Booking choice: The Phoenix day sail, from $139 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Ships berth at a walk-off pier on Great Bay, right next to Philipsburg. Several of the best catamarans leave from Bobby's Marina, between the pier and Front Street, so you can walk to the boat.
The rest leave from Simpson Bay, a taxi ride and a drawbridge away. That difference matters more than the price.
The quick answer
On a ship day, book the Phoenix ($139): check in at Bobby's Marina by 9:40 am, about a 10-minute walk from the pier, sail five hours past Maho Beach, and be back mid-afternoon. Random Wind is rated higher but emails its meeting point. Full-day trips like the Eco Tour only fit a call with a late all-aboard.
Where do cruise ships dock in St Maarten?
At the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility on the eastern edge of Great Bay, a walk-off pier just outside Philipsburg.
There are two parallel piers and no tenders. Downtown Front Street is a 10 to 20 minute walk on a flat, hot road, per Princess Cruises. A water taxi also runs between the pier and the Philipsburg boardwalk. Taxi fares are set by the Tourist Bureau.
Can you walk from the cruise port to the catamarans?
Yes, to Bobby's Marina: about 10 minutes by the Phoenix's directions, 20 by Eagle Tours'. Six trips on this site board there.
The Phoenix gives the route: from the terminal, turn left on the main street, walk about 10 minutes, turn left at the colourful tour sign, cross the parking lot and turn left at the Great Ferry Express office to the wooden gazebo. A guest warned that "Mapping in the Viator App is in accurate. Might be better to map to Bobby's Marina". The Phoenix, the Eco Tour, Anguilla Cays & Coves, Flagship II, the champagne cruise and the private charter all leave from here.
Want to walk to the boat? The Phoenix checks in at Bobby's Marina at 9:40 am.
Check dates for the Phoenix day sailWhich catamaran trip is best on a cruise ship day?
The Phoenix for most ship days. Random Wind and Captain Alan work too; the eight-hour trips need a late all-aboard.
| Trip | Start | Length | Leaves from | Ship-day fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Phoenix | 10:00 am (9:40 check-in) | 5 hours | Bobby's Marina, walk | Best |
| Random Wind | 10:00 am | 5 hours | Emailed the week before | Good |
| Captain Alan | 10:00 am | 4 hours | Oyster Bay, $14 transfer | Good |
| Boomerang | 10:00 am | 7 hours | Simpson Bay, taxi | Late all-aboard only |
| The Eco Tour | 9:00 am (8:30 check-in) | 8 hours | Bobby's Marina, walk | Late all-aboard only |
| Anguilla Cays & Coves | 9:00 am (8:15 check-in) | 8 hours | Bobby's Marina, walk | Late all-aboard, passport |
How do you get from the cruise port to Simpson Bay?
By taxi: the official fare is $20 for one or two people, $8 each for three to five and $7 each for six or more.
The fares are on the Tourist Bureau's taxi page, with a 25 percent surcharge from 10 pm to 6 am. Agree the fare before you get in. The drive takes under 30 minutes on a clear road. The Simpson Bay bridge opens at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 am and at 2, 4 and 5 pm, and traffic stops while it is up. Boomerang guests should note the dock has moved: one wrote that "the meeting place is no longer the yacht club, the new place is the dingy dock 10 minutes further."
Will you be back before all aboard?
On the five-hour sails, yes, with time to spare. On the full-day trips it depends on your ship.
The Phoenix starts at 10:00 am and runs about five hours, so you are back mid-afternoon. The Eco Tour starts at 9:00 am and runs about eight. Independent operators are not the ship's own excursions, and the ship will not wait if the boat is late. Check the all-aboard time in your daily programme, not the sailing time. Captain Alan's crew earns praise here: a cruise guest wrote that "they were on top of making sure we had transportation and what time we needed to be back with plenty of time."
Short port day? Captain Alan runs four hours to the turtles, with a $14 cash shuttle from the cruise port.
Explore Captain Alan's 3-island tripCan you see Maho Beach planes from a catamaran?
Yes. The Phoenix spends about 15 minutes off Maho Beach between Little Bay and Mullet Bay, and other west-coast sails pass it too.
From the water you get the landing jets without the danger at the fence, where jet blast killed a visitor in 2017. In November 2025, police and the Civil Aviation Authority launched a campaign against risky behaviour at Maho, with up to two years in prison or a 100,000-guilder fine for flying drones there, per BES Reporter. A taxi to Maho from the pier costs $25 for one or two.
Is the Eco Tour or a turtle trip possible on a ship day?
Only with a late all-aboard for the Eco Tour. Captain Alan is the turtle trip that fits a normal port day.
Captain Alan's listing sets up a round-trip transfer for cruise passengers automatically: meet at the Sandbox at 9:30 am and pay the driver $14 per person in cash, plus $5 for the nature reserve. The boat leaves Oyster Bay on the east coast at 10:00 am for Tintamarre and Pinel, with twelve guests at most. More on the turtles in the Tintamarre guide.
What should cruise passengers bring?
Your ship card and photo ID, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and small US dollar bills for the tip and any reserve fee.
The Phoenix and Boomerang do not supply towels. A passport is needed only for Anguilla. US dollars are used in everyday business on the Dutch side. Planning an evening in port? The sunset cruise guide covers the champagne cruise from Bobby's Marina.
Ready for the water? The Phoenix includes lunch, paddleboards and the pass by Maho Beach.
Check dates for the Phoenix day sailFrequently asked questions
How far is Bobby's Marina from the cruise port?
About a 10-minute walk by the Phoenix's directions, up to 20 by Eagle Tours'. It sits on Great Bay between the pier and Front Street.
How much is a taxi from the cruise port to Simpson Bay?
The official fare is $20 for one or two people, $8 each for three to five and $7 each for six or more.
Will the ship wait if my catamaran is late?
No. Independent trips are not ship excursions, so book a trip that ends well before all aboard.
Do I need my passport for a catamaran trip?
Only for Anguilla. For trips around St Maarten your ship card and photo ID are enough.
Ready to book
Choose your catamaran
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
The Phoenix Catamaran Day Sail to Mullet Bay
- Five hours: Little Bay, a pass by Maho Beach, then Mullet Bay
- Guided snorkel stop with all gear, two paddleboards and an 18 ft water mat
- Fruit and cake in the morning, a cooked lunch, cocktails, beer and soft drinks
Random Wind Catamaran Day Sail & Snorkel
- Five hours with stops at Little Bay and Mullet Bay, 10:00 am start
- Snorkel gear, life jackets, stand-up paddleboard and the Tarzan swing
- Homemade lunch, snacks and a top-shelf open bar
