Orient Bay Beach is located approximately 7 miles away from the cruise port in St. Martin, St. Maarten. The quickest and easiest way to get there is by taxi or rental car, which takes approximately 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. There are various transportation options available from the cruise port to Orient Beach, including taxis, buses, shuttles, private drivers or taxis, rental cars, and ride.
If your ship has an excursion bus, you can hire a taxi at the port and set it up for them to pick you up at a specified time at Orient when you’re ready to go back to the ship. The same route should be followed on your way back to the cruise ship port from Orient Bay Beach.
St. Martin is a popular destination for cruise ships, with many docking at the nearby port of Marigot. From there, you can hop on a taxi or rent a car to reach Orient Beach. Orient Bay is a fairly quick drive by taxi, rental car, or excursion bus from Philipsburg. It is about seven miles north of the Philipsburg cruise port.
The beach is on the tour with them each time to the island. They will pick you up at the cruise port and schedule a pickup at the beach. It is about 25 minutes. You can catch a taxi or rent a car. If you catch a taxi, ask if they will come back at a designated time. Best advice is to leave yourself plenty of time to get back.
If you visit the island by cruise ship, you will find taxis readily available at the cruise ship pier. Rates for the 20-minute drive to Orient Beach are fixed. Although the island is divided into two, you can travel back and forth on the regular roads without having to go through border crossings.
📹 Before Cruising to St. Maarten WATCH THIS!! Best Cruise Port Tips & Excursion
Are you visiting St. Maarten on a cruise? You’re in luck! There are so many great things to do in Sint Maarten/St. Martin, both on …
Is Orient Beach still clothing optional?
Nude Beach: Clothing Optional. Various parts of Orient Beach are semi-clothing optional or nude beach; most of the beach is a beach like anywhere else. Though nudity is tolerated on Orient Beach near the Club Orient (south) section, people would still wear bathing suits on most of the beach.
For more information about Orient Bay Beach clothing optional etiquette, see the beaches section of our Travel Information.
Where to find Orient Bay Beach. This Beach is in the Orient Bay area of St Maarten / St Martin.
How to get to Orient Beach from Philipsburg?
How to Get There. Orient Bay Beach is on the east coast of the French side of the island. If not on a tour, take a taxi or drive—parking in the area is accessible and free of charge. Expect a 20-minute drive from Marigot and about a 20- to 30-minute drive from Philipsburg on the Dutch side.
How far is Orient Beach from cruise terminal?
If you visit the island by cruise ship, you will find taxis readily available at the cruise ship pier. Rates for the 20 minute drive to Orient Beach are fixed – confirm with your taxi driver the precise cost for the trip.
Great Bay Beach. Stretching for two miles in front of the Dutch side capital, Philipsburg, a myriad of cruise ships sail into her harbor daily. The thousands of cruise ship visitors that line Great Beach every day…
Simpson Bay Beach. At one time, this area was famous for its families who made their living by fishing. There are still a few fishermen who shove off, hours before dawn, in search of “the one that got away”. Today,…
Gallion Beach. This half-moon shaped bay on the Windward side of the island is protected by a great snorkeling reef and is very popular for all types of surfing. A mile of undeveloped park-like beach with shallow…
What is the prettiest beach in St Maarten?
Top 5 Beaches in St. Martin – French SideOrient Bay Beach – The Most Famous Beach on the Island. … Baie Rouge Beach – Uncrowded & Beautiful. … Happy Bay Beach – A Secluded Piece of Paradise. … Anse Marcel – Calm, Family-Friendly Waters Ideal for Swimming. … Grand Case Beach – Family fun + Snorkeling and Dining Paradise.
While the French side (St. Martin in the north) and the Dutch side (Sint Maarten in the south) are classic Caribbean destinations, they have a unique distinction of being split into two countries. This beautiful island offers its distinct charms and both sections tempt with spectacular beaches.
In the following guide, we’ll break down the best beaches of Saint Martin, treating the French and Dutch sides separately given many visitors choose to spend the bulk of their time in either St. Martin or Sint Maarten depending on where the hotel or villa they are staying in is.
