Choosing a St Maarten catamaran from Philipsburg
A St Maarten catamaran cruise is a day on the water, but the route and departure address make a real difference when you are based in Simpson Bay. The choices here are a 7-hour snorkeling catamaran outing associated with Tintamarre and a 5-hour coastal day sail. Both begin in Philipsburg, rather than at a Simpson Bay marina. Plan your trip around the actual boat meeting point.
The longer outing starts at Divi Little Bay on Little Bay Road. The coastal sail starts at Bobby’s Marina on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg. Those are separate places, so save the address for your selected trip. Compare these departures with the wider tour selection if a local Simpson Bay start is more important than taking one of these catamaran routes.
Catamaran outings
The Philipsburg departure includes paddleboards and snorkeling equipment. The Little Bay sail offers snorkeling gear and an open bar.
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Catamaran outing from Philipsburg
- Snorkeling equipment
- Paddleboards
- Lunch on board
A day on the water with equipment for swimming and paddling.
Check availability →
Catamaran sail from Little Bay
- Snorkeling gear
- Floatation devices
- On-board open bar
Depart from Little Bay for a day on the water.
Check availability →Catamaran days departing from Philipsburg
Compare the longer Tintamarre-focused snorkeling outing with a coastal day sail that includes lunch, paddleboards and a floating mat.
Tintamarre route or coastal sailing
Tintamarre is an offshore island on the French side, within the setting of the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin. It is a different destination from Prickly Pear in Anguilla. The 7-hour catamaran choice provides snorkeling gear, flotation devices, an onboard open bar and light snacks. Choose this longer outing if its Tintamarre focus fits the day you want, allowing additional time for the road journey to Little Bay.
The 5-hour coastal sail includes a skipper, snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, a floating mat, lunch, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water and light snacks. A restroom is aboard. Its appeal lies in combining sailing with equipment for time on the water. Compare those specific activities with the longer route, rather than judging an excursion only by the number of hours.
For Prickly Pear, return to the tour comparison, which covers the catamaran day from the Simpson Bay area. A wish to see a particular island is a useful first filter: Pinel, Tintamarre and Prickly Pear are distinct destinations, and choosing one does not imply a visit to the others.
Getting to the right marina
Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch side and also the location of the cruise port. A marina departure in the town and a cruise-terminal meeting are still different arrangements. Neither of these catamaran choices includes hotel pickup or drop-off. Organize the outward and return road journeys as separate parts of your day, with time for finding the correct boarding location.
The transport guide explains taxi, bus and rental-car considerations. Use your accommodation address when arranging a ride, rather than an airport travel-time estimate. Simpson Bay includes beach, village and marina settings; a journey from one address need not match a journey from another. If driving, identify an appropriate parking place and allow time to continue to the meeting point.
Boat time and snorkeling equipment
Both outings include snorkeling equipment, but their additional equipment differs. The longer catamaran lists flotation devices; the coastal day sail lists paddleboards and a floating mat. Those details are useful when choosing how to spend time away from the shoreline. They describe the excursion equipment, while the conditions at sea still determine how the day feels.
Use the snorkeling page if your priority is the activity itself and you want to compare routes beyond these catamarans. Keep personal belongings practical for moving between a road transfer and a boat. Let the crew’s instructions shape your time in the water, and treat wildlife as something to observe rather than an appointment a route can deliver.
Weather, fees and the return journey
The island’s drier climatic period runs from December to May, with wetter months from June to November. Use that broad pattern to choose a season, then consider the conditions for your particular sailing. The travel-season guide gives more context. Keep some flexibility in your days, especially if an island stop is a central reason for the trip.
When comparing costs, look at the selected product’s inclusions and any separate charges shown for its route. Do not apply another excursion’s port-fee arrangement to these boats. Budget for the journey from Simpson Bay and back as well as the boat itself. Leave the evening flexible after a day sail instead of making a tightly timed onward connection the condition for a successful day.
Questions about your visit
Do these catamarans depart from Simpson Bay?
Both depart from Philipsburg. The longer snorkeling catamaran starts at Divi Little Bay; the coastal sail starts at Bobby’s Marina. Arrange transport to the exact address for the selected outing.
Which choice includes lunch?
The 5-hour coastal day sail includes lunch, drinks and light snacks, along with snorkeling equipment, paddleboards and a floating mat. Compare the other boat on its stated equipment, drinks and light snacks.
How is Prickly Pear different from Tintamarre?
Prickly Pear belongs to Anguilla’s marine-park setting. Tintamarre is on the French side in the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin. The Prickly Pear catamaran from the Simpson Bay area is covered on the tours page.