TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Cruisers at Pinel?

Leaving For our favorite island on the 14th, staying in a villa overlooking Orient. Noticed that there are SEVEN ships in port on Thursday the 19th. Would Pinel Island be a good choice for escaping the deluge of cruisers on Orient? Not sure if they still have busses dropping off cruisers at the Pinel ferry.

You make it sound like because they are on a cruise they carry disease. So tired of people treating vacationers that go on cruises as second class citizens. As for your question, maybe check the cruise line websites and see if trips to Pinel are one of their excursions. But Friars Bay or Rouge would probably keep you away from the dreaded cruiser

I usually use Pinel as my hideout on the day with the most cruise passengers on island during my trip. I make sure to get there nice and early and choose a good spot. Never found Pinel to be too crowded even on very heavy cruise ship days...

There are cruise ship excursions that go to Pinel along with excursions sold on the island that go there also.

"cruisers" are how many of us (including myself) first visited the island. Like anyone else on vacation, some are decent and some are annoying but they have every right to visit Pinel, Orient or any other beach on the island.

Frankly, it is the actions of some island vacationers that attract the cruise ship crowds to Orient.

Personally, if I wanted to totally get away from SXM on a heavy cruise ship day I would go on a day trip to Anguilla.

I find myself on the same wave lengths with both you and Kim this morning and I'd love to have a quarter for every St. Martin visitor who first discovered our favorite island via a cruise ship and then, returned to become a regular visitor.

I'm not sure why we feel the need to disparage or escape from anyone but in that same light, can you imagine what the island residents might have to say about some of the whiney and complaining vacationers who return year after year?

if you absolutely feel the need to escape, a day trip off island to Anguilla, Saba or St. Births is bound to do the trick and judging by the number of cruise passengers I've met at Friars over the years, they would be much safer options if you choose to get away from it all. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I think the main concern here was the quantity of passengers rather than the "quality" of those travelers. During our upcoming trip there are days with over 17 000 cruise ship passengers arriving on the island and other days with less than 3000 cruisers. If I plan on going to Pinel during my trip you can bet it will be on the heavy cruise ship day. This would also be the case if 17 000 people were flying in for the day.

That said, remember they do sell the trip to Pinel, and if you're already on the island, you might still be way ahead of the game to consider the 17000 passenger day a great opportunity to visit one of the other near islands. Over many years, we have met a lot of visitors there who have come off the cruise ships and in fact, ran into a young honey-moon couple from a ship who wanted to know how to jump ship and stay on SXM. And funny thing, they were from CT about thirty minutes from where we live....I don't think they stayed over but you never know! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Frankly, if you're staying at a villa, why would you want to go ANYWHERE that day?? The traffic will be monumental, I would think. And again, not having to do with the QUALITY of persons, but the sheer number of them (speaking as a 30-some time cruiser myself). When we stay at a villa, we often plan entire days, or at the very least, until sunset, where we don't go anywhere. Plan some mimosas for breakfast, swim in the pool, sun, burgers or whatever on the grill for lunch, etc. Sounds lovely to me!!!

Exactly! Even though we stay at a resort and not a villa, on days where there are that many ships in we often don't venture far from home until the evening when all the chaos clears up. It has nothing at all to do with the fact that the folks are coming off of ships, just the sheer number of people on the roads and beaches is overwhelming.

...and when you've got your own private villa, how is that a sacrifice???

No matter how many ships are in port, just in my experience, very few if any cruisers go to Baie Rouge, Plum Bay, Long Bay, Anse Marcel, or Cupecoy - more go to Pinel than those I think. Of course, if you do want to go to Anguilla, Saba, or Statia a busy cruise ship day is a great day to go.

Thanks Carol, I think that may be the best choice!
Nothing against "cruisers", just crowds. That's why we've never taken a cruise.

B/t/w, if anyone is looking for an awesome villa in the Orient area, this will be our fourth stay at Villa Belle Vue. We love it! More info below:

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p929829
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gkXCx4c6Vw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0STcyH3rck

The villa looks awesome! Sounds like a plan to me -- villa day!!!

I agree!! but I guess some people like to venture out during the day. When we are at BSV that is the ONLY place I want to be!! Our time there is always too short! BUT we have our favorite restaurants/bars that we have to visit. I have never been on a cruise but can understand wanting to avoid crowds on cruise ship day, especially with 7 in! For us, Sunset Beach Bar and Philipsburg are just a couple of those places that we avoid when too many ships are in. But maybe I should just say there are too many people there to make it enjoyable for us!

I'm with you! When I'm at BSV, I have no desire to be anywhere else during the day, other than an occasional trip to Mullet.

Gorgeous place. If I was going with others, wow! I am looking around for something much simpler for just the two of us this next trip.

We also stay there when it is just my wife and I, at a serious discount. Ask for a quote...