St. Maarten, Netherlands

Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

by and

This was the third port of call on our family cruise aboard the "Oasis of the Seas" for our Christmas gift to our children (Click here to view that blog page). Saint Martin is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It is comprised of two separate countries, divided between its northern French side, called Saint-Martin, and its southern Dutch side, Sint Maarten.

Travel Tile

Saint Maarten, a unique Caribbean island, is a captivating blend of Dutch and French cultures. This picturesque destination, known for its breathtaking beaches and vibrant atmosphere, offers a taste of paradise for travelers.

One of the island's most striking features is its stunning beaches, with clear turquoise waters and powdery white sands. Maho Beach, located adjacent to Princess Juliana International Airport, is particularly famous for its thrilling plane-spotting experience as aircraft land just meters above sunbathers.

Saint Maarten's dual nationality status is reflected in its diverse cuisine, where you can savor a blend of French and Dutch flavors. The island is also a duty-free shopping haven, with numerous boutiques and markets offering a range of products, from luxury goods to local crafts.

The charming capital of Philipsburg boasts colorful colonial-style architecture, while Marigot, on the French side, offers a more relaxed, European-inspired atmosphere. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore lush tropical forests, go snorkeling, or embark on boat trips to nearby islands.

Exploring St. Maarten, Netherlands 

Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

The above image is Orient Bay Beach, and you can easily see how pretty it is! This is where some of our group went, while the rest of us visited the Flying Dutchman zipline at Rain Forest Adventures.

Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

This is the "official" Flying Dutchman picture of us headed up to the top to ride the zipline. As you can see in the background, the views of the island are fantastic. Our expectations for the zipline ride are really starting to kick-in as the chair takes up to the top, but it was such a beautiful day with views that were amazing and your desire to take it all in is enormous!

NOTE: Click here to watch a great video of our descent on the zipline. This video is the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC.

Karakter Beach, St. Maarten, Netherlands       Map
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

After the zipline ride, we caught a taxi over to Karakter Beach, next to the island airport. We ate lunch at the Karakter Beach Bar/Restaurant, hung out for a while, and then caught another taxi back to the cruise docks to do some shopping.

Just for the record, the Princess Juliana International Airport is immediately adjacent to Karakter Beach. This is the famous airport where people line up on the beach to get blown into the water by airplane jet exhaust. Click here to see what that looks like (this video is the property of MT Aviation via YouTube.)

Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

The cruise docks area was filled with small shops, with every kind of merchandise you can imagine. Rum, tee shirts, hats, jewelry, etc. There were even a number of bars where you could indulge in some adult beverages.

Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

The Oasis of the Seas was waiting for us, so we headed back to get ready to set sail for Port Canaveral.

Flying Dutchman Video       Map
Youtube Video Link

Most of our group went to Rainforest Adventures to ride their fantastic zipline, this is our video of that ride. The view from the top (1,050 feet high) was of the entire island, and it was amazing.

If you like our videos, click here to subscribe to our Youtube Channel.

  • Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
  • Cruises to St. Maarten on the "Cruise Critic" site
  • Google Search Results list for "Saint Maarten Restaurants"
  • Google Search Results list for "accommodations in Saint Maarten"
  • Saint Maarten Half-day Tour from the "Get Your Guide" site
  • Amazon Search Results list for "Saint Maarten"
  • Youtube Search Results list for "Saint Maarten Island"
  • Visit our Youtube Channel
  • Our Image Gallery for Saint Maarten
  • Wikipedia Article for Saint Maarten
  • Google Image Gallery for Saint Maarten

Oasis Cruise: Ports of Call 

Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

 Cruise Overview

A Christmas present to our immediate family !

Come and read about our experiences on one of the largest cruise ships in the world, we documented all of our onboard & ashore adventures.

 Read More 
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

 Paradise Island Bahamas

Our goal was to visit the Atlantis Water Park - however, you might want to investigate going there on your own. If you take the ship's excursion, you will have to get up very early and then it will get you there before the water park opens and when you depart the ship you will have to wait in lines with everyone for a long time to get on a bus to get to Paradise Island.

 Read More 
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

 Saint Thomas, USVI

We did the Catamaran sail and snorkel to Buck’s island. The boat was nice and boat staff was great however there wasn’t much to see in the water and our trip was scheduled for 2 in the afternoon so we got back after dark. Other members of our group went to Sapphire beach prior to our excursion and enjoyed the beach and swimming.

 Read More 
Dutch Flair Meets Caribbean Paradise

 St. Maarten, Netherlands

Some of us went to the Flying Dutchman zipline and ate lunch after that at Karakter beach. We took a taxi and the driver gave us his card so we could call when we needed him. Other members of our party went to a beach and fell in love with St. Maarten. They want to go back one day.

 Read More 
 
 

To review any of our content, make suggestions and/or comments, please click the "Info" menu button at the top of this page. You will find our "Contact Us" link on that drop-down menu.

 
Matomo Link