TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Brief visit

Just back from a brief cruise visit stop over and wanted to share a few impressions

(1) the new Bikini beach is gorgeous - staff wonderful - just beautiful all the way around.

(2) food and drinks at the Perch Lite are as good as ever - best burger in a long time - freshly prepared - delicious rum punch!

(3) Club O is decimated - gone - it is sad - enjoy the beach but look at the water unless you want to be depressed...

(4) Orient village is coming back - Petit Casino is open as is Yellow Sub -



but most importantly wanted to share that if you are wealthy enough to afford a cruise, you have enough to spend 15 bucks on a chair - group of four from a cruise ship - two paid happily for chairs - one paid but bitched mercilessly and harrangued the beach server without end about why his chairs were so expensive - one heard how 'expensive' the chairs were and opted out of paying for a chair, instead placing her towel just in front of said chair so that it could not be rented to anyone else - by the end of the day, she was putting her bags and stuff on the chair - sitting on the edge (as if that wasn't using the chair) - I kept trying to snag her cruiseline towel from her so that she'd get charged for it back on the boat but could never manage it. It was just obnoxious behavior - and downright thoughtless when you consider that these folks lost everything just over a year ago - Ugly Americans, to be sure..

Glad you were able to come, even if briefly. We always paid for chairs while on cruises, regardless of the island. No problem. I do have to ask though, was it $15 for a single chair? If so, that does seem kind of steep for one chair. Or was that the cost with an umbrella? Was that at Bikini?

15 is rather high for one chair as the usual rate is 15-20 for 2 chairs and an umbrella. Still no reason for her actions. Nore yours for trying to steal her towel.

This reminds me of a visit to Anguilla off a cruise line. Before we arrived at the landing we arranged for a driver to pick us up and take us to the beach. We asked where he would recommend. He said he would take his to his "friends" beach shack and we would be cared for nicely. ( I can't recall which one) He drove us there and walked us in to introduce us. I asked how much for the chairs. Answer: "Nothing, as long as you hang around eat, drink here and behave". No problem

We had a great time. Then we noticed some some cruise folks show up and just start grabbing chairs. Owner was on then immediately and was charging 10 bucks per chair. No exceptions.

Other pro tip: Our cruise ship towels were white. No logo. Their's were had the their cruise lines logo all over them.

" "Nothing, as long as you hang around eat, drink here and behave". No problem "
That is the key at some of the other beach establishments on St Maarten prior to Irma. Chairs were free if you eat or drink there. Some may still do.

it was 15 bucks with an umbrella - which I know is too high to some and reasonable to others - but what it actually is is what they charge - pay it or don't - just don't bitch at the beach dudes trying to earn an honest living

and fwiw - I would never have actually stolen her towel - just considered it because she was just so rude - to folks who had lost everything and were just trying to earn a living - made me embarassed to be American

and her actions did make it absolutely impossible for bikini to sell that chair - and she did sit in it - just not while anyone was watching which is also theft.

we actually did not eat at Bikini so cannot comment on food - we did have two amazing bottles of French wine -

but mostly it was just good to be back on Orient beach again... very good

"I kept trying to snag her cruiseline towel from her so that she'd get charged for it back on the boat but could never manage it."
Looks like it was more than a consideration. 15 isn't bad for a comfortable chair and umbrella.

Again, just want to be clear -- $15 for TWO chairs and an umbrella? If so, that's pretty much the standard charge, same as it always was. And yes, the lady was an a$$. Like I said, we have been cruising for YEARS and we always figured we would have to pay for a chair and umbrella and that is pretty much a standard charge. Now, places like Atlantis in the Bahamas, now THEY charge some ridiculous fees for chairs. The last I knew, it was something approaching $100 for a day. Now, that is crazy!

Thanks for the report.

Regarding cruising and the action of the person you saw. While I have not cruised in many years, I have talked to friends who have. If one can afford the cruise and then drink prices on the ship, then renting a chair should not be a problem. Take it or leave it BUT, some initial cruise prices may be low enough to get the "very budget minded" person on them and then they suffer from stick shock at the prices for drinks, pictures, etc. Pretty rude to even put personal belongings on the chair if not renting it.

"she was just so rude - to folks who had lost everything and were just trying to earn a living"

Betcha the cruise ship staff adored her as well.... People like that rarely dial it back.

any particular reason for the ongoing jabs? it was a joke - clearly not that funny - but my husband and I got a good laugh out of talking about doing it and how she would react and the charge she'd get on the cruiseline - I'm an avid rule-follower so would never actually do it - but thinking about it made us laugh.

Wow...we didn't even get charged at Bikini. But of course we ate and drank all day there.
'
We also have very distinct personal beach towels...certainly not the common cruiser uniform type.

So I’m still wondering whether they charge or not if you eat and drink there.

us too on both of those - even though we were on a cruise ship, brought our own towels from home - and we had two bottles of wine and five bottles of water - ate at the perch -

but to answer the question, the beach dudes were collecting the cash prior to any chance to order - it was a busy cruise day - three boats in port and the chairs were mostly filled

on a good note, you can now pay for the chairs with a card... which is new - and good, I guess

QUOTE: "food and drinks at the Perch Lite are as good as ever - best burger in a long time - freshly prepared - delicious rum punch!"

Thanks for your thoughts. And we agree about Perch Lite. Best ribs we had on island when we were there in June. Can't wait to have them again next week!

You are the exception to the cruisers. Majority of them pay their ticket to cruise and then do not spend a dime if they don't have to. Some are also very rude like the doll you ran into. Most of them are 1st time travelers and when they hit an island, look out!

I think the answer would be to ask if they do prior to paying for your chairs. In your case you ate at the Perch which would nullify the free chairs in my book. But you might have eaten at Bikini if you would have known different. Something the beach boy should have volunteered as an option.

Is perch and club O chairs cash only? Thanks

Yes. There is no electricity or internet.