How to Get From the St. Maarten Cruise Port to the Boardwalk and Great Bay Beach
The Philipsburg Boardwalk and Great Bay Beach are close to St. Maarten’s cruise port. You can walk into town, take a water taxi to the waterfront, or use a road taxi. The best choice depends on where along Great Bay you want to arrive, how comfortable you are walking in the heat, and when you must be back aboard.
Port St. Maarten describes the walk into Philipsburg as about 15 minutes. That is a useful starting estimate, not a measured journey from your ship’s gangway to a particular beach chair or to the center of the Boardwalk. Add time for leaving the ship and port, crossings, your chosen destination and the return journey.
Reviewed by St. Maarten Boardwalk Team · Transport information checked October 13, 2026.
At a glance
| Option | Best when | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | You want to explore at your own pace and are comfortable with an outdoor walk | Your route to the part of town or beach you want; time for the walk back |
| Water taxi | You want a waterfront arrival or less road walking | The landing, current fare and ticket terms, boarding access and last suitable return |
| Road taxi | You have luggage, limited time or a destination away from a water-taxi landing | Exact drop-off point, fare, pickup plan and travel time |
Walking from the cruise port
Follow the marked pedestrian exit from the cruise terminal toward Philipsburg. The town lies west of the port along Great Bay. As you approach the waterfront, Bobby’s Marina is a useful eastern-side landmark; farther along, the Boardwalk runs beside the sand, with Front Street inland. Captain Hodge Wharf and Wathey Square mark the central part of town. Choose a specific destination before setting off: “Philipsburg,” the eastern end of the promenade and a beach setup farther west are different endpoints.
Port St. Maarten’s approximately 15-minute figure is for reaching Philipsburg. Walking from a distant gangway, stopping for photos, or continuing to central Great Bay will take longer. Follow current port signs and designated crossings. This guide has not measured or verified an end-to-end step-free route from every berth to the waterfront.
Walking is free, but the beach services you choose after arrival may not be. Ordinary access to the Boardwalk and Great Bay Beach is free; chairs, umbrellas, food and activities cost extra. For beach conditions and facilities, see the Great Bay Beach visitor guide.
Taking the water taxi
Port St. Maarten lists Bobby’s Marina, Walter Williams Jetty and Captain Hodge Wharf as Philipsburg waterfront water-taxi stops. The tourism bureau also describes a Walter Plantz Square landing. Published stop names and operating patterns are not fully consistent, so use the operator’s displayed route on the day rather than assuming every boat calls at every landing.
Pick the landing for your plan. Bobby’s Marina puts you toward the eastern side of the waterfront. Captain Hodge Wharf is useful for central Philipsburg, Wathey Square and the middle of Great Bay. Walter Plantz Square is toward the western end. If your goal is a particular restaurant or beach setup, check which landing minimizes your walk.
Before buying a ticket, ask which stops are served, whether it covers your return, the current fare and payment method, and when the last suitable boat leaves. Leave room for ticketing, queues, boarding and the walk between the landing and your destination. An older port brochure gives a ticket price, but it is not evidence of today’s fare; this guide deliberately does not publish it as current.
Using a road taxi
Road taxis are available at the cruise terminal. Tell the driver the specific destination—such as Captain Hodge Wharf, a Front Street address or another agreed drop-off—rather than only “the beach.” Confirm the fare before departure and ask where a return taxi can collect you. A road taxi may be useful when walking or boat boarding does not suit your group, but a short drive does not remove terminal, pickup or traffic time.
Plan the return before you relax
Write down your ship’s all-aboard time, not only its scheduled departure. Check whether the ship uses local or ship time. Then work backward: allow for leaving your beach chair or restaurant, reaching the return stop or taxi pickup, waiting, the journey, entering the port and reaching your gangway. Build in extra time rather than treating a published travel estimate as a boarding deadline.
If you used a water taxi, confirm the return service before heading away from its landing. If you walked out, decide whether you also intend to walk back; heat and fatigue may change that plan. Keep a road-taxi alternative in mind, but do not depend on finding one instantly at the last minute.
Which part of Philipsburg should you visit?
For a short waterfront look, central Philipsburg around Captain Hodge Wharf lets you combine a stretch of Boardwalk, Great Bay views and Wathey Square. For beach time, choose your setup along Great Bay and ask about the full chair-and-umbrella price before settling in. For a longer town visit, Front Street lies inland from the promenade and connects the waterfront with shops and landmarks.
Use the Philipsburg Boardwalk Visitor Guide to decide how much time to spend, or browse things to do in Philipsburg once your arrival and return are settled.
Before you go
- Mobility: Ask about the whole journey, including the terminal route, street crossings, boat boarding if relevant, promenade and any sand or venue entrance. A nearby destination is not automatically accessible end to end.
- Children and heat: Carry water and sun protection, and allow for slower walking with children or in warm weather.
- Specific stop: Check the current hours of any business or attraction you plan around. A water-taxi landing being open does not mean every nearby venue is open.
- Last check: Follow port and operator signs on the day; routes, stops, prices and service may change.