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St Martin/St Maarten / Special Interests / Cruise

By Sara Macefield

St Martin/St Maarten is the world’s smallest shared island – split between the French (St Martin) and the Dutch (St Maarten), giving it two distinct characters. This makes it a fascinating stop for cruise passengers as ships call at either the French or Dutch sections, but it doesn’t take long to reach the border by road and cross over to the other side.

St Maarten is regarded as the more developed of the two – a hub of lively commercialism with dance clubs, duty-free shopping and casinos, though it also boasts 36 beaches. St Martin is more rustic and unmistakeably French, with more than 30 beaches tucked into its jagged coastline, and some of the best restaurants in the region. With more than 300 establishments, it’s not surprising that the island has won a mouth-watering reputation as a top Caribbean gourmet spot.

On the Dutch side, cruise ships dock at the capital Philipsburg and it’s easy for passengers to walk into town to explore the duty-free shops or chill-out on the attractive beach. Other attractions in this part of the island include St Maarten Park, part of the St Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden. Ships calling at the French half dock at the attractive capital Marigot, with its Gallic ambience and upmarket shops.

Cruise on St Martin/St Maarten

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St Martin/St Maarten’s weather

St Martin/St Maarten weather chart

When to go and weather

Looking for inspiration?

  1. Experience the sights and sounds of Orient Beach
  2. Swim to Pinel Island for a decadent lunch at Karibuni
  3. Climb to Fort-Louis above Marigot and appreciate the historic views
  4. Enjoy classic French cuisine in Grand-Case
  5. Sail to Anguilla or St Barth’s for the day

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