dan_woodlief

We will be on St. Martin for a day (cruise - 7 am to 5 pm) in June and rented a car for the day. I was thinking about touring the island counter-clockwise. It seems most people go the other direction, but it seemed to fit better this way. We would like to spend a couple of hours at Orient Beach, have lunch in Marigot and walk around a few minutes (so maybe a couple of hours there max), probably stop to see the planes landing at Maho Bay, and probaby stop briefly at a few other spots. We need to return the car before 4 and can't pick it up until 8. Does this make sense?

Hold

Sounds like a great plan to me. Two things to think about if you have not already. Since you said "we" not "I" you'll want to be aware that a large portion of Orient Beach is clothing optional (dont want you to surprise the kids) and,
since you must tender in to shore (take a boat from the ship to the docks) and you are not using a ships tour, you may not be getting off the ship when you think. Even if you are first in line to leave, the ships will usually put their tour guests on the first tenders to assure that they don't miss their tours.
Best bet to get off quick is to find out what deck the tenders leave from and be there at least 30 minutes BEFORE they say the tenders begin. It's usually first come, first served for getting tenders if you're not taking a ship tour.
Have fun!

kaleighsgram

Hold, You said that you had to tender in at St. Martin. What ship were you on? I've been there twice, including this past April on the new Noordam, and never had to tender in.

bonniejns

Right, you don't tender in St. Maartin - but think there is a water taxi to get you in to town faster or you can walk it.

Hold

Oooops. I'm getting my port confused. I've been to so many that I got my wires crossed.

Either way, have fun Dan

Statia

In St. Maarten you may either dock at the rather new Wathey pier OR have to tender in if you are anchored in Great Bay. It depends on how many ships are in port at the time.