St. Maarten (Philipsburg) Cruise Ship Schedule 2026
This 2026 St. Maarten cruise ship schedule — also searched as SXM cruise ship schedule 2026 or Sint Maarten ship calls — lists published arrivals and departures at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility in Philipsburg. Ships dock in Great Bay with no tenders, so your published 2026 times frame how much room you have for Maho Beach plane-spotting, Orient Bay beach clubs, and French-side dining before all-aboard.
How This Schedule Helps You Plan
This 2026 St. Maarten cruise ship schedule — also searched as SXM cruise ship schedule 2026 or Sint Maarten ship calls — lists published arrivals and departures at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility in Philipsburg. Ships dock in Great Bay with no tenders, so your published 2026 times frame how much room you have for Maho Beach plane-spotting, Orient Bay beach clubs, and French-side dining before all-aboard.
Docked port: St. Maarten ships dock at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility in Philipsburg (SXM) — no tender boats required.
Why Cruise Passengers Use This St. Maarten Schedule
- ✓Philipsburg is a dock port — your 2026 arrival column tells you when gangway opens for Maho Beach taxis and water taxis to Front Street shopping.
- ✓Multi-ship 2026 Great Bay days crowd Maho Beach viewpoints and Orient Bay loungers; the monthly table shows competing vessels on your exact date.
- ✓Dual-nation tours crossing Sint Maarten and Saint Martin need five to six hours ashore — the 2026 departure time is the hard cutoff for Grand Case lunches.
- ✓Catamaran sails and island highlights combos batch morning departures around pier arrivals — published 2026 schedules replace brochure guesses for on-time return guarantees.
Planning Your Day In St. Maarten
On a 2026 St. Maarten port day, pick one signature experience sized to your published in-port window — Maho Beach aviation, Orient Bay swim, or a Dutch-and-French loop — then use Philipsburg's walkable waterfront for shorter fills.
What passengers typically do
- Morning Maho Beach visit for Princess Juliana aircraft approaches when 2026 arrivals are before 9:00 AM
- Orient Bay beach club afternoon on longer port windows across the French side
- Front Street Philipsburg duty-free shopping walkable from the Dr. A.C. Wathey terminal
- Grand Case lunch on the French side via taxi on six-hour-plus 2026 calls
Top attractions
- Maho Beach — aircraft land over Maho Bay beside SXM airport
- Orient Bay — wide Atlantic beach with clubs and water sports on Saint Martin
- Philipsburg — Dutch capital with Front Street shopping near Great Bay
- Grand Case — French-side dining capital known for waterfront restaurants
Recommended excursion types
- Maho Beach and island highlights combo on standard-length 2026 port windows
- Orient Bay beach break with fixed return transfer on multi-ship weeks
- Dual-nation circle tour covering Dutch Philipsburg and French Marigot markets
Timing considerations
- Maho Beach crowds peak when multiple 2026 ships discharge simultaneously — check monthly tables
- French-side dining runs slower; allow extra return time for Grand Case lunches
- Island traffic between Maho, Orient Bay, and Philipsburg intensifies on busy pier days
Return-to-ship guidance: Be back at the Dr. A.C. Wathey terminal 45–60 minutes before your 2026 published departure. Docked arrivals avoid tender queues, but SXM island taxis can queue on multi-ship days — share your ship's departure time when booking independent drivers.
Related Planning Resources
St. Maarten Monthly Schedules for 2026
Open a dedicated monthly page with published ship calls, arrival and departure times, and planning tips for that month.
Schedule Overview
St. Maarten receives consistent Eastern and Southern Caribbean traffic at the Dr. A.C. Wathey terminal. Multi-ship Philipsburg days affect taxi availability to Maho Beach and Orient Bay. Review 2026 and 2027 monthly schedules before booking plane-spotting or beach club excursions.
Cruise Lines Visiting
2026 Monthly Schedule
Select a month to view scheduled ship calls with date, ship, cruise line, arrival, departure, time in port, and passenger capacity.
Quick cruise day lookup
Find My Cruise Day
Select your port call date to filter the schedule, see crowd levels, and jump straight to your ship.
June 2026 at St. Maarten
| Date | Ship | Cruise Line | Arrival | Departure | Time in Port | Passenger Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Celebrity Beyond | Celebrity Cruises | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 3,276 to 3,950 |
| 2026-06-16 | Rhapsody Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 2,026 to 2,431 |
| 2026-06-17 | Carnival Magic | Carnival Cruise Line | 09:00 | 18:00 | 9h | 3,690 to 4,428 |
| 2026-06-22 | Rhapsody Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 2,026 to 2,431 |
| 2026-06-23 | Icon Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 5,610 to 7,600 |
| 2026-06-25 | Star Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 5,610 to 7,600 |
| 2026-06-30 | Icon Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 5,610 to 7,600 |
| 2026-06-30 | Rhapsody Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 08:00 | 17:00 | 9h | 2,026 to 2,431 |
8 ships scheduled. Arrivals and departures are subject to change by cruise lines and port authorities.
