Sint Maarten (Dutch) and St. Martin (French) is a Caribbean island that is split between the two countries and is a popular port of call for cruise lines. The island is diverse and the people are friendly. St. Maarten was one of the first Caribbean islands to attract tourists, and it has been a favorite of cruisers since the 1970s. The island is located in the eastern Caribbean in the Lesser Antilles.

France and the Netherlands have amicably shared the island for over 300 years, and both sides of the island retain their ties to their respective home countries.
 
Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch side of the island of St. Maarten. A large cruise ship pier runs out into Great Bay about a mile from Philipsburg. You can walk into town from the pier, but most people take an inexpensive water shuttle that stops at either end of the capital city. A small shopping mall sits at the end of the pier if you don't have time to go all the way into town. It has a welcome center, some souvenir shops, and a bar/restaurant. Philipsburg has all of the usual Caribbean shops lining its main street, which is called Front Street since it is closest to the bay. One block inland is the other main street, appropriately named Back Street. Navigating the city is very easy, and I think it is probably impossible to get lost!

Marigot is the capital of the French side, St. Martin. Marigot is a much smaller town, and since its pier can only accommodate one medium-sized cruise ship at a time, most ships dock at Philipsburg.

Marigot is like a small French village. Many cruisers like to experience the French atmosphere in the Marigot boutiques. Good buys can sometimes be found on a wide variety of European luxury items. Marigot also has a lively morning market with vendors selling all sorts of interesting local items.

If you're not into shopping, St. Maarten/St. Martin has numerous white sandy beaches. Many tourists head to Mullet Bay on the western side of the Dutch part of the island, but it often gets very crowded. Oyster Pond Beach on the eastern side of the island is a favorite for body surfers, and nearby Dawn Beach has some good snorkeling. Baie Longue on the French side of the island is a beautiful beach that is almost never crowded. One of the most famous "clothing-optional" or nude beaches is Orient Beach. It has lots of colorful beach umbrellas that give it a European atmosphere. Orient Beach is on the northeast coast of St. Martin, so if you only have a few hours in St. Martin, be sure to watch the time if you venture there! (Just in case you might be watching something else.)

Since St. Maarten is so popular, there are many shore excursion options for those who don't wish to shop or explore on their own. On one cruise to St. Maarten, we chose an excursion that we had heard lots of good things about--the America's Cup Regatta. It certainly lived up to our expectations!

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