disney cruise excursions st maarten

Visiting St. Maarten on Disney Cruise Line

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One of the frequent ports of call for Disney Cruise Line can be found at Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten. Saint Maarten is usually found on Eastern Caribbean itineraries as well as Southern Caribbean itineraries. The island is split into two territories, the first of which is owned by The Netherlands, where the ship docks, and the second part which is French.

The cruise ship terminal in Phillipsburg is large, busy and well maintained. There are frequently many ships docked there at once. For those who are interested in getting off the ship just to walk about for awhile, Saint Maarten has good facilities. There is a shopping area set up at the port with many of the same stores you will find throughout the Caribbean. In this same area, there are taxis and tour buses available to take you all over the island, whether you’ve booked a tour through the ship or not. If you have not pre-booked an excursion, there are many options for tours which you can secure after getting off of the ship. Car rentals are also available from Phillipsburg. However, keep in mind that traffic jams are common on Saint Maarten, especially when there are many ships in port.

Disney Magic docked in Phillipsburg

Shopping is a popular activity on the island, both on the Dutch and French sides of the island. The shipping areas in Phillipsburg tend to be newer, but there is no shortage of shopping in the French city of Marigot, which is full of charming shops and eateries. The currency on St. Maarten is the Euro, but most shops will accept the U.S. dollar (albeit at their own exchange rate). Some of the popular items to purchase on St. Maarten are jewelry, linens, liquor and tobacco.

Beautiful Marigot

With mild weather year round, St. Maarten is also a popular destination for beach-goers. Since the island is surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, there are many different beach options whether you’re looking for bigger waves, a quieter sea, a solitary spot or a busy beach scene.

The most popular beaches seem to be on the French side of the island, including the famous Orient Bay, which is full of vendors and restaurants. Another very popular spot is the tiny Maho Beach- located just outside the fence for St. Maarten’s airport, there are incredible views at Maho Beach of the planes taking off/landing at the airport- right over your head. Be warned, on St. Maarten, topless and even nude beach-goers can be found, though they are not the norm on all beaches.

For those looking to experience something a little more unusual, one of the fun tours offered on Saint Maarten is a jeep tour, which allows participants to drive all over the island in a convoy of jeeps. This tour gives you the opportunity to see much of inland Saint Maarten, as well as affording passengers some time to visit the beaches and towns along the way.

driving across the border

taken from our jeep tour

Alternatively, there are many boat tours available on the island, which offer snorkeling and private beach experiences. My family’s favorite tour of St. Martin was actually a speed boat tour which took us all around the island and gave us time at several beaches and snorkeling areas as well as lunch.

Starting up the speed boat

There is so much to see and do at St. Maarten that you really can’t go wrong. Just pick what appeals to you most and enjoy the island life!

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St. Maarten Excursions: Top Things to Do

✔ Stunning white-sand beaches

✔ Duty-free shopping

✔ Mouth-watering cuisine

✔ Award-winning rum

✔ Two countries on one island

The “Friendly Island” has it all and you can experience it firsthand when in port for a St. Maarten excursion. Known for its laidback Caribbean vibe and stylish European appeal, this primo travel destination holds the Guinness World Record for “smallest inhabited island shared between two nations.” With French-owned Saint Martin on the north end and Dutch-owned Sint Maarten on the south side, there is plenty to see and do on shore when you cruise to St. Maarten.

To help you properly plan before a Caribbean vacation at sea, here are the top St. Maarten excursions that make visitors fall in love with this half-Dutch, half-French paradise time and again.

St. Maarten Excursions for Adventurers

• 12 Metre Challenge — Race like a sailing pro aboard the 12 Metre Regatta, a one-of-a-kind offshore experience that lets you feel the thrill of an America’s Cup racecourse aboard a real America’s Cup yacht. No sailing experience required!
• Rainforest Adventures — Head to Rainforest Adventures for the ultimate adrenaline rush, where you’ll take the Sky Explorer chair lift to one of St. Maarten’s highest mountains. Whiz back down on the world’s steepest zip line (The Flying Dutchman), and surf the slopes on the first waterless tube ride in the Caribbean.
• Tri-Sport Bike Tours —Tri-Sport provides historical bike tours that guide visitors through the rich history of the island. Explore the capital town of Philipsburg, cross the island’s French/Dutch border, and peruse the Marigot Market.

St. Maarten Excursions for Beach Bums

• Maho Beach — The airplane flyovers at Maho Beach are one of the most famous attractions on all of St Martin. With the pristine beach located just past the Princess Juliana International Airport, visitors can soak up the island sun while feeling the roar of jet engines passing right over their heads. It’s an experience not to be missed and a prime location for that Insta-worthy post!
• Orient Bay — The shores of Orient Bay are lined with restaurants, water sports rental facilities, and bewitching island beach bars. Chase your troubles away while sipping on a rum-soaked cocktail or ice-cold Carib beer. Heads up, though: Orient Bay Beach is the most famous clothing-optional beach in the Caribbean.

St. Maarten Excursions for Aquaholics

• Sea Trek — Walk underwater by way of Sea Trek’s helmet diving tours, which allow anyone over the age of eight years old to go beneath the surface while breathing normally (and keeping their hair dry!). You don’t even need to know how to swim to enjoy this unique activity.
• Snorkeling Tour — Enjoy a scenic powerboat ride to off-the-beaten-path beaches and the best snorkeling spots in St. Maarten, including Creole Rock, Happy Bay, Pinel Island, and Tintamarre. Kick up your fins and feast your eyes on underwater wonderlands, teeming with unspoiled reefs, tropical fish, and sea turtles.
• Catamaran Sail — Set sail aboard a private catamaran for a scenic passage to places only accessible by boat. Or, wait until the evening and embark on a champagne sunset catamaran cruise.
• Aqua Mania Adventures — This local water sports company supports an array of activities that allow visitors to truly make a splash! Choose from jet ski tours, scuba diving, and half-day excursions to neighboring islands. You can even snorkel through Little Bay’s Underwater Sculpture Park, a breathtaking eco-attraction with a trail of over 300 artificial reef sculptures.