Cruise Passenger Information
Use this schedule alongside practical port-day details below. Knowing where your ship docks, whether tenders are required, and how long you are ashore helps you book excursions with a safe return buffer.
- Docking
- Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility, Great Bay
- From ship to town
- Water taxi or 15-min walk to Philipsburg
- Tender required
- No — ships dock at pier
- Currency
- Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG), USD and Euro accepted
- Language
- English, Dutch, French
- Time zone
- Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
Passenger tips for St. Maarten
- Maho Beach plane spotting is weather and schedule dependent
- Orient Bay is on the French side, bring Euros or card
- Water taxis run between cruise pier and Philipsburg
- Book catamaran sails early on multi-ship days
- The island is small, you can visit both Dutch and French sides in one day
Crossing the island border is seamless. Use licensed taxis on both sides.
What to Do in St. Maarten on a Cruise Day
Dual-nation culture & beaches — Dual-nation island with famous beaches and Maho Beach plane spotting. Once you know your arrival and departure window from the schedule above, these are the experiences cruise passengers book most often.
Maho Beach
Famous beach beneath Princess Juliana Airport flight path.
15 min by taxi
Orient Bay
St. Martin's liveliest beach on the French side.
25 min by taxi
Philipsburg
Dutch capital with Front Street shopping.
Water taxi or walk
Grand Case
French side dining capital known as the gastronomic capital.
30 min by taxi
Recommended Shore Excursions
Signature pick: Orient Bay Beach Club — Orient Bay on the French side delivers the liveliest beach-club atmosphere in the Eastern Caribbean, loungers, restaurants, water sports, and a distinct European-Caribbean vibe.
Maho Beach & Plane Spotting
Sightseeing · 3-4 hours
Watch aircraft land dramatically over Maho Beach at Princess Juliana Airport.
Orient Bay Beach Day
Beach · 4-5 hours
French side beach with clubs, restaurants, and water sports.
Catamaran Sail & Snorkel
Catamaran · 4-5 hours
Sail to nearby islets with snorkeling and open bar.
French Side Island Tour
Island Tour · 4-5 hours
Explore Marigot, Grand Case, and Orient Bay on the French side.
Browse by excursion type
Also sailing in 2027?
St. Maarten has 503 published ship calls listed for 2027 and 225 for 2026. Compare both years if your itinerary spans seasons or you are choosing between sail dates.
Cruise Planning Tips
- ✓St. Maarten docks at the Dr. A.C. Wathey terminal in Philipsburg — no tenders — with a water taxi or 15-minute walk to Front Street.
- ✓Reach Maho Beach within 90 minutes of the gangway opening on multi-ship days for the best aircraft-spotting.
- ✓Book Orient Bay transfers early when two or more large ships share Great Bay.
- ✓Schedule French-side Grand Case or Marigot lunches only when departure is 4:00 PM or later.
- ✓Share your ship's departure time with island taxi drivers, who queue on busy pier days.
Related Links
Authority port page
St. Maarten shore excursions guideExcursions, beaches, port logistics, and passenger tipsSpecialist local website
St. Maarten Shore ExcursionsLive tour listings, local pricing, and pier pickup detailsExcursion types for St. Maarten
Detailed Local Guide
Ready to book? Our specialist partner for St. Maarten lists vetted local operators with pier-aware pickup times, transparent pricing, and excursion details tailored to cruise ship schedules.
St. Maarten
Dual-nation culture & beaches
This authority guide helps you compare St. Maarten excursions and plan your port day. St. Maarten Shore Excursions goes deeper with live tour listings, local operator pricing, pier pickup details, and booking options you will not find on generic cruise aggregators.
More 2027 Planning Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2026 St. Maarten schedule the same as an SXM cruise ship schedule?
Yes for planning purposes. Travelers often search 'cruise ship schedule SXM' or 'sxm cruise ship schedule 2026' when their itinerary lists Sint Maarten. This page shows published 2026 ship calls at the Dr. A.C. Wathey terminal in Philipsburg — the Dutch-side cruise dock.
Does St. Maarten use tender boats in 2026?
No. 2026 arrivals at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility are dockside in Great Bay. Passengers walk off directly without tender boats, which simplifies return timing compared with Tortola or Grand Cayman on the same itinerary.
How do I plan Maho Beach around the 2026 St. Maarten ship schedule?
Find your sailing date in the monthly 2026 table and note arrival time. Maho Beach is roughly 15 minutes by taxi from Philipsburg — reach it within 90 minutes of gangway opening on busy weeks when several ships share Great Bay.
Can 2026 Dr. A.C. Wathey arrival times change after I book excursions?
Yes. Cruise lines adjust for weather, operational delays, and pier sequencing. Use the 2026 schedule for advance planning, then confirm final times on your ship's daily program before disembarking for Orient Bay or French-side tours.
Caribbean Authority Hub
Arrival and departure times are published for planning purposes and may change due to weather, tender conditions, or cruise line schedule adjustments. Always confirm final times with your ship before disembarking.