Booking choice: The No1SXM sunset sail, from $67 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Three evening trips stand out: a 90-minute champagne cruise from Philipsburg, a small trimaran sail hosted by its owners in Simpson Bay, and a three-hour dinner cruise with a Creole buffet.
They share one problem: late-afternoon traffic. Here is how they compare, when the sun actually sets, and how to get to the dock on time.
The quick answer
Book the No1SXM sunset sail ($67, rated 4.9) for a quiet evening under sail with 16 guests at most. Pick the champagne cruise ($55) for the lowest price and a Philipsburg start, or the Tango ($85) if you want dinner and dancing. Sunset is about 5:35 pm in November and 6:50 pm in July.
What is the best sunset cruise in St Maarten?
The No1SXM trimaran for a calm sail, rated 4.9 from 304 reviews. The champagne cruise wins on price, the Tango on food.
| Champagne cruise | No1SXM trimaran | Tango dinner cruise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | $55 | $67 | $85 |
| Rating | 4.7 (83) | 4.9 (304) | 4.7 (530) |
| Length | 1.5 hours | About 2 hours, 90 minutes sailing | 3 hours |
| Leaves from | Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg | Nowhere Special, Simpson Bay lagoon | Simpson Bay Resort marina |
| Check-in | 4:45 pm | 10 minutes before the ticket time | 4:45 pm, departs 5:30 pm |
| On board | Unlimited champagne, snacks | Drinks and snacks from the owners | Open bar, Creole buffet, dessert |
| Group | Shared catamaran | 16 guests at most | 65 ft catamaran, shared |
Prefer a quiet boat? The No1SXM sail carries 16 guests at most and cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the No1SXM sunset sailWhat time is sunset in St Maarten?
Between about 5:35 pm in November and 6:51 pm in July. St Maarten stays on Atlantic Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving.
Monthly averages from worlddata.info: January 5:56 pm, March 6:22 pm, May 6:38 pm, July 6:51 pm, September 6:14 pm, October 5:50 pm, November 5:35 pm and December 5:39 pm. The champagne cruise and the Tango list a 4:45 pm check-in, which puts you on the water right at sunset in winter and in bright light first in summer. The sun goes down fast this close to the equator, so do not linger at the bar.
What is the champagne sunset cruise like?
Ninety minutes on a catamaran out of Bobby's Marina with unlimited champagne and light snacks, at the lowest price of any boat trip here.
Check-in is 4:45 pm at the office next to the gazebo, and parking costs $2 an hour. The listing has the boat sailing down the coast towards Long Bay and back as the sun goes down. One guest called it "a basic sunset cruise that delivers exactly as advertised". Fair. Do not expect a meal or a big sail. It is the best fit for cruise passengers on a late or overnight call, since the dock is a walk from the pier.
What is the No1SXM trimaran sunset sail like?
A small, quiet sail on a roomy trimaran, hosted by the owners Pieter and Miriam, with drinks and snacks passed round as you go.
You meet at Nowhere Special on the lagoon, east of the Simpson Bay bridge, and a dinghy takes you out to the boat. Be at least 10 minutes early: the listing says in capitals that it WILL leave at the time on your ticket. The route passes Maho Beach and Mullet Bay. One guest liked that it "was not a typical party boat type excursion", and another that "the boat was smaller and more intimate with only 16 passengers."
Is the Tango dinner cruise worth it?
Yes, if you want dinner and a party in one evening: three hours on a 65 ft catamaran with an open bar and a Creole buffet.
The listing's sample menus are for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sailings, such as beef bourguignon or mahi mahi in cream sauce, with rum cupcakes or French macarons for dessert; menu changes are not possible. One guest wrote: "The boat pulled into a nice calm cove and anchored while everyone had dinner after which we had fun dancing all the way back to the dock." Not everyone loved the music, and one was surprised to have to take their shoes off.
Want dinner on the water? The Tango serves a Creole buffet and an open bar between sunset and the dance floor.
Explore the Tango dinner cruiseHow do you get to a sunset cruise on time?
Leave early. Afternoon traffic is heavy, and the Simpson Bay bridge stops the road at 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
The Simpson Bay drawbridge opens for boats at 4:00 pm (outbound) and 5:00 pm (inbound), per the Daily Herald schedule, and cars wait while it is up. The Tango listing warns that traffic can be "hectic - especially if coming from the Maho area". The official taxi fare from the cruise port to Simpson Bay is $20 for one or two people. Staying in Philipsburg? The champagne cruise avoids the bridge altogether.
What if it is cloudy or rains?
The boats still sail through passing showers, and a cloudy horizon can hide the sun. Real storms mean a new date or a full refund.
Caribbean showers pass quickly, and crews rarely cancel for them. Clouds on the horizon are the bigger risk. One champagne guest wrote: "Eventually the sun dipped below the clouds so we got a bit of a sunset view." Another enjoyed the cruise "despite the lack of a sunset due to clouds". Every trip here cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before, so check the forecast the day before.
What should you wear on a sunset cruise?
Light clothes, a thin layer for the breeze after dark, and nothing you mind getting splashed. Shoes come off at the gangway on most boats.
Aqua Mania, which runs the Tango, collects shoes in baskets at boarding. Bring cash for the crew tip, which is not included. The open bars serve alcohol from age 18. Cruise passengers: these trips end after dark, so they suit only overnight or late-departure calls, see the cruise port guide.
Staying in Philipsburg? The champagne cruise boards at Bobby's Marina and needs no taxi.
Check dates for the sunset champagne cruiseFrequently asked questions
How long is a sunset cruise in St Maarten?
1.5 hours on the champagne cruise, about two hours on the No1SXM trimaran and three hours on the Tango dinner cruise.
Are drinks included on St Maarten sunset cruises?
Yes: unlimited champagne on the champagne cruise, drinks and snacks on No1SXM, and a full open bar with dinner on the Tango.
Can cruise ship passengers do a sunset cruise?
Only on an overnight or late call. The cruises leave around 5 pm and return after dark.
What time should I arrive?
Check-in is 4:45 pm for the champagne cruise and the Tango; No1SXM asks you to be there at least 10 minutes before the time on your ticket.
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.
No1SXM Sunset Sail on a Trimaran
A quiet sunset sail for couples, hosted by the owners
Sunset Champagne Catamaran Cruise
Unlimited champagne along the coast at sunset
Tango Caribbean Dinner Cruise
Sunset, a Creole buffet and dancing on a 65 ft cat