Different kinds of travelers have different priorities when it comes to Caribbean beach going. Families with young kids, for example, may or may not want to steer clear of areas of those parts of St Martin beaches that are known to be nudist-friendly. Couples on honeymoon are often looking for a sort of experience that may be different from families.
How much is a taxi from St Maarten Port to Maho Beach?
The best way to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach without a pre-booked excursion, is to take a taxi. The journey is way too long to walk, and costs around $15-20 per person depending on how many are in the car. Leave the piers and head to the right, where there’s a row of taxis waiting to leave. These taxis are more like minivans, and it’s likely that you’ll share a ride with other passengers or crew in order to fill up the vehicle.
Unlike the not-so-long-ago days of haggling a price with your taxi driver, prices are set, and after paying for your return taxi, you’ll be given a wrist band in the style of a package holiday. This is your ticket to the beach and back; the taxi will drop you in the car park close to Maho Beach, and taxi vans regularly take passengers back from the exact same spot.
Although the distance between St Maarten cruise port and the Airplane Beach isn’t particularly far, there is almost always traffic to contend with. The journey should only take about 20 minutes, but we spent almost double that crawling along in a long line of cars. Having sat in many a hot sticky vehicle on other Caribbean islands like the Dominican Republic or Antigua, I was expecting an uncomfortable journey, but considering the length of time we spent sat inside a vehicle that morning, it was surprisingly ok.
Are there Ubers on St. Maarten?
While St. Maarten does not currently have Uber available, Rick’s VIP Transportation Service, one of the best transportation services on the island, offers reliable and comfortable rides to meet your travel needs. So, whether you’re a tourist or a resident, you can rely on this top-notch service to explore the beautiful destination of St. Maarten. Rick’s VIP Transportation Service is known for its excellent customer service and a fleet of well-maintained vehicles, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey.
While Uber may not be an option in St. Maarten at present, you have the advantage of choosing a premium transportation service like Rick’s VIP Transportation to make the most of your visit to this scenic and vibrant island.
Can you walk to the beach from the Cruise Port in St Maarten?
St Maarten is the only country in the world with a beachside capital, and this beach stretches along its full length. Like Philipsburg itself, Great Bay Beach is only a five to ten minute walk from the cruise port. No other cruise port along your itinerary will provide a beach so close, so you might as well want to grasp this opportunity! Along the beach goes Philipsburg’s boardwalk, making the beach easily walkable.
The boardwalk is approximately a mile and a half long so within walking distance range for most. The boardwalk, as well as parallel running Front Street, is dotted with restaurants and things to do. Please see below clusters around the three cruise port water taxi / ferry pickups:
Walking & Water Taxis / Ferries from the Cruise pier to Philipsburg. The St Maarten cruise terminal is uniquely located close to the Dutch Side capital, Philipsburg. You can walk from the port to the town center in 10 minutes along the main road outside the port gates. You can also take a water taxi / ferry from the port to Philipsburg. These will bring you to either of these three moorings:
Is Orient Beach nice?
Orient Bay is a picturesque coastal community located on the French Side of the island filled with brightly colored gingerbread architecture style residences, and modern beach side bars and restaurants. Orient Bay only emerged about 30 years ago but quickly became popular among short-term visitors, long-term expats, and residents alike for its laid back island vibes, seaside French culture, and the water sport options on Orient Beach. Right at the coast of Orient Bay is the iconic Orient Beach, the longest beach on the French Side. Orient Beach is world known and dubbed the “St. Tropez of the Caribbean” for many reasons; its sophisticated beachfront restaurants, abundance of thrilling water activities, and the fact that the southern side of Orient Beach is clothing optional, ideal for anyone looking to even out their tan.
Classically French. Be transported with the flavors of Europe when paying a visit to Orient Village square, filled with restaurants famous for Orient Bay’s iconic French flavors. If you’re all about soaking up the views you can have a meal ocean-side by any of the beach restaurants caressed by island ocean breeze.
Thrilling Water Sports. Kitesurfers, Windsurfers and parasailers all meet at Orient Bay, for its Atlantic waves and wind. Visitors can rent gear, or take classes and find their inner adventurer. Discover all the exciting activities of Orient Bay, that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
What is unique about Orient Beach in St. Maarten?
Orient Bay is a picturesque coastal community located on the French Side of the island filled with brightly colored gingerbread architecture style residences, and modern beach side bars and restaurants. Orient Bay only emerged about 30 years ago but quickly became popular among short-term visitors, long-term expats, and residents alike for its laid back island vibes, seaside French culture, and the water sport options on Orient Beach. Right at the coast of Orient Bay is the iconic Orient Beach, the longest beach on the French Side. Orient Beach is world known and dubbed the “St. Tropez of the Caribbean” for many reasons; its sophisticated beachfront restaurants, abundance of thrilling water activities, and the fact that the southern side of Orient Beach is clothing optional, ideal for anyone looking to even out their tan.
Classically French. Be transported with the flavors of Europe when paying a visit to Orient Village square, filled with restaurants famous for Orient Bay’s iconic French flavors. If you’re all about soaking up the views you can have a meal ocean-side by any of the beach restaurants caressed by island ocean breeze.
Thrilling Water Sports. Kitesurfers, Windsurfers and parasailers all meet at Orient Bay, for its Atlantic waves and wind. Visitors can rent gear, or take classes and find their inner adventurer. Discover all the exciting activities of Orient Bay, that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
How much is a taxi from SXM to Orient Beach?
From SXM Airport to Orient Beach: $35. and from SXM Airport to Anse Marcel: $45.
If you’re searching for information on how to get around St Maarten and St Martin, don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! While the island is divided into both Dutch St Maarten and French St Martin (learn more about the history of St Maarten and the St Martin border division here), you can travel between both sides of the island freely without the worry of border control and toll booths. You can drive from one end of the island to the next in as little as 30-45 minutes (without traffic), and explore the best things to do on St Maarten.
When it comes to transportation options for getting around St Maarten, there are a few.
St Maarten Car Rental. Booking a car rental in St Maarten is cheap and easy, especially when you book with us! We have rental car deals in St Maarten as low as $35 with unlimited mileage and when you book early, you can save as much as 15% on rental cars in St Maarten.We definitely recommend booking in advance!
Is Orient Bay beach free?
You can enjoy Orient Bay for free, but there’s a moderate charge to rent umbrellas or beach chairs. You’ll find Orient Bay on the right shore of St. Martin.
Is Orient Bay Beach free?
You can enjoy Orient Bay for free, but there’s a moderate charge to rent umbrellas or beach chairs. You’ll find Orient Bay on the right shore of St. Martin.
📹 Orient Beach, StMaarten Cruise Destination
While cruising on the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas, I headed over to Orient Beach to have a drink, swim, and see some …
We went to this beach last November on a Royal Caribbean cruise (Allure of the Seas) and it was awesome, so beautiful! We took a taxi from Maho also and it was totally worth the 15 min trip away from Maho, (which was crazy-crowded that day). Didn’t know about the clothing optional side, glad we didn’t wander over that way as we were not trying to see other people’s bresticles or testicles 😉
So I know this article is old, but.. you can get here by taxi from a cruise safely, without booking an excursion? We have a 5 year old so we would definitely be avoiding the nude area. I really want to go to this beach when our cruise stops here, just not sure the best way to go about getting there and if it’s okay for younger kiddos. We mainly want a stress free and relaxing beach day. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, thank you! 😊
Hi Morgan! I don’t think I want a Sailboat. I’ll let the cruise line do the driving. Do you think you could PLEASE compile a article of all the funny, weird, and sometimes rude people who photobomb your articles. If you have the time include the people who give you the funny and strange looks while you do your walk and talk articles. I think that would be very funny to watch. And frankly, they deserve it! PLEASE? Big hugs Morgan!