Philipsburg, Sint Maarten - 8 December, 2005
St. Maarten
The next day we arrived in Philipsburg the capital of St. Maarten. Half-Dutch, half-French this island combines the best of both nations.
Philipsburg where we docked is on the Dutch side and Marigot, is the capital of French St. Martin.
The smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch for almost 350 years.
Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles) east of Puerto Rico. The southern Dutch half comprises the Eilandgebied Sint Maarten (Island area of St. Martin) and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. The northern French half comprises the Collectivité de Saint-Martin (Collectivity of St. Martin) and is an overseas collectivity of France.
St. Maarten
There were a variety of shore excursions including bus tours, beach tours, catamaran sails, scuba tours, etc.
The Great Bay Beach is near where the ships dock. A water taxi takes you right to the beach or you can walk as well toward the beaches and the shopping area.
If your ship is docked it is great to go to the beach and head back to the ship for lunch and to change and then head back to town or on a shore excursion.
The island has large stretches of beautiful beaches and fantastic landscapes. Shopping in Philipsburg and Marigot is great with a lot of jewelry and watch stores.
St. Maarten
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
St. Maarten
St. Maarten
St. Maarten / St. Martin map
Sint Maarten / Saint Martin
Facts:
- Location: Caribbean Sea
- Archipelago: Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles
- Area: 87 km2 (34 sq mi)
- Highest point: Pic Paradis (414 m (1,360 ft))
- There is no river on the island
- Sint Maarten - Largest city: Philipsburg (pop. 1,338)
- Saint Martin - Largest city: Marigot (5,700)
- Population: 72,892 (as of January 1, 2006) 37,629 of whom lived on the Dutch side of the island, and 35,263 on the French side of the island. In addition there is an average of 1,000,000 tourist visitors per year.
- Language: French, English, Dutch, Papamiento
- Money: US$ are by far the most common but Euros and (to a lesser extent) the Netherlands Antilles Florin (or Guilder) are also used.
History
- circa 800AD Settled by Arawak Indians
- November 11, 1493 Claimed for Spain by Columbus, named Isla de Saint Martin, upon his arrival.
- 1624 Some French cultivate tobacco on French Quarter.
- 1631 Dutch small colony on Groot baai to collect salt.
- 1633–1647 Spanish army from Puerto Rico builds the first military fort, but after a few years destroy it and abandon the island forever.
- March 23, 1648 Divided into French (north) and Dutch (south) zones
- Spanish, Dutch, English and French occupy island.
- 1816 French and Dutch zones resumed.
Shopping
Shopping on St Maarten and Saint Martin offers duty-free goods in numerous boutiques. Popular goods include local crafts & arts, exotic foods, jewelry, liquor, tobacco, leather goods, as well as most designer goods.
Airports
Princess Juliana International Airport. There is a small airport on the French side of the island at Grand Case, L'Espérance Airport for small jet and propeller planes serving neighbouring Caribbean islands.
At Sea - 9 December, 2005
The next day was another day at sea. Lots of activities planned like kitchen tours, cooking classes, movies, crafts, children’s camps, fitness classes etc. A couple of us headed to the fitness area that was at the front of the ship, so an awesome view while you are riding the bikes or on the treadmill. We stayed in shape (needed to, after all we were eating) by walking the stairs in the ship when we were going to children’s camp area, to restaurants, to the shows, to the pools, to the shops, etc.
There were a few pools and hot tubs on the ships. One night they even had a BBQ by the pool area. The choice of restaurants included buffets; sit down formal meals, hot dogs and hamburgers by the pool, etc., so lots to choose from. We also found the staff very accommodating in the formal dining room for request. Even our child who is a very picky eater found the food great, the menu in for formal dining room had lots of choice for kids.
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