Which island has the best shopping St marteen or st thomas?
 

we will be taking cruise pretty soon. I was wondering what port had the best deals in shopping. Thank you for your information.

It depends on what you are shopping for. Both are Duty free Ports and both have a variety of shops selling everything from the ubiquitous t-shirts to high end jewelry. Many stores have shops on both islands.

FYI - Duty free doesn't necessarily mean the goods are sold at the "lowest price" but rather only that there's no customs duty figured in the price. Best advice - do your research BEFORE you go on your trip so you know the value of items you wish to purchase. That way you can identify a bargain when you see one.

Best deals these days are relative, with easy access to internet, I find that savings aren't really big anywhere, maybe just tax?

Know what you want to buy before going, then price it there, or buy it because you like it, not just because of savings.

Other than that, they are fairly equal, I personally feel it's better to save time than money, for example, would rather go over to St. John from St. thomas than get a couple hundred dollares off some jewelry, because it will cost a lot more to return, and St. John is worth it! ;-)

While I've not been on a cruise, nor chosen a destination for its shopping, I've found that on the French side of St. Martin, I've gotten good deals on French goods. While the goods are priced in Euros, if the seller offers $1:€1 for cash, you can benefit. As an example, if the Chanel lipstick you like sells for $35USD in the U.S., and the price in Euros is €25, you can get it for $25USD if the shop gives you a 1:1 cash exchange.

It's been a few years since I've shopped in St. Martin (but I'm going back!), so I don't know whether shops are still offering this deal. And, of course, how much you save depends on the going exchange rate. Since I'm only buying stuff I'd normally buy anyway, and I know the US prices, it's a low risk shopping experience for me.

St Thomas for me best prices selection by far...
magenspoint.com used to own a condo there.

I've been on a few cruises these last years that stop in both. I prefer Phillipsburg in St. Maarten. To me, they appear to be willing to negotiate more!