Good morning. We are in St. Maarten today. We haven’t quite arrived yet but I can see other ships already in port there.

I went to the Plaza Café for coffee but the line is ridiculous. I went down to the lobby bar. Usually you can get a mocha there but he only has hazlenut and vanilla. I decided to try hazelnut. It’s good. It really just tastes like caramel. 

I’m going to order a screwdriver and try to grab breakfast before they close which is in 30 minutes.

Here is today’s Fun Times.

 

I got the broken egg sandwich with a side of bacon and hash browns.

We are docked next to Enchanted Princess.

It looks like they’re letting people off of the ship.

I put on the SPF and I think I’m ready to head out.

MSC Seaside is also here.

That’s an Aida ship in the back. 

The plan for today is Maho beach. Here are some pictures of the port area along the way.

I had heard it’s a 10 minute walk to town and a $3 shuttle to Maho. Otherwise it’s a $20-30 taxi from the port to Maho.

I considered taking the water taxi to the shuttle. It’s $7 round trip but the line was long.

I saw another sign for the water shuttle. The line looked much shorter but once you peek in the building it’s a long line in there as well.

I decided to walk it.

As soon as I got out of the gate everyone hit me in the face trying to sell me excursions.

I think one guy said it was a $2 or $3 cab to town but at that point he could’ve offered me a free ride and I wouldn’t have taken it. I can be a bit stubborn when people are rude to me.

But you may be able to get a better deal on cabs walking outside the port.

I made it to town. 

It looks like the water shuttle comes in down there.

On the map the pickup point was by the casino so that’s where I’m heading.

That corner on the right is the spot.

This is a good landmark.

The walk wasn’t bad at all. I had heard the Maho shuttles come every couple minutes but for me it was 15-20. I saw multiple Marigot, French Qtr, and others. You can probably get just about anywhere you want by taking a 10 minute walk, $2-3 taxi, or a $7 (round trip) water shuttle to town and catching these shuttles.

A couple of older ladies came up and asked:

“Do you speak any English?”

A little.

”Do you know how to get to the cruise ships?”

Go down by the flag poles, take a left, then right and follow the road back to the ships.

”You speak good English!”

oh thanks!

 

The security guard across the street yelled she has never seen it take this long as the shuttle finally pulled up. 

So this probably isn’t the norm. By now there were five of us going. It was indeed $3 per person.

For full coverage of my Maho trip please check out St. Maarten: Maho Beach. I’m going to skip ahead to my return.

I just arrived back at the port after spending the day at Maho Beach.

I waited for a few minutes as a couple of women held a full conversation in front of this plate. Finally I asked if they could move just a little so I could get a picture. I couldn’t get their shadows out of it though.

This is the boat I’d like to get.

Side note: Today is Valentine’s Day.

MSC Seaside.

Aida Bella.

Enchanted Princess.

Carnival Magic.

Here’s a look at a Valentine’s Day Special.

They’re setting up for something.

I got a Corona from the Tequila Bar and a burger from Guy’s Burgers.

I grabbed a spot to watch sail away.

Enchanted Princess is sailing away.

They finished setting up what they were setting up.

They’re having some sort of Valentine’s Day competition.

I’m sending out some laundry.

We are preparing to sail away.

“The Notebook” is on lido.

Marcus Antony is performing in the main lounge. I had him on one of my ships last year. I remember him calling out an audience member for looking at their phone during his show. I don’t like that. It happened to me with the juggler on Mardi Gras.

This duo is in the Ocean Plaza. I think the rock band plays later.

I headed back to the Limelight Lounge for comedy. This is comedy host Stu.

Comedian Julie Scoggins.

Valentine’s Day Pixels.

Valentine’s Day cakes from the Coffee Bar.

Motown Showdown hosted by Cruise Director Rico.

Rico is in the wig.

Something new they have on this ship is the non-smoking casino down on deck 4. We’ll get a better look at it on a sea day morning when nobody is in there.

The piano bar is pretty full.

I headed back to the Limelight for more comedy.

This is Jason Andors.

At the last minute I decided to make a 9pm Cucina reservation. Last minute as in 8:40pm.

We dine!

Someone has a Valentine’s Day birthday. Poor guy.

Calamari.

Gnocchi Alla Romana.

Tomahawk Porkchop.

Biscotti.

They’re giving this to every table for Valentine’s Day.

This is what they had in the main dining room tonight.

The mega deck party is happening on lido.

I’m heading to the late night comedy show.

Comedy host Stu.

Jason Andors.

He isn’t happy about the Mega Deck Party being scheduled during his set. He’s blaming the small crowd on that. I think it’s the early port day tomorrow. The crowd for the deck party seemed small to me as well.

The duo is in the atrium.

“Rock band” sings Friends in Low Places.

I happened to accidentally see through the window that the room next to mine has a couch. 

I believe that one is accessible. It has the wide door and the Gary Coleman peep hole.

I’m off to bed. Tomorrow we’re in St. Kitts.

 

 

• Carnival Magic
• Magic
• St. Maarten
• Valentine's Day