St. Maarten Excursions for Foodies

• Grande Case — Come see why the bustling harbor of Grande Case is nicknamed the “Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean.” Bring your appetite and tempt your taste buds with the island’s local flavors and authentic French, Caribbean, and Creole dishes.
• Emilio’s — Located within the historical heritage site of Rockland Estate, Emilio’s is the island’s newest and finest dining establishment. The award-winning restaurant takes its tag line, “Dine with History,” seriously, which is obvious from the moment you arrive. The four-course tasting menu features French-Caribbean fusion dishes made from local ingredients and an extensive wine list to create the ultimate culinary experience.
• Topper’s Rhum Tasting — Discover how handcrafted rums are fermented, distilled, and filtered while touring the 6,000-square-foot distillery. Then, embrace your inner Jack Sparrow with unlimited samplings of six signature rums and St. Maarten’s world-famous rum cake. You can even learn how to cook with rum at Topper’s award-winning restaurant.

St. Maarten Excursions for Shopaholics

• Philipsburg — Stroll the streets of Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch Sint Maarten, to enjoy some duty-free shopping. Be sure to pay a visit to the Guavaberry Emporium for colorful photo ops and to purchase some locally produced rum for your thirsty friends back home.
• Barts — Step aboard a high-speed ferry for some fine dining and upscale retail therapy along the lavish streets of St. Barts, which has become a popular vacation destination among celebrities and A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld, Paris Hilton, Paul McCartney, and Mariah Carey.

St. Maarten Excursions for Nature Lovers

• Horseback Riding — Novice and expert riders alike can enjoy trotting along St. Maarten’s nature trails that lead to hidden coves and magnificent waterfalls.
• Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary — Home to over 180 vibrant bird species from all around the world, Parotte Ville encourages sanctuary visitors to feed the feathered friends and take pictures with them.
• Nature Reserve — An idyllic retreat for flora and fauna enthusiasts, St. Maarten’s Nature Reserve boasts a diverse ecosystem that includes mangroves and wetlands. Set off on a guided tour or, for a more hands-on experience, join the protective efforts by participating in activities such as counting birds, planting mangroves, and regulating invasive species.

There is so much to see and do when you cruise to St. Maarten and something to satisfy everyone in your party. Whether you choose to spend your days unwinding under the Caribbean sun, searching for new adventures, soaking up the local culture, or enjoying your own perfect mix of all three, incredible St. Maarten memories are just waiting to be made by you and your crew.

To capture your own unforgettable memories on a cruise to St. Maarten, visit Cruises.com — we can help you book the smart way! We give you our exclusive bonus offers and all qualifying cruise line offers , plus all of the cruise line loyalty program benefits . Book online at Cruises.com for the largest selection of cruise line deals or call 800-288-6006 today.

Related:  Best Caribbean Beaches to Visit on a Caribbean Cruise

Author: Kaitlyn Nakagoshi

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I am a mom who loves all things Disney, but especially Disney Cruises! I enjoy sharing everything I have learned and hope that it will help others plan their own vacations.

What We Did in St. Maarten

June 5, 2015 by Disney Cruise Mom 8 Comments

ETA 3/15/18:  Unfortunately, it appears that Top Secret Private Excursions is no longer in business as their website is no longer working and they haven’t had a review on TripAdvisor since March 2017.

While we were on our 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic in October 2014 we stopped in the port of St. Maarten.  We decided to spend the day on a private boat charter with Top Secret Private Excursions.  They have excellent reviews on Trip Advisor and the owner, Myles, was very nice and helpful before the cruise via email.  I really liked the fact that he didn’t require a deposit and allowed us to pay in cash the day of the excursion.  This way, I didn’t have to worry about giving out my credit card number and what might happen in the event that the ship was not able to make it to port that day.

The scenery was beautiful when we pulled into the port that morning:

Once we got off the ship, we walked through the port area and straight to the water taxi as Myles had instructed.  Along the way we took the obligatory photo in front of the St. Maarten sign:

The water taxi was easy to find right in the port area and I think it cost $7 per person for the whole day.  They gave us a green wristband to wear.  During the ride, one of my girls was resting up for the busy day ahead:

We got off at the first stop which was at Bobby’s Marina and immediately saw the Top Secret boat.  It looked like Myles and his first mate Danny were still prepping things so because we were about 20 minutes early, we hung back and waited at a little seating area.  After about 5 minutes, Myles and Danny came over, introduced themselves and told us we could go ahead and get started!  The led us onto the boat and showed us around.  It was a really nice boat and down below had a living area, kitchen area, bedroom and bathroom.  It was air conditioned too.   There were also 3 or 4 areas up above where we could hang out.  Soon, we began sailing out of the harbor:

Here is the little boat being towed behind us.  We used this later for tubing:

As we were heading out of the harbor Myles asked us what we would like to do that day.  I told him we wanted to snorkel, go tubing, play on a beach, and see the huge airplane (which I think was an Airbus A340) land at Maho Beach, which only happens once a day.  So, we headed to our first stop which was snorkeling.  During the ride, Myles told us all about a big hurricane that had hit the island a few weeks prior and how he was still in the process of repairing his roof.  There was quite a bit of damage all over the island, some of which we would see later.  We soon arrived at the snorkeling spot and Myles got us all set up with our snorkel gear.  We happened to be right next to an area where people do snuba, so there were some neat things underwater for us to see.  Here is the sunken ship:

Here is Myles swimming down to pick up a sea urchin for the girls to hold:

FYI, you can read all about my favorite waterproof camera here .

