St Maarten | 🏛 Catamaran Cruises · Boat Tour St Maarten

St Maarten Catamaran Cruise: Swim, Snorkel & Local Lunch

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1/17

Duration7h

GroupUp to 18

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Catamaran day cruise in St Maarten with swimming food and local stories

You’ll sail along St Maarten’s coast on a relaxed catamaran day trip with stops for swimming at Simpson Bay and Maho Beach (yes, where planes roar overhead). Enjoy homemade barbecue lunch, fresh fruit salad, and unlimited drinks with a friendly crew who make you feel like part of the family. Expect laughter, local stories, and maybe even spot some tropical fish if you try snorkeling.

Step-by-step itinerary

Depart Phillipsburg at 9:00 AM
Stop at Simpson Bay for swimming and snorkeling
Stop at Maho Beach for sunbathing and swimming
Stop at Mullet Bay for snorkeling and relaxing
Stop at La Semanna Beach for swimming and sunbathing
Enjoy homemade lunch with fresh local ingredients
Relax on board or in the water
Return to Phillipsburg around 4:00 PM

The Experience

I almost lost my hat to the wind before we even left Phillipsburg — Captain Robert just grinned and handed me a clothespin. That set the tone for the whole St Maarten catamaran day cruise: easygoing but somehow attentive in all the right ways. The boat (Hakuna Matata, which made me laugh) felt roomy but not too big. There were families with kids, a couple celebrating something (they didn’t say what), and us—just trying to remember how to relax.

First stop was Simpson Bay. The water was that weirdly clear blue you only see in postcards. I could smell barbecue drifting from the galley while Robert told us about sailing here from South Africa—his accent made everything sound like a secret. We swam off the back ladder; I’m not much of a snorkeler but gave it a go anyway, mostly because our guide Li promised we might spot sea turtles (“if they’re in the mood,” she joked). Didn’t see one, but plenty of striped fish darted around my ankles. Salt stung my nose a bit. Worth it.

Maho Beach was next—planes roaring overhead so close you could feel it in your chest. Kids on board shrieked every time one passed. Lunch was grilled chicken and ribs with this garlic bread that I still think about (seriously). The fruit salad had starfruit and something Li called “dragon fruit” — I’d never tried it before, kind of sweet and slippery. Unlimited drinks meant rum punch for most of us; someone spilled theirs on deck and nobody cared.

We drifted past Mullet Bay and La Semanna Beach after that. Some people napped in the shade or dangled their feet overboard. I just watched sunlight flicker through the sails for a while—not sure why that stuck with me. On the way back, Robert told more stories about storms he’d seen out here; he made them sound funny instead of scary somehow.

What’s included

Your day includes sailing along St Maarten’s coastline with stops at Simpson Bay, Maho Beach (for plane spotting), Mullet Bay and La Semanna Beach for swimming or snorkeling—all gear provided—plus homemade lunch (grilled meats and fresh salads), unlimited alcoholic beverages or soft drinks, snacks throughout the day, bottled water whenever you want it, plus friendly crew service before sailing back to Simpson Bay in late afternoon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Ocean Tales Adventures