This guide was rebuilt against current port, cruise-line and tourism sources on September 26, 2026. Berths, opening hours, day-pass rules, prices, weather and excursion availability can change; your cruise line's sailing-day instructions control.
Arrival and getting around
Port / landing: Cruise ships dock at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility at Pointe Blanche. Port St. Maarten places Philipsburg roughly a 15-minute walk away, with taxi, bus and water-taxi options.
Getting around: Water taxis and land taxis make Philipsburg easy. For Maho, Mullet Bay or French-side touring, use taxi/tour transport and allow extra time for traffic and bridge/airport-area congestion.
Money and local time
- Local currency
- Caribbean guilder (XCG / Cg)
- Exchange reference
- Cg1.79 = US$1 (fixed peg)
- Do they take USD?
- U.S. dollars are widely accepted in visitor areas; merchant cash conversion/change can vary.
- Local time
- Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−4) year-round. Always use the ship's stated time for all-aboard.
Beach, pool and facilities
- Pool
- There is no complimentary resort-style pool included at the cruise terminal.
- Free / public beach
- Great Bay Beach is a public beach directly along Philipsburg's boardwalk. Sand access is generally open; chairs, umbrellas and restaurant facilities are paid/customer amenities.
- Water access
- Yes. Great Bay, Mullet Bay and multiple island beaches provide swimming; boat/snorkel excursions are common.
- Restrooms
- Cruise terminal facilities are available. Along Great Bay, restrooms are generally tied to restaurants/beach-chair operators rather than a universal free public facility.
- Day pass / beach club
- Beach clubs/resorts around the Dutch and French sides offer day-use packages; inclusions and transport vary.
“Free/public beach” means beach entry or public shoreline access — not necessarily free transportation, loungers, umbrellas, food, showers or restrooms. Sea conditions, sargassum and temporary closures can change the practical beach experience.
Standout excursion types
- Philipsburg + Great Bay Beach using the water taxi.
- Maho Beach / Mullet Bay combination with careful traffic timing.
- Full-island Dutch/French tour or boat/snorkeling excursion.
Low-logistics day: Take the water taxi to Philipsburg, combine the boardwalk and Great Bay Beach, and return the same way — one of the Caribbean's easiest no-excursion days.
Cruise lines and terminal notes
Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney and many other major lines call at St. Maarten. Large ships use the A.C. Wathey cruise facility.
Cruise-line patterns are useful for planning, but no guide should override your actual itinerary. Always confirm the ship name, date, terminal/berth, tender instructions and all-aboard time in the cruise line's app or daily program.
Practical port-day tips
- The Caribbean guilder (XCG) replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder in 2025; old ANG references are stale.
- USD is widely used, but ask how change will be returned.
- Maho looks close on a map but traffic can make the return unpredictable.
- Keep a return buffer that reflects traffic, tender queues or boat transfers — not just map distance.
- For accessibility, confirm gangway/tender rules, vehicle loading, beach access and excursion physical requirements with the cruise line or operator.
- Carry photo ID and any ship-required documents exactly as instructed onboard; entry and reboarding requirements vary by itinerary.
Sources and updates
Audited September 26, 2026. Port Perfect Travel summarizes sources for cruise-day planning; conditions can change without notice. Send a correction or updated local detail.