More underwater stuff:

We saw a stingray swim under us!

After snorkeling, Myles suggested sailing over to the French side of the island for a little sightseeing.  The girls and I decided to ride up front:

There was a rain shower in the distance, but it never came our way:

We passed a lot of impressive beach front estates, and Myles told us that Donald Trump had recently bought this one:

My older two sat way at the front and enjoyed the scenery:

While my youngest did this:

I guess all that snorkeling wore her out!  It was so nice of Myles to toss her a couch pillow to use up front.  He was a really cool guy.  When we arrived at the French side of the island, we immediately noticed all of the damage from the hurricane.  There were so many boats pushed up on the beach.  I asked Myles how they were going to get them back into the water and he said he had no idea.  Apparently it had been a really long time since a storm this bad had hit the island and this type of damage had occurred:

After our nice sail to the French side Myles took us to a secluded little cove where we were going to go tubing with Danny while Myles cooked lunch.  Here is Myles dropping the anchor:

My youngest was still doing this:

So, we woke her up and the older two got into the tube:

The other 3 of us got into the jet boat with Danny and we were moving pretty fast!  We had to hang on tight:

This was our view of the boat while we were tubing:

Myles actually had a grill on the back of the boat and was grilling our lunch here.  If you look closely at the picture above you can see it.  Here is another view of the boat where you can see the grill on the very back:

Here are a few more tubing pictures:

When we finished tubing, we got back on board to enjoy lunch.  I wish I had taken better pictures of it, but this is the only one I got:

After lunch, we used the jet boat to get over to the little beach right beside us.  My youngest two and I spent some time playing in the waves and discovering things while my husband took our oldest snorkeling along the rock wall.  Myles told us that he had seen octopus on that wall before so they were hoping to find one (they didn’t).  Here they are preparing to go in:

Playing on the beach:

They found a shell but nothing was inside:

They also found a small cave but didn’t go in:

And right outside the cave they found this:

Don’t worry, we didn’t touch it or even get very close to it.  I zoomed in to take this photo.  It was HUGE!  I would estimate that the wing span was in the 8 – 12 inch range.  Here is another view of our boat from the beach:

And one of my favorite pictures from the entire vacation:

After we got back in the boat, it was time to head over to Maho Beach to watch the big Airbus A340 land.  For some reason I stopped taking pictures at this point, but I did get some great video of several planes landing.  They were all pretty small planes until we saw the Airbus approaching.  Here is the video:

It was amazing to be right under the plane like that.  My video camera was not zoomed in at all.  This was something that I had been looking forward to since we booked the cruise and I am so glad that Myles timed everything just right.

After the airplanes, it was time to head back to the harbor and get back to the ship.  Once we were back, we settled our bill and said our goodbyes.  It was a short walk back to the water taxi and then after that, a short walk back to the ship.  It was a fantastic day!

If you would like to read about some of our other shore excursions, you can do that here .

As always, don’t forget to like me on Facebook ( click here ) and follow me on Pinterest ( click here ) and Instagram ( click here ) for all of the latest Disney Cruise Mom Blog updates!

June 5, 2015 at 12:18 pm

That excursion sounds fabulous! Remind me to have you act as our trip planner if our family ever gets the opportunity to cruise again.

June 6, 2015 at 7:02 am

Sure thing! I love planning excursions!

April 17, 2016 at 10:24 pm

Wow- that beach is like something out of a movie! Love your girls’ coordinating swimsuits – SO adorable!

April 18, 2016 at 8:47 am

Thanks Katie!!!

November 28, 2016 at 11:40 pm

Great blog on excursions. About to take our first cruise next week on the Dream. St. Maarten and Maho Beach is something I’ve always wanted to see. Maybe that can be a future cruise for us.

Thought I’d also tell you the Air France plane is an Airbus A340, no a Boeing 747.

Looks like you all had a blast.

November 29, 2016 at 9:16 am

Glad you’re enjoying the blog! Thanks for the correction, I’ll get that updated. I think I just read a few weeks ago that the Airbus A340 will no longer be flying to St. Maarten. 🙁 Even without it, Maho Beach is still a sight to see and I hope you manage to get there one day!

March 14, 2018 at 11:28 pm

Is this company still available? Just found out we are sailing to st. Maarten in may off Disney fantasy and can’t seem to find this company’s website if info to book/pricing?

March 15, 2018 at 9:56 am

I just spent some time looking online and their web page no longer works and there hasn’t been a review on Trip Advisor since March 2017. So, it appears that they are no longer in business, which makes me sad because it was such an amazing day!!! I think I may have seen on Facebook a while ago that Myles moved back to Canada so maybe that has something to do with it, I don’t know. I’ll update the blog post shortly. I have heard good things about Souliga Destinations though….

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Bernard’s Tours, A Fantastic Non-Disney Port Adventure in St Maarten

When we visited St Maarten this past June on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the [Disney_Fantasy], we booked a non-Disney Port Adventure with Bernard’s Tours .  We signed up as part of a larger group, but the tour we took was similar to the current SXM Island Tour II , a beach sightseeing and shopping centric tour.  So why venture off on your own?  Quite simply, it can be much cheaper as well as more customizable. As you will see below, we were not disappointed in the least!

