vaccinated. Everyone including crew were vaccinated on the ship, wouldn't worry too much about it.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 01:06 AM

Now they'll have to quarantine somewhere because they won't be able to board a plane testing positive at their own expense. That's the worry.
Posted By: sxmmartini

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 01:46 AM

https://www.the-sun.com/news/305785...ngers-vaccinated-america-covid-positive/

Another article similar to the one posted already.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 02:14 AM

Would not want to be in their shoes.
Posted By: PelicanPirate

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 03:43 AM

How many people at any goven hotel had diarrhea last night? This will go on for 100 years.

If you are over 50,60,70,80 perhaps you should not travel or weigh the risk, Under 50 need a life.

Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 10:13 AM

Yup...diarrhea is exactly the same as COVID... (sarcasm)
Posted By: PelicanPirate

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 01:00 PM

Sarcasm my specialty. Not to make light of covid, it is bad. But we must deal with it and live as best we all can. Im not under 50. But there is a risk traveling to foreign lands. We all manage it to go where we go. Test, isolate, vaccinate, ventilate, hopefully someday medicate.
Posted By: Bigdaddy

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 01:50 PM

Are cruise ship passengers required to buy the sxm insurance?
Posted By: bdeeley

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 01:53 PM

Currently, NO
Posted By: kim

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 02:15 PM

I would
Never get on a cruise and not be vaccinated. Same as airplane or anywhere where you are in close quarters to others. The vaccine doesn’t prevent you from getting COVID which many don’t understand. It prevents (hopefully) you from getting it bad. From what I read the two that tested positive had no idea and were a symptomatic. I’m curious if they had had COVID previously and what the different testing types they used.
Posted By: weeks5051

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 02:19 PM

We cruise a lot and we almost always either arrive a few days early or stay a day or two after the cruise ends and spend money in that port.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM - 06/11/2021 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by kim
I would The vaccine doesn’t prevent you from getting COVID which many don’t understand. It prevents (hopefully) you from getting it bad. From what I read the two that tested positive had no idea and were a symptomatic. I


The vaccine is 95% effective in PREVENTING you from getting the disease....and if you are among the other 5% it you will have a lesser form of the disease and prevents you from spreading the disease

From the CDC:

Quote
Vaccine Effectiveness
All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19 as seen in clinical trial settings.
Research provides growing evidence that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines offer similar protection in real world conditions.
COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 vaccination helps protect people from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19 and might also help protect people around them.
To receive the most protection, people should receive all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick because no vaccine is 100% effective. Experts continue to monitor and evaluate how often this occurs, how severe their illness is, and how likely a vaccinated person is to spread COVID-19 to others
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