Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten: A Blend of Cultures

Sint Maarten was our first port of this cruise. France and the Netherlands share this island. The French side is called Saint Martin, and it was a little confusing to me at first until I realized that the French and Dutch spell the island’s name differently. The main cities are Philipsburg on the Dutch side and Marigot on the French side.
We arrived a little after 11 AM and were cleared to go ashore around Noon. All aboard was 5 PM

A Brief History of Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten has a rich history dating back to the early 17th century when the Dutch and French settled on the island. The Treaty of Concordia, signed in 1648, established the island’s division between the two nations. This unique arrangement has led to a fascinating blend of cultures, languages, and traditions, making Sint Maarten a special destination.

Viking Shore Excursion: Scenic Saint Martin

We elected to take the Viking Tour – Scenic Saint Martin, which is included. The description is below. Check out the Shore Excursion brochure in the reference section to see all the Viking tours for this port HERE

The meeting spot was ashore, about 500 yards from the gangway – you had to walk. As we have learned on most shore excursions, many guests race ashore at the first opportunity to get the more desirable seats on the bus. We don’t mind sitting in the back, so we aren’t in a hurry to get ashore. If seating closer to the front of the bus is important, get ashore ASAP.

Scenic St. Martin

Duration: 2.50 Hours Description

Picturesque Island Drive — Discover an island straddled by two nations and the charms of Marigot, the capital of the French St. Martin. This Caribbean gem—the world’s smallest inhabited island with two sovereigns—is shared by France and The Netherlands.

Drive through the colorful port city of Philipsburg, passing island landmarks such as the Great Salt Pond and Hope Hill, en route to Marigot. Just four streets wide, it exudes the quaint, romantic character of a small village. Enjoy free time to explore independently; browse the outdoor flea market or pause for refreshments at an inviting pavement café.

Stop at Lucas Bay and marvel at the views over the stunning beach, a favorite spot for free divers. Continue your drive past Grand Case, a quaint fishing village, and see Cole Bay as you stop at the famed Rotary Lookout Point for sweeping views of the glimmering sea and neighboring islands.

Starting Out

We first took some pictures with the iconic St Maarten sign before boarding our bus.

Our tour guide, nicknamed “Hysterical,” shared fascinating facts about the island, including over 40 casinos on the Dutch side and the absence of rivers.

After we entered the French side of the island, around 10:45 a.m., we stopped at a turnout overlooking the Baie de L’ Embouchure for a photo opportunity.

Baie de L’ Embouchure

Looking backward from our bus we observed a lot of traffic heading to Phillipsburg. We didn’t encounter any traffic on our tour

St Joseph’s Church

Marigot

We arrived in Marigot around 1:45 and had 45 minutes to shop and explore the town. Today was Sunday, and except for a few restaurants and souvenir shops, everything was closed. We walked around the empty streets and spotted some famous street art decorating many of the walls around town. More HERE and HERE

If you are here on a day other than Sunday, a lot more will be going on. I would not recommend taking this tour on a Sunday, as you miss out on really seeing Marigot.

Everything was closed in Marigot today

Street art in Marigot by Mash

We left Marigot at 2:30

Back to Phillipsburg

We made one photo shop at Bell’s Lookout Point on the way back to Phillipsburg and arrived back at the port about 3:15 PM.

Most of the shops by the pier were also closed, but there was one duty free shop open and we picked up some snacks and at a fifth of Bourbon. Viking allows guests to bring aboard wine or hard liquor and drink it anywhere on the ship.

As we were walking back to the ship, a man in a golf cart offered to give us a ride to the gangway. The Viking Mars left the pier about 5:30 and we headed out to sea. Unlike many other ships there wasn’t any SailAway. The weather wasn’t great, I don’t know what is the norm on Viking ships.

Viking Mars moored in Phillpsburg

Judy with our Duty Free purchases in the Port shopping area

Star Theater – ABBA

The Viking Vocalists, Heather, Jade, Robbie, and Harry, backed by the Viking Band, performed a variety of ABBA Hits, including:
SOS, Take a Chance on Me, and Dancing Queen.

Robbie, Heather, Jade and Harry performing Abba

Viking Vocalist – Heather singing Abba

Robbie, Harry, Jade and Heather singing hits from the Abba Song Book

Other Activities to Consider

1. Explore Philipsburg:

Start your day by exploring the vibrant capital of the Dutch side. Stroll along Front Street, where you can find a variety of shops, restaurants, and historical landmarks. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Sint Maarten Museum to learn more about the island’s history.

2. Relax on Great Bay Beach

Just a short walk from the cruise terminal, Great Bay Beach offers pristine white sand and crystal-clear waters. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and soak up the sun.

3. Visit Marigot on Your Own

Take a taxi over to the French side and explore the charming town of Marigot. Here, you can visit the Marigot Market, where you can find local crafts, fresh produce, and delicious French pastries. There is a Hertz car rental office near the cruise ship pier. The location is SINT MAARTEN, PHILIPSBURG – HARBOUR CRUISES TERMINAL. About $100 for the day before any discount codes.

4. Visit Maho Beach and watch the planes land

The runway at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is very close to Maho Beach, and planes cross over less than 100 feet above it. Check out the arrival schedule HERE – and look for the large overseas flights with the largest planes. . If you don’t want to go directly to the beach, two bars nearby offer good vantage points. Sunset Bar and Grill has seating with a view and a webcam that shows the planes landing. Check it out HERE. The other place to watch planes is from the Driftwood Boat Bar – HERE