OK, I know this sounds lame, BUT my husband wants to spend part of his cruise port time here, watching the planes come and go. I only see a summer schedule online, and it now looks like KLM will not be running their 747 there next year, in the summer.

BUT, is there any "activity" in January/winter? Any place to find a schedule? Any wide body would be OK.

I am booking a cruise, based only, on this port and the take off/landing action. Any advice to make the most of it??

St. Martin's Juliana Airport is still a sleepy little place, despite the new(ish) modern airport building.

There is some activity in January, because that is when huge numbers of people go down for their time shares, etc.

I haven't been there in a couple of years, so hopefully others will comment, but the most activity I've ever seen is small planes hopping to and from other nearby islands.

There are two or three "jumbo jet" flights each day as I recall, but the airport has nothing going on until those flights come in, usually early afternoon.

Another consideration for you will be the fact that the airport is not near the cruise docks in Phillipsburg, and you will have to factor in extra time for the atrocious traffic, which may have been slightly relieved by some supposed widening of the road between Phillipsburg and the airport.

It is the worst route on the whole island.

There is a small airport in Grand Case way up on the French side, and I believe Air France used to have a jumbo jet come in there - but no longer. I'd check on that, which I think would be ever so much more fun, because it would be so incongruous with that sleepy little restaurant town on the beach.

It seems like a weird thing for you husband to want to do, but, hey, if it's fun for him:

Check the American Airlines schedule and also Continental, and of course, Air France, I'm not sure if KLM flies there, or if it is Martinair.

My suggestion would be to hang out at Sunset Beach Bar (restaurant and bar) at the end of the runway between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. when the larger jets come in. They will literally come in to land directly overhead to the point you feel like you can reach out and touch them if you are on the beach. It is quite a thrill and the best spot for viewing the landing at SXM.

Here's a photo to give you an idea. http://aptzero.com/pics/plane.jpg

Statia: You are SO RIGHT! How did I forget about that? very good advice for BudgetQueen!

That is IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How do I get to Sunset Beach Bar, and is it impacted by "traffic"?? How much time, cost?

Do the wide bodies come in every day?? I can't find any airport listing, except for summer schedules.

I'm off to go to each airline site and search there. Thank you for the information.

Yep, is totally "weird" it is the priority for the entire cruise. He is a retired airline employee, A&P mechanic, those "people" are into that stuff.

Thanks again.

It's perhaps 20 minutes by cab from Phillipsburg's cruise pier to Sunst Beach Bar. Yes, there is traffic, but it's doable.

Didn't the bar closed? I thought I had read that somewhere. Anyway, even it did close, you can still go and hang out at that beach. We hung out at the bar when we went to St. Martin in '08. It was really cool watching the planes land. Nothing weird about it! If it is, then there are lots of weirdos out there! I don't know the landing schedules so can't help you there. Enjoy!

You are a VERY tolerant wife !! Sunset Beach Bar IS the place to go to keep your husband (and children) amused.

I would suggest that, from the cruise port, you head to Front Street in Philipsburg and check out the duty free shops for a while and - only if he buys you a very nice piece of jewelery - then take a cab to Sunset Beach aiming to be there by 11.30am.

The Continental flight from Newark comes in just before noon, and there is quite a lot of other, mainly inter-island, activity about that time.

If you want to check the schedules for the big jets, remember that in January they will be different (more frequent) than they are now 'out of season'.

You need to access 'Reservations' of the various airlines, KLM, American, Continental, Air France, Jet Blue and others, and go through the motions of booking a flight for departure on the date the date on which your ship will be in port - remember not all the airlines fly every day - then you can see their scheduled arrival times (Continental is almost always ahead of schedule !).

The cab from either the port or from Front Street will cost you $15 plus tip, and you should leave at least 30 minutes (if not more) for the trip to Maho. Ask a cab driver, as soon as you arrive, how long it will take (he/she will be aware of the latest road repairs, shambolic traffic conditions, etc.) then leave from Front Street later alowing yourselves plenty of time.

If you haven't seen the planes landing while having a drink at the Sunset Beach Bar (you can also hear the conversations between the tower and the pilots via the small loudspeakers mounted on the beach side parapet of the bar by the way)it's quite fun - for the first time - but gets very boring if you do it for too long !

By the way, I live pretty close to the small airport at Grand Case - on the French (civilized) side of the island - and I very much doubt that it would have been possible to land and take off a Jumbo there. If Air France ever did land there, I am certain it could not have been with a Jumbo. They are currently trying to figure out how to extend the runway - which seriously hope will be found to be quite impossible !

I hope your husband enjoys himself, and shows his gratitude for your patience accordingly later !

Actually, I think it's still there. There's an active forum on Traveltalkonline regarding whether the food and service are worthwhile. If it's not open, then there's another beach bar near the airport called Driftwood. You can see the planes from there.

The Sunset Beach Bar IS still there - but, since last year, under new management / ownership. Heiniken seems to be deeply involved financially, so don't bother to ask for a Carib - you won't get it !!

The place took a bit of a bashing from hurricane Omar last year, but it was re-furbished (which it badly needed anyway) and it is certainly fully functional now - at least it was last week when I stopped by there to wait for my girlfriend's flight fron EWR to touch down before going to the airport to meet her.

The food is nothing special or sophisticated, but appears to be reasonable in price and the portions are 'American size'.

I have no idea what the place is like at night, as I tend not to visit the Dutch side of the island more than I can help, but by then you will be back on board ship anyway.

DavidSXM: I'm sure you are correct about Air France flights to Grand Case. After all you live there.

I know I'm getting old and forgetful, but I knew there was something - and it was probably about wanting to extend the runway for big jets.Hasn't there been talk of that, and isn't it quite controversial?

I even forgot about the Sunset Bar - and we never went there til we'd been on the island so many times, we had to just TRY it - and it was a gas! However, regarding food there, I would suggest only a beer. Too bad you can't get Caribe there anymore.

You are absolutely right - it's very controversial !!

The way things are looking though, I very much doubt that it will happen.

IF it ever does, the Sunset Beach Bar will lose a lot of it's attraction, as the beach at Grand Case will provide an even better viewing point, and the local food choice is far better !

You could also hang out at the Maho Beach Resort Hotel, great view planes there from the beach. It's an all-inclusive type of place, but trust me they also accept cash. There is also a restaurant, Cherrie's (sp?) directly across with some pretty decent lunch type food and drink. Easy to grab a taxi there too, back to the ship. We go there often for long layovers on our way back from SBH.

I just got back from St. Maarten and stayed at the Maho Beach resort with a view of the airport. Jumbo jets land between 2 and 4 every day. Tortuga Beach Bar is immediately to the west and there is a casino and apparent bar immediately to the east. You can also just stand on the beach. If you drive heading from the cruise port drive past the airport until you get to a roundabout that has a St. Maarten sign in the center. Take the road that veers to the left off the roundabout and you are there as soon as you get on the road. Go a little further past the runway for the second bar with a view which may be Sunset.

Thanks for the advice. I have booked the cruise, and will be there on a Tues- for the Amsterdam 747.

Looking to take a cab to the Sunset Bar, IF that is still a good recommendation??

Yes, still recommended.

DavidSXM - As one who has had free exfoliation while standing on the beach at Maho, I will disagree with your statement that the beach at Grand Case will provide a better viewing point. Forty feet directly above your head is as good as it gets. I will agree with you on one aspect. It DOES lose its uniqueness very rapidly.

As a young man, I used to sit at the end of the runway of the Dayton International Airport (there is a nice country road there) and watch the planes drop out of the sky. It was cool then. I don't do it anymore. LOL