You’ll sail along St Maarten’s coast on a small-group catamaran day trip with homemade lunch, open bar drinks flowing all day, two swimming stops for snorkeling or paddle boarding, and a go at the Tarzan swing if you dare. Expect laughter, local crew stories, and a salty breeze that lingers long after you return.
Ever wondered what rum punch actually tastes like when you’re floating somewhere off St Maarten, salt in your hair and toes pressed into soft deck cushions? I didn’t either, not really—until Diane’s email landed in my inbox the week before. She told us where to meet (don’t trust the ticket!) and that was that. We strolled down from our ship, sun already sharp at 9am, and found the Random Wind waiting with music playing low and some crew already laughing about something in Dutch or maybe French—I couldn’t tell.
The catamaran ride itself felt almost lazy at first. There’s this hush when you leave Philipsburg behind—just water slapping the hull and someone always topping up drinks from the open bar. Our guide (I think his name was Li?) pointed out Maho Bay as we drifted close; he joked about planes nearly skimming your head if you swim too far out. At our first stop, people scattered—some grabbed snorkels, others just paddled around or floated with those silly pool noodles. The water was clear enough that I lost track of time watching little silver fish flicker by my knees. Lunch came out right there: chicken skewers grilled by the captain himself (smelled smoky-sweet), salad, baguette still warm, rice with something spicy tucked in. I ate too fast but nobody cared.
After that we headed up toward Mullet Bay—sometimes it’s first, sometimes second depending on the wind—and that’s where things got loud. The Tarzan swing looked ridiculous until you tried it; even kids barely old enough to hold on were flying off it, shrieking into the sea. I hesitated but went for it anyway (Li cheered me on). There’s a moment mid-air where you forget how old you are—then splash, salt in your eyes again. If you’re hungry after all that flailing around they’ll hand you snacks without asking.
I still think about how easy everyone seemed—crew chatting in bursts of Creole or English, folks passing sunscreen down the bench without a word. We sailed back slow, sunburned and happy. It wasn’t fancy but it felt real; like St Maarten itself wanted us to just relax for once.
Your day includes unlimited top-shelf drinks from an open bar, homemade lunch prepared onboard with chicken skewers and Caribbean sides, snacks after swimming or swinging into the sea at Maho & Mullet Bay stops, use of snorkel gear and paddle boards—all guided by a friendly local crew within walking distance of your ship or resort.
Operated by Random Wind Charters
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5h · EN
from US$ 145 per person
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