We pre-registered online by sending our names, the number in our party, the date, and the ship directly to Bernard. We also let him know that we were part of a larger tour group aboard the ship, as we wanted to book the tour as a cohesive unit. We then paid $40 per person at the pier upon arrival.  Below is a copy of the confirmation email we were sent:

Thank you for choosing Bernard’s Tours.Your reservation is for our standard Group Tour and we will be meeting you at  9:00 AM right in front of the Yellow Building at the Information Center next to the Claude Wather Statue. Please walk up to the Information Center and ask for Bernard.  We are located at about a three minute walk on the pier (from the ship to the  Information Center). Have a great day and we are committed to making your day in Paradise the best it can be. We greatly appreciate your business and look forward to meeting you. Group Tour $40 per person pay upon arrival. We accept payment by Cash, Master Card, Visa and Discover Credit Card….. PLEASE BE ON TIME BECAUSE TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT …. PLEASE CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THIS E-MAIL   … Thanking you in advance.. Bernard.

*Note:  since we did this tour, Bernard has updated his website and tour information and goes about it a little differently now.  There are now two different tours to choose from, as well as a deposit being required at the time of reservation.

This seems to be a good spot to stick in my disclaimer.  It is really important for me to point out that Bernard’s Tours is NOT a Disney Port Adventure.  First and foremost, you are on your own, if something happens and the ship must leave early or your excursion runs late, you will be left behind.  The other aspect of venturing out on a non-Disney Port Adventure is that they have not vetted the tour operator.

This was our first time on our own, and I’d be lying to you if I said I was not worried.  My biggest fear is watching the ship sail away while we are returning to the pier.  If you do not believe the ship will leave you behind, just search YouTube .  My concerns were eased as the first question we were asked was: “What time do we need to be back to the ship?”  Plus, we were taking this tour with around 15+ other families sailing on the Fantasy.  At least if something would have happened, we would have been in good company!

The meeting point was just a short walk from the pier.  We were greeted by Bernard himself. We then proceeded to the window to pay for the tour.  The Information Center does have public restrooms, and I would suggest using them before you board the bus as it will be about 90 minutes until you have another opportunity.

Our group was split up between a few air conditioned buses.  We tried to stick together with a few of the families that we knew and made our way over to the van where we met our tour guide, Sugar !  Once everyone was settled, we were off on our journey.  To our surprise, Sugar provided bottled water, juice packs, Presidente Beer, Coke, Diet Coke, and Sugar’s Homemade Spiked Guava Drink (essentially a guavaberry rum punch) all in a cooler for us to enjoy!

Iguana Farm

Our first stop on the tour was an Iguana farm for approximately 10-15 minutes.  At first, we just saw a few iguanas in the bushes. Once Sugar pulled out a bag of romaine lettuce, it was like a scene from Ratatouille –  but with a bunch of iguanas!  The iguanas converged on our group, as they apparently knew it was feeding time.

Sugar’s said that they really go wild for bananas, and luckily someone in the group had one to share.  Boy did those iguanas go crazy like a kid on Christmas morning!  Some of these iguanas were HUGE!!!   I had an iguana as a kid, but even the smallest one at the farm was bigger than my guy ever got (at least before I gave him to a new family).

As we were heading back to the bus, we noticed some pens which were not part of the Iguana farm tour.   These happened to be the home for roosters and as it turns out, St Maarten has a long standing tradition of cock fighting.

Observatory of Coralita

After a brief drive, we arrived at the theo Observatry of Coralita, a protected nature site co-financed by European Union and the French Government.  Walking from the bus to the shore you need to be careful walking up and down the slope as the ground made up of loose gravel and in some places pretty slippery.  The rocky shoreline was beautiful on this day.

Just near the shore, Sugar was able to picked up this huge star fish and sea urchin to pass around to our group.

As we went back to board our tour vans, we noticed two people off on a beach horseback riding. Sugar mentioned that this was a very common thing on the island for locals to do, not just something that tourists do. While we were driving away, the riders rode the horses into the water! It was a very pretty sight to observe! The kids certainly loved it as well. Sugar told us that they were talking the horses in to cool off on the warm June day.

Orient Bay Beach

As we were heading over to Orient Bay Beach, Sugar said it was time to customize our tour. To be honest, I loved this part and I think that this is something great about hiring a private tour company. Our longest stop of the tour was suppose to be at Orient Beach.  He gave us a choice and told us that if we spent the entire allotted 90 minutes at Orient Bay, that we would miss a large jet arrival at Maho Beach later. He said it was completely up to us, that we would still be given beach time, it would just be more split between the two beaches instead of a longer time at one over the other. All but 2 people on the the tour bus agreed with this, and the majority ruled. After all, personally, the main thing we wanted to see was the beach with the planes!

We drove into the Orient Bay area and Sugar informed us that we were passing a part of the beach the was totally clothing-optional.  He did warn us that although the area we were going to was more of a family beach, it was permissible to be topless, and that we should not be surprised.  We were given about 45-60  minutes to enjoy the sights the beach had to offer.  The was quite an interesting stop to say the least.  Prior to our arrival, Sugar informed us that we would be setting up shop at Brother’s, a local eatery and bar on the beach. We had free use of the umbrellas, and we could also rent a lounge chair at Brother’s for $5.  The arrangement also included the use of the restroom, but let’s just say it was not the best option for the women and children in the group.  Maybe, by now, they have fixed the plumbing issue that had turned it into a hybrid bathroom-shower.

The beach was beautiful with crystal clear blue water you expect to find in the Caribbean.  However, we did not bring any bathing suits or towels with us.  To be honest, we actually didn’t know what to expect with the tour, as on a previous tour in Grand Cayman, it included a beach stop , which was just that – a beach stop (we were there for like 10 minutes to take pics and leave, no swimming).  It ended up being OK, as there really wasn’t any place to rinse the salt water off after swimming, and there were still several places to stop once we were through. Our daughter was content to play in the sand, while we stood there under an umbrella, watched her and took pictures.   One that that did get a little old fairly quickly were the number of people walking up and down the beach offering hair braiding and trying to sell us things.  We told them “no thank you” politely, but it seemed like it was never-ending.   Of note, the clothing optional resort, Club Orient, is located at the top of the picture below.

Occasionally, beach walkers would pass by providing additional sightseeing opportunities that you would not expect on a Disney Cruise.  This may be something you want to take into consideration and discuss with your children before you arrive.  During our time on the beach, there was just a handful of women opting to pass on the bathing suit tops.

Our next stop was to Marigot, the capital on the French side of St. Martin.  The popular place to visit in Marigot is Sarafina’s, a  Bakery and Pastry Shop, which also serves sandwiches and ice cream.  There was a very wide selection of things to get.  Many of our fellow cruisers on the tour got something to eat there, and everything did look delicious.  One of the families even brought Sugar back his favorite pastry, and he was very thankful for that!!  There are also decent public restrooms available at this stop.  Near our bus stop, street vendors were set up selling their wares in an area very close to where our bus was parked, and some families did go over there to explore.

Our next stop was Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St Martin.  Sugar did an excellent job of getting us there and rushing us over to the beach before the big jet came in (as not all of the tour groups did get there in time; I wonder if it has to do with perhaps a longer time at Orient Bay beach).  I had been looking forward to visiting Maho Beach just about as much as the cruise itself (ok, that is a bit of a stretch, but somewhat true).  Maho Beach is best known as the beach with the airplanes.  The Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is located just across the street from the beach and arriving aircraft get as close to the beach as possible.  In fact, I cannot even believe it is legal to be that close to an arriving airplane.

The families swam in the water and played on the beach here.  We thought that this beach was even prettier than Orient Bay. Sure, there weren’t any beach chairs, and there was a steep drop off from the top down to the beach, but the water here was even prettier and the water super calm (plus, the planes provide much better sights!).  There was a bar/restaurant down at the end of the beach, but the action with the planes being directly overhead happens more centrally.  Here’s a disclaimer from my wife: please be sure to reapply your sunscreen multiple times; we did and we didn’t even swim.  In fact, I felt that every time I turned around she was making us reapply, but in the end, it was worth it. It’s especially important here at Maho because there were no umbrellas or any kind of sun shade or protection.  Later that day back on board the ship, we saw several of the families we were with and they had crispy sunburned faces, shoulders, chests and arms — ouch!!

While arriving planes are cool, departure can be equally as fun depending on the size of the airplane.  The bigger the plane, the more you will feel the push standing behind the engines during takeoff.  Below is a short video I shot of the largest plane that departed SXM during our time at Maho.

If you are going to visit Maho Beach for the airplanes, make sure you check the online arrival and departure times .  If you have an iOS device and are not worried about international data charges, check out the FlightTrack app ( basic version ).

Needless to say, this was my favorite stop on the tour.  Next time, I hope to see some more of the larger planes.

A Fantastic View

Maho Beach was the last major stop on our group tour, but we were given the opportunity to stop at the general store to pick up cheap souvenirs or whatever else we needed.  Sugar referred to this as a local souvenir Walmart .  Only 2 people on our tour wanted to stop, so he dropped them off at the store to shop while he drove the rest of us back to the pier. By this time, it was about 2pm.  Several of us had young children who were tuckered out by the day’s events, and one family had to get to their appointment in the BBB for their two kids to get their pirate make overs for pirate night.  Neat thing about Sugar – he went back to pick them up after dropping the rest of us off at the cruise pier instead of making them find their own way back.  I thought that was a nice touch considering he technically could’ve just made us all wait in the van while they shopped instead of making two stops back to the ship.  Sugar was excellent, and you could tell he really loved kids, as he could tell they were exhausted from all the fun of the day!!

Our Guide “ Sugar “

Our tour guide, Sugar , really did a great job and if you can, be sure to request him as your guide. Be sure to take some cash along to tip your guide at the end if you feel that they deserve it. I can tell you implicitly that Sugar did a superb job, was completely appropriate, and did not disappoint!!

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the island through Bernard’s Tours.  We would not hesitate to recommend them, and would certainly take a tour with them again.  As far as being back to the ship in time, no problem at all there!!! The ship didn’t leave until 6:30pm and even if we had decided to stop to shop, there still would’ve been plenty of time to spare! If you are interested in booking a tour, give Bernard’s SXM Tours a glace.

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10 Replies to “Bernard’s Tours, A Fantastic Non-Disney Port Adventure in St Maarten”

My wife and I were on the Sept 7 Disney Fantasy and went on the Bernards Tour. We had the best time and “Sugar” was also our tour guide. If I remember right he called the juice “Happy Juice” because after you had it you were very happy. The whole tour was outstanding and as commented above Sugar was extemely informative. We have recommended this to our friends and would do this tour in a heartbeat again.

Thanks for reminding me that it he called it Happy Juice!

Yes, James – us too! We are going back in March 2014 & wanted to just take a taxi to Maho beach only. We were thrilled to find out today that Bernard’s Tours now offers a Maho only tour for $25/person!!! Yay!!! Count us in!!! Can’t wait!!!

My husband, 6 year old son and I were on the Oct 19 Disney Fantasy (the one that went through Hurricane Sandy) and went on Benards Tour. We had visited St. Maarten 2 other times but never really explored the whole island. Through many reviews of Benards, we went for it and truly enjoyed our tour. It was very organized and had a great time with “Junior”. We highly recommend Benards and hope you would enjoy it as much as we did. Comfortable air conditioned buses, learned alot about the island, made several stops and enjoyed the guavaberry punch.

Not to be a downer but our experience with Bernard’s was less than magical. In fact it was probably my least enjoyable excursion to date on any cruise line. On the 9/22 Fantasy cruise we had someone besides Bernard as a tour guide who was neither engaging nor interesting. The process of “who was going in which van” was very confusing at the port. It was honestly kinda boring. It sounds like the driver you get makes ALL the difference…something to keep in mind since many seem very happy with Bernard’s. I wouldn’t use them again or recommend personally.

Thanks for your honest comment. I think you may be right in that it all comes down to the driver/guide. As mentioned, Sugar was very engaging and clearly enjoyed his job which made the tour more enjoyable.

Has anyone used Bernard’s Tours more than once? We’ll be on a Eastern Caribbean later in the year, and and are thinking about a trip to Maho and Serafina’s. Could this be done on the standard Maho ‘tour’? Thanks so much!

How did you find Bernards building? Im nervous that we will get lost trying to find it. Is it like a block away or more?

No – it’s super easy. Get off ship, turn right and it’s pretty much right there. Very easy.

We love SUGAR! Here now and he is the Best

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St Maarten Activities   For those who don't want to take part in an cruise-organised excursion, the following are a selection of activities you can enjoy at St Maarten. You'll usually save money over cruise-organised excursions to the same places, but might have to arrange your own transportation.   Fort St Louis Explore the largest historical monument on St. Maarten, overlooking Marigot Bay. This magnificent fort, built in 1767 by France's King Louis XVI, is steeped in history and provides an amazing view of the island. Mount Concordia Take to the trail on Mount Concordia! See where the original treaty dividing St. Martin and St. Maarten was signed by the French and the Dutch. Marigot Discover a small gem of a city, only four streets wide and filled with all the flavors and finery of a French market town. Enjoy cafes and pastry shops. Find designer fashions and jewelry in beautiful boutiques. Phillipsburg Tour Phillipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten. Founded in 1763 by John Philips, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy, it became a bustling center of international trade. Today it is as dynamic as ever, with fabulous shopping and captivating cafes. The Sint Maarten Museum reflects the history and culture of the island and its people from prehistoric to modern times. Butterfly Farm On the French side of the island, the Butterfly Farm features hundreds of rare and exotic butterflies in a tranquil atmosphere: beautifully landscaped, in a quiet garden with waterfall, ponds, Japanese fish and mystical music. Located in Le Galion area next to Bayside Riding stables. Click here for more details. Beaches With over 30 white sandy beaches on the island you'll be spoilt for choice! From romantic, deserted beaches to family friendly beaches you're sure to find one to suit you, there are even nudist beaches. I n general , the beaches to the east or winward side are windier, and the waters of the Atlantic are rougher. The leeward beaches to the west and southwest are calmer, facing the Caribbean Sea. Beaches on the Dutch St Maarten side include Dawn Beach, Guana Bay, Great Bay, Little Bay, Pelican Key, Simpson Bay and Mullet Bay. St Maarten Park Zoo The St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden, themed to the animals and plants of the Caribbean and South America, houses more than 100 animals of 35 species and more than 100 plant species. It's the largest park of its kind in the Caribbean and includes a large playground for children. Located opposite Philipsburg at the northern edge of the Great Salt Pond. Click here for more details. Atlantis Submarines A variety of Atlantis Adventures St. Martin tours are offered. The Seaworld Explorer Semi Submarine Tour begins in Grand Case on the French side of the island. The semi submarine doesn't submerge, instead you descend into the vessel's hull and sit in air-conditioned comfort five feet below the surface. From there you'll see underwater gardens, coral reefs and tropical fish. The Rhino Rider Snorkel Adventure sees you zipping along in two-man inflatable motorboats. After riding by picturesque coastline, and discovering secluded beaches, you'll reach Creole Rock. There you can either snorkel the reef or just relax and soak up the sun. Visit the website for more details and to book. Half Day Snorkel Trips Sand Dollar is a great half day trip offering sightseeing, snorkelling and swimming. The cruise takes guests through the lagoon, along the beautiful coastline and up to Creole Rock, off Grand Case. Creole Rock is a large rock formation with a reef extending out towards to the mainland, about a mile offshore. Waters are shallow and calm and provide excellent snorkelling. The boat picks up a mooring in a large sandy patch, in about 8' of water. Visit the website for more details and to book Eagle Tours Eagle Tours is a charter company located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of St. Maarten. Catering primarily to the cruise ship industry, the tours are also available for any visitors to the island. With great facilities and fantastic crew on all the vessels, the tours are a fun and enjoyable way to see a side of the island that most visitors would miss. Several different tours available including sailing on the Golden Eagle catamaran, a coach tour to Marigot and power rafting tours. Visit the website for more details and to book  

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Cruise licensing training manager, adventures & expeditions, job summary:.

Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions offer immersive, guided travel experiences for families, friends, individuals, and couples to explore the world’s greatest destinations. Building on a legacy of over 135 years, National Geographic Explorers have ventured across continents, remote cultures, ocean depths, and towering mountains. National Geographic Expeditions extends this legacy, allowing travelers to embrace their inner explorer and witness the wonders of the world up close and in depth. With Signature Land, Expedition Cruise, River Cruise, or Private Jet options, National Geographic Expeditions provides unparalleled access to the world with knowledgeable Experts. Additionally, every trip booked supports the global nonprofit National Geographic Society, contributing to the work of National Geographic Explorers worldwide in protecting and illuminating our world through exploration, research, and education.

The Cruise Licensing Training Manager for Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions will oversee guest facing training for our Expedition Cruise. You will deliver National Geographic training to all Expedition Cruise staff who engage with guests. This ensures that the National Geographic brand is effectively conveyed, maintaining high standards of education during both onboard and onshore excursions, as well as in photography. Leveraging existing training processes and manuals from other product lines like Land Licensing, you will ensure best in class delivery for the Expedition Cruise experience. Frequent domestic and/or international travel may be required based on business needs .

The Cruise Licensing Training Manager will report to the Senior Manager - Expedition Cruise Licensing and sits in Celebration, FL.

Responsibilities:

Oversees the daily operations of NGE’s Expedition onboard guest interaction, operated by Licensee staff, ensuring the highest levels of guest satisfaction, while becoming an expert in the history and values of National Geographic and specifically, the National Geographic Society and its mission.

Collaborate with internal talent teams to ensure that National Geographic's talent (including experts and photographers) is recommended to and sourced by the licensee, ensuring that their content aligns with the destinations visited and is presented in a cohesive format.

Partner with Licensee (Lindblad Expeditions) to ensure that educational experiences, such as Lectures, Excursions, and Citizen Science projects, are delivered in alignment with National Geographic brand values and tailored to the destination visited, developing online and offline training materials as necessary.

 Coordinate efforts to prioritize photography as a key benefit on NG Expedition cruises, while also ensuring that staff are equipped with the necessary training to provide photography guidance to guests of all levels.

Ensure all staff are appropriately branded while engaging with both colleagues and materials like PowerPoint presentations and handouts.

Monitor all feedback provided by Licensee, Guests, and Talent teams and take necessary action as needed.

Offers training assistance to other departments such as National Geographic Journeys when necessary.

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4+ years experience in staff training, hospitality/tourism, or project management, (preferably in the travel and expedition space) or related fields, including overseeing guest interaction and ensuring high levels of satisfaction.

Familiarity with both domestic and international travel (preferred in travel touring or cruise industry).

Strong partnering, influencing, communication, and relationship-building skills, at all levels.

Ability to effectively collabo rate with internal teams, including talent teams, to ensure the sourcing of appropriate talent and content that aligns with National Geographic's standards and values.

Proficient in developing educational content and training modules for both online and offline mediums, with experience in facilitating and implementing training materials throughout organizations.

Ability to monitor and analyze feedback from various sources and address any issues or concerns.

Skilled in delivering confident and articulate presentations and educational sessions.

Understanding of 3rd party distribution/sales.

Exceptionally organized with strong project management skills.

Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Expedition Cruise Experience, ideally with onboard ship experience or guided tour expert experience to remote destinations.

Experience working with internal and external partners including licensees, legal, suppliers, and travel providers.  

Familiarity with the history, values, and mission of National Geographic and the National Geographic Society.

Previous experience as an Expedition Leader or Naturalist/Lecturer aboard Expedition Cruises.

Familiarity with crafting itineraries and implementing educational upgrades.

Passion for both Photography and the wonders of the natural world.

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High School diploma or equivalent required.

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Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits .

About Adventures by Disney:

Adventures by Disney is a leader in guided group family vacation experiences, offering itineraries to some of the most beautiful places on the planet including China, Australia, South Africa, Peru, England and France, as well as North American adventures in Alaska, the Rockies and more. Adventures by Disney takes families to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, delivering unmatched guest service by trained adventure guides and local experts, uncompromising attention to detail, and a bit of Disney magic every step of the way. Together, adventure guides and guests embark on adventures that enable them to interact with world cultures in exciting new ways.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Parks, and Experiences and Products. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Adventures by Disney ABD, LLC , which is part of a business we call Adventures by Disney .

Adventures by Disney ABD, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

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Welcome to StMaartenCruiseExcursions.com – Your Premier Destination for Unforgettable Adventures in St. Maarten and Beyond!

At StMaartenCruiseExcursions.com , we are dedicated to transforming your cruise stop in St. Maarten into an extraordinary experience filled with sun-kissed beaches, vibrant culture, and thrilling adventures. Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, St. Maarten is a dual-nation island with Dutch and French influences, offering a unique blend of European sophistication and tropical charm. Our team of travel enthusiasts has meticulously curated a selection of excursions that showcase the best of this Caribbean gem, and we extend our commitment globally with Excursions International, offering curated adventures beyond St. Maarten.

Our Journey: StMaartenCruiseExcursions.com was founded in 2005 with a deep love for St. Maarten’s unique charm and a desire to provide cruise passengers with immersive and memorable experiences. Our team, composed of seasoned travelers and local experts, is committed to ensuring that your time ashore is filled with the vibrant energy and cultural richness that define St. Maarten.

Why Choose StMaartenCruiseExcursions.com:

Local Expertise: We believe in showcasing the authentic beauty of St. Maarten. Collaborating with local guides and businesses, our excursions provide an immersive experience that reflects the island’s rich history, diverse culture, and natural wonders.

Diverse Adventures: Whether you’re exploring pristine beaches, snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, or experiencing the vibrant local scene, our diverse range of excursions caters to every traveler’s preferences, creating a personalized and enriching experience.

Customer-Centric Approach: Your satisfaction is our priority. From the moment you explore our excursions online to the time you reboard your cruise ship, our team is dedicated to ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Excursions International: StMaartenCruiseExcursions.com proudly introduces “Excursions International” – an extension of our commitment to extraordinary experiences beyond St. Maarten. Excursions International invites you to explore curated adventures in various international destinations, enhancing your cruise journey with a global touch.

Discover Beyond St. Maarten with Us: Excursions International opens the door to a world of possibilities. Whether you’re cruising through Central America, the Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean or venturing into other exotic locales, our global collection of excursions promises cultural enrichment and thrilling adventures.

Join us at StMaartenCruiseExcursions.com and Excursions International as we redefine cruise excursions, offering not just a glimpse into the beauty of St. Maarten but a passport to extraordinary adventures around the world. Your journey begins here, where every destination becomes an opportunity for new discoveries and lasting memories!

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Grand Cayman Excusions

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We guarantee a full refund of your excursion deposit if your ship can not make it into the port of St Maarten

St Martin Catamaran Excursions – $119us

St Maarten ATV Island Tour and Beach – $70us

St Maarten Catamaran Tour : Snorkeling, Beaches and Sailing – $125us

St Maarten Trail and Beach Horseback Riding Tour – $75usd

Three Island Snorkeling and Beach Adventure – $89us

St Maarten Island Tour & Parrot Sanctuary – $40usd

ATV Full Island Tour – $95us

St Maarten Private Catamaran Charter – From $1,500us

Rhino Riders Beach Adventure – $129us

St Maarten Waverunner Tours – $100us

Private Boat Charter: Snorkeling & Beach – From $1,125us

St Maarten Jeep Island Tour – $75us

St Maarten Jetski Rental with Beach Option – $60us

12 Themed Cruises You Should Have On Your Radar In 2024

T aking a cruise is an experience unlike anything else. Days at sea on a ship full of entertainment and relaxation make for a fantastic vacation. But what if you want even more from your cruise? A theme might be what's missing. In addition to all the usual cruise experiences, themed cruises allow fans of a particular artist, lifestyle, hobby (or even animal), to celebrate their passion on the high seas with activities, events, surprises, and sometimes special guests.

There are dozens of themed cruises on offer each year, usually hosted by major cruise lines like Norwegian , Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. But don't let their numbers fool you. According to  Business Insider , themed cruises are rapidly climbing in popularity, and some trips are selling out in record time. That means it's important to find your dream-themed cruise and reserve your tickets as early as possible.

Fortunately, even if they're sold out, most themed cruises will let you join a waiting list, so there's still hope! Here are 12 themed cruises that will set sail in 2024 and are well worth boarding, either now or the next time they hit the high seas.

Read more: Under-The-Radar Beaches You Need To Visit In The Caribbean

The Emo's Not Dead Cruise

If you truly know it's not a phase, the Emo's Not Dead Cruise is perfect for you. Gather with fellow emo fans for four days (and nights) of concerts, activities, and even a private party at Great Stirrup Kay in the Bahamas. Over a dozen bands will perform, including Yellowcard, Senses Fail, and Armor for Sleep. Alongside themed activities like a masquerade ball, cruisegoers can also enjoy surprisingly cheerful activities like a bellyflop competition in the ship's pool.

The first Emo's Not Dead cruise was in 2022. Cruisegoer and emo fan TheReelChris shared highlights on  YouTube , calling it "EPIC." Fans in the comments section agree, with Schecterplayer92 adding, "This was one of the best experiences of my life." With a killer lineup and entertaining activities scheduled, it seems like Emo's Not Dead 2024 will also be a rad experience. The cruise will be hosted on the Norwegian Pearl, leaving from Miami on February 26 and returning on March 1, 2024. But what would an emo-related cruise be without a little sadness? Unfortunately, the cruise is already sold out. If you're interested, you can  sign up for the waiting list  and hope.

Meow Meow Cruise

Some of us know that no matter how great a vacation might be, cats would make it even better. Meow Meow Cruise has solved that problem. While guests unfortunately aren't allowed to bring their own furry friends aboard Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, the four-day cruise will give them their feline fix in plenty of other ways. 

Activities include cat-themed trivia and a scavenger hunt. But the best part may be communing with fellow cat people (many of whom stroll around the ship wearing cat ears). You'll also be able to mingle with real cats -- one of 2024's ports of call is Key West, where you'll find the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum and its community of about 60 friendly polydactyl kitties, many of them descended from one of the author's own pets.

It's hard to find reviews for Meow Meow Cruise, but the fact that this themed cruise has been going on annually since 2015 speaks for itself. The 2024 Meow Meow Cruise sets sail from Miami on February 21, with a return date of February 25. Tickets are still available, but to be sure you don't miss out, consider booking right now.

In My Cruise Era

Sure, cruises are great — and cruising is a multi-billion dollar industry — but is anything more popular than Taylor Swift? For those who can't imagine anyone saying "no" to that question, there's no better cruise than In My Cruise Era. While not officially affiliated with Taylor Swift, this themed cruise is a passionate fan homage. Swifties will be able to dress up in their favorite Taylor-inspired looks, exchange friendship bracelets, perform their idol's songs during karaoke sessions, and more. We're also guessing there will be of lots impromptu song breaks throughout the ship from Taylor's extensive catalog.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas will host this cruise, which sets sail from Miami on October 21, 2024 -- which, as People Magazine points out