Trip planning can be a complex activity, but few challenges are as daunting as identifying shore activities in eight different ports that will provide unique and fulfilling experiences for a family having highly diverse interests.
Any suggestions for great things to do in St. Martin / Sint Maarten? Add a comment below and help promote family harmony
Photo Credit: Jenni Ripley | Flickr
This is the second of a series of posts showcasing the ports of call on our holiday cruise. Today’s stop is the half French / Half Dutch island of St. Maarten. Below you will find some of the resources we use to research great destination experiences, but most importantly, we hope to capture some expert suggestions from the highly sophisticated and well traveled group of individuals that read this blog.
Our family has visited St. Maarten twice before, both times on cruises. We have done the island tour and spent low key days at the beach and shopping. This time, we are looking for something a but more unique.
My preferred adventure would be sailing Dennis Connor’s Stars & Stripes in The Americas Cup 12 Metre Challenge, but I am having trouble rallying a companion to accompany me. My older daughter and I had a great time racing the Team New Zealand 82 sloop in Cabo San Lucas. Word apparently got out that all must actively work during the race…
Family background – I like adventure and my wife likes the beach and shopping. Our two daughters are 13 and 20 years old respectively. A personal, yet admittedly unrealistic, goal is to partake of activities that would avoid interaction with teenage or twenty-something boys…
With that in mind, please let us know what you think are the best activities for our day in port.
Here are the resources I am using to research the best experiences for our day in port for Philipsburg, St. Maarten:
- Trip Advisor
- Cruise Critic Port Forum
- Condé Nast Editors Picks (Seriously, no suggestions? C’mon CN Travel Editors, you need to plan a trip…)
- Lonely Planet Overview
- Official Tourist Bureau Site
Of course, the ports are only one facet of a cruise experience – below is some information on the ship and itinerary:
Celebrity Cruises
Cruiseline: Website
Ship: Celebrity Millennium
Itinerary: 10 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise San Juan, Puerto Rico | St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles | Castries, Saint Lucia | Bridgetown, Barbados | Saint George’s, Grenada | Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago | Roseau, Dominica | St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Videos: YouTube Page
Social Media: Facebook Page
Full disclosure: I am not being compensated in any way by Celebrity Cruises, its parent Royal Caribbean or any other party associated with the planning or experience of this trip. It is a 100% personally funded family holiday.