Philipsburg Cruise Port (St. Maarten)
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten · Caribbean
Cruise ships dock at A.C. Wathey Pier — Cruise Pier A, Philipsburg.
Plan my port daysBig Caribbean cruise port with Philipsburg's Front Street a short water-taxi ride away.
At a glance
Port summary
Most ships dock at A.C. Wathey Pier on Great Bay's eastern edge. Philipsburg is 1.5 km west — a 20-minute boardwalk walk or a $7 round-trip water taxi. Maho Beach, Marigot and Orient Bay all need a regular taxi or rental car.
Cruise docks
A.C. Wathey Pier — Cruise Pier A
The main cruise berth at the A.C. Wathey complex on Great Bay's eastern edge, equipped to handle the largest cruise ships. The Wathey terminal building with shops and water-taxi kiosk is right alongside.
Latitude: 18.012746, Longitude: -63.045333
See dock on port map →A.C. Wathey Pier — Cruise Pier B
The adjacent cruise berth at the same complex, used when more than one ship is in port. Same terminal facilities as Pier A; passengers walk through the same souvenir village.
Latitude: 18.013679, Longitude: -63.046464
See dock on port map →Getting to Philipsburg
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
USD is accepted everywhere on St. Maarten alongside the Guilder and cards work in most places. Carry small USD bills for buses and roadside stalls.
Build your perfect day in Philipsburg
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the Caribbean collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Philipsburg cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Ready-made port days
12 plansTwo Nations in One Day — Philipsburg, Maho & Marigot by Local Bus
St. Maarten's headline 'two countries in a day' loop — Dutch Philipsburg, the airport-runway beach at Maho and French Marigot — done on US$2 minibuses instead of a US$80 tour coach.
Maho Beach Plane-Spotting Day
The world's most famous plane-spotting beach — where wide-body jets clear the fence just metres over your head — reached on a US$2 bus, not a US$60 excursion.
Free Historic Philipsburg — The Zero-Dollar Walking Loop
The 1793 Courthouse, the little Heritage Museum, colonial Front Street and the 1631 ruins of Fort Amsterdam — a genuinely free half-day that a cruise line will sell you for €60.
Guavaberry & Johnny Cake — A Philipsburg Food Walk
The island's national liqueur and its everyday griddle-bread, tasted the local way on a short, walkable, largely-covered loop — the €80 cruise food tour for under €30.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Philipsburg?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Philipsburg?
- Yes. Philipsburg is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Philipsburg centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Ferry, Local bus, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Philipsburg?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Philipsburg independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Philipsburg and are cards accepted?
- Philipsburg uses the Netherlands Antillean Guilder. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Philipsburg cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
Have something to share about Philipsburg Cruise Port (St. Maarten)?
Share a photo, suggest a thing to do, drop a map link, or tell us what you did in port.
Add a contributionAdmin reviews every contribution before it goes live.