TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Road blocks from cruise pax perspective

This is not a political statement or post regarding my personal thoughts on the reasons for the road block, just a recap from a cruise pax perspective. We just got off the celebrity summit today, so finally have cell and Internet service to post.

We love sxm and have spent many 60+ nights vacationing on SXM since 2008, so naturally when our cruise ports in sxm, we have a routine... cab direct to orient, croissants at yellow sub, grab some beer to take to beach from petit casino (formerly tap5), walk the beach to club o, hang there all day, head back. So, that's exactly what we did. There was absolutely no warning from cab dispatchers at the port to avoid the French side. Apparently, announcements had been made on our ship, but I was unfortunately in the medical facility in the morning prior to disembarkation, so didn't hear anything. Upon arrival on Orient, I did think the beach was pretty quiet for 4 ships in port and made a comment to my husband. We were completely relaxed and enjoying our day when one of the guys from dolphin sports told us that they were blocking roads and if we were on a ship, we'd better leave. We packed up and walked toward Pedros where taxis are usually stationed and there were very few, we hopped in the first one we saw with another couple, who just so happened to also be on the summit. We headed toward quarter orleans (sp) and hit the road block, the driver turned left tp try another route, as most people were doing, when his car broke down! So, we got out and tried hitching. I spotted a bus headed for Phillipsburg, thinking we could walk to the port if we had to. The couple in the cab with us was on their honeymoon and visiting sxm for the first time, so they were a little freaked out. We jumped on the bus (with two locals already on board) and off we went. Then, another road block. At that point, the bus driver turned down a random dirt road that lead to what can only be described as the "innerds" of sxm, and I mean no one would ever, ever venture here. Terrible, horrible, middle of scary no where. One of the local women on board got a bit hysterical saying (and I kid you not), "this is where they kill us! They come out with machete and demand money!" The driver mumbled something to the effect of "get out". We told the driver quite firmly to take us back to the road block. We had decided we could walk to the dutch side if we had to as there must be traffic on the other side that would have to turn around. So, he took us back and we walked through the fairly chaotic roadblock protest area and hitched a ridea from a kind, local man named Baker. Lucky for us, we knew the proximity of the area and knew that if we HAD to walk, we could find our way. Needless to say, the young couple with us were fairly unnerved. In the end... we made it back to the ship in plenty of time since we were not scheduled to leave until 7p. A crazy end to what was a beautiful day at Club O!

Ps. I have lots of pics of the orient construction, which I will post when I get to a desktop. Sorry for the long winded recap and mispellings. Typing this from my smartphone.

thanks for posting your experience. Looking forward to seeing the pictures from Orient.

Did people miss getting back to the ship before it sailed?

The other couple was lucky they were with you, instead of trying to get back on their own!

Oh my. We have that same routine when on a sxm cruise stop. When you went down the road, were you stopped by people or was it the driver who told you?

Does anybody have a clue if this is something that is going to be long-term or a flash in the pan. Will be there in a few months.

I am not aware of anyone not making it back to our ship.

@PelicanPirate - when we went down the random dirt road, it was the bus driver who said he couldn't take us any further and we had to get out. We were like, um - you can't go anywhere else either except back to the main road - so we will stay on and you will take us.

Quite an experience, thanks for sharing. You'll certainly remember this trip & I'm glad you were able to walk through safely.

We were on the Eurodam. We had no idea about the blockade. But we had to be back on board by 230 for a 3pm sailing. Left orient beach about 1230 and our taxi driver told us the blockade was coming soon. Traffic was heavy but otherwise fine. So folks on a ship sponcered excursion from our ship got stuck in marigot and took a water taxi back to the ship which was held about an hour for them.

Wow . I guess I just missed all this

well why are they doing this? What are the road blocks for?

what an adventure. exciting bit of story to tell

Well I have now read all the other related threads.....what a darn shame this is all happening. I am sorry for the Local residents....this will really hurt them

So sorry your day in SXM was so chaotic! There must be better ways to resolve the problems on the French side. This is like holding innocent people hostage!

really nice to run into you guys on the beach even if just for a few. Deja vue, got an email from Bob P.
Next time, plan on staying for a bit.
Got behind the white van at Orleans intersection but took one of the side roads for a detour. No delays at all.
Really crummy day today, you lucked out.
Be well, travel safely.

This isn't the first time something like this has happen ed on the French side

I'm sure not Wendell, and probably not the last. I understand their frustrations, but surely there are better ways to reach a solution.

It is like shooting your self in the foot. Best case, no more tours to the French side. Worst case no more tours to SXM. How much bad publicity do you think the honeymoon couple will give their friends? Whathappens on the French side does affect the Dutch side.

are we starting this critical stuff again? For Gd's sake, read the thread under EDB's post and try to understand.

I plan on returning to SXM for many years to come. To take away someone's right to protest peacefully is a scary thought.

It is great negotiating leverage indeed....I get the reasons for the strike but it is nearly impossible to argue that tourists were not used as unknowing political pawns.....even picked a day where there four ships docked (lucky coincidence)?

It is what it is....wouldn't detour me for a second from visiting the island but if you were to ask me if I thought there was a better way and I'd give you a resounding YES.

You know, Barbara, I do understand where the French side residents were coming from and how frustrated they had to be, to take this action. And their cause seems to be just and they did receive at least a temporary victory. We shall see what happens from here.

You need to understand how totally scary this experience would be, especially for someone who is a first time visitor.

I have viewed all the threads on this subject and as an outsider understand the frustration of the locals. They definitely got attention and hopefully get attention in France. It must be frustrating for them to hear tourists saying there must be an other way (which will not affect their visit) without actually suggesting an alternate solution.
Personally I would like to know how tourists can help in sending the message to the French government that the PLU needs to be amended in favour of the locals.

JMHO Respectfully

Yes, Carol, I do understand that.

How about this. You are stranded in sxm. The ship has left with your clothes,money,and pasport. How easy do you think it would be for a a first time traveler to get an airplane ticket back to the usa without a pasport?

I have talked to friends on the island, they have told me that It is legal for the French to protest, as a result the gendarmes did not stop the action.

Lordy....Lordy...if you bunch had been around in the 60's, you would think what happened in St. Martin was a walk in the park.....women would still have to wear a skirt or a dress to work....only 25% of a females income could be used for a mortgage....as for jobs & university forget it....
And for the Canadian on here peaceful protesting is "Legal" and done all the time in Canada....by golly get over it....it was a one day protest....what a bunch of sucks....long live freedom & the right to protest....most folks on here don't like the French side anyway...kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

NO ONE MISSED THEIR SHIP!!!! There is no way the ship is going to leave people behind due to a situation beyond their own control! People here will read your post and it's BS and believe people were left behind. NO ONE WAS LEFT BEHIND, NO ONE!!!!

Keep on criticizing folks.. your right to do so. You are only alienating good strong proud st martin people.
and I don't mean soualigacapt and me. I mean the good strong proud st martin people who are trying to make a future for themselves.

Attagirl Barbara.

I feel that is one of the weaknesses of this protest system, for it only to be a 'minor inconvenience' it relies on a domino of other people's actions and decision making. You can't predict the actions of thousands of people......what if a non English/French/Dutch speaking tourist got stuck on the French side and didn't have the line of communication with local people or perhaps they got the wrong info from a misinterpretation. At some point they might try to check into a room for the night....what now? Giant ship isn't going to stay there overnight. You could argue that there is a strong possibility that a scenario like that would never happen and that it hasn't....I'd argue that it could and that I don't see how anyone should be able to put someone else in that position. Don't rights apply to more people than just the people making a point?


Huh...can't see these conversations have much of any effect on anything.

And life was so much better and civilization so much stronger back then. Don't forget, barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.

I'll be buying me some "Freedom Fries" while on the island.

Weird I tried that a couple of times. I don't endorse the freedom fries comment.

Time to close this one too.

I guess we as Americans are lucky that we didn't have ''tourists'' on our soil during the Revolutionary War. God Forbid if a tourist is inconvenienced over the locals problems with government. Also, I guess it would've been total chaos in Washington DC during the Civil Rights movement, the protests against the Vietnam War etc....since maybe some tourists would've been inconvenienced. I sure am glad that this never happened here in the USA (said VERY sarcastically). GET OVER IT PEOPLE...WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEIR RIGHT!!!!!!!! AND ......THEY WON!!!!!!!!

I still can't believe how narrow minded and self centered some people here are...... and......the people bitching weren't even there on the island at the time.

Why direct this to me? I always suported what they did to get their results.

didnt mean to direct to you.....it was a general post...

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

One should have their passport with them at all times.