ships in Saint Martin
Saint Martin is a 34-square mile island that is half French and half Dutch. The story is that a Frenchman and a Dutchman started out from the same spot walking the perimeter of the island in opposite directions with the dividing line drawn across the island from the point where they started to the place where they met. Whether the Frenchman just walked faster, had easier terrain to cross, or as in one version of the story I heard replaced the Dutchman’s water with rum, the French ended up with the largest part of the island. The Dutch however have both the cruise ship port and the airport. They also have casinos. The French side has some topless beaches and even one where clothing is optional.
small jet at Maho Beach
The island’s most famous beach is Maho Beach on the Dutch side near the airport. It’s famous for lowflying planes over the beach heading for the runway just across the street. People flock there to get photos of the underside of airplanes flying barely overhead. The first time we went there it was a big beach with a small bar. The second time was after a storm and most of the beach was gone, though the locals said it would come back. The small bar had expanded into not only a much bigger bar, but an entire shopping center with a pool.
parasailers at Orient Beach
If you want a beach with more options of things to do, Orient Beach on the French side has things like parasailing, jet skis, windsurfing, banana boats, and more. The north end of that beach is clothing optional, but it’s a big beach and on most of it people are clothed. There’s a little bar right on the beach and options of beach toys for rent and parasail boats. Also a bunch of little resorts and hotels by the beach along Orient Bay. The beach there stretches along the bay for 2 miles so there’s a lot of beach.
sign at the port
Currency on the French side is the euro, and on the Dutch side – officially called Sint Maarten – it’s the Netherlands Antillean guilder. Like other Caribbean islands vendors near the cruise port are happy to take US dollars. The average temperature is 80°F. The lowest is generally 68°F and the highest 89°F. The windier end is by Orient Beach on the French side, making sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing popular there. Average annual rainfall on the island is somewhere between 41-46 inches, with a lot more websites pegging it closer to 41 than 46. English is the dominant language on the island.
shops at the port
Ships dock at the cruise port in Phillipsburg on the Dutch side. The port itself is home to most of the standard shops found in cruise ship ports and some other shops as well. There’s a pretty large shopping area and also food and drinks available. There is not a beach at the port, but there’s a pretty nice one right across the bay in Phillipsburg.
bar at the port
Water taxis are available at the port to take people across the bay into town where besides the nice white sand beach, there are shops, bars, restaurants, and a casino. There’s also a land taxi stand at the port where people can get island tours or taxi rides to other areas of the island, with Maho Beach being the most popular individual destination from there. For people who would rather walk than spend a few bucks for the water taxi, Phillipsburg is within walking distance of the cruise port. It’s about a mile to the center of town.
top of the zipline at Pelican Peak
Also within walking distance of the port, Pelican Peak is one of several ziplines on the island. You can also get there through an excursion from the ship, which will provide transportation from the port. The base to the zipline is at the bottom of a mountain. The zipline runs all the way down from the top.
Sky Explorer lift at Rockland Estate
Excursions from Enchanted Princess at Saint Martin: Under Two Flags Island Drive; Best of Saint Martin; Easy Scenic Drive of Dutch & French Saint Martin; Rockland Estates & Sky Explorer; Local Connections Around the Island Tour with Local Artists; Local Connections Chef’s Table Experience with Culinary Expert; Local Connections Toppers Rhum Tasting & Cooking Class with Master Distiller; Orient Bay Beach Club Experience & Lunch; Orient Bay Beach Club Experience; Sky Explorer, Schooner Ride & Canopy Tour; Sky Explorer, Schooner Ride, Flying Dutchman & Canopy; Rockland Estate, Sky Explorer & Flying Dutchman; Trail & Beach Horseback Ride & Scenic Drive; 4×4 Buggy Safari & Beach; Downtown Phillipsburg by Segway; Rhino Rider Boat Adventure & Happy Bay; Lagoon Cruise, Marigot & Scenic Island Drive, Local Connections America’s Cup 12-Metre Yacht Race with Sailing Experts; Golden Eagle Catamaran Sail, Snorkel & Beach Break; Spirit of Sint Maarten Luxury VIP Snorkel Cruise; Circle Island Scenic Cruise, Snorkel & Beach; Lagoon Kayaking Adventure; Helmet Diving at Sea Trek Underwater Park.
Cruise Stories 
What a fantastic and detailed guide to Saint Martin! I loved the mix of quirky island history, practical tips, and personal anecdotes — especially the story of how the island was divided (rum sabotage or not, it’s a classic!). Maho Beach sounds like such a thrill, and it’s great to hear there are so many options for all types of travelers, from adrenaline seekers to beach loungers. The cruise port info and excursion rundown are super helpful too — definitely bookmarking this for future travel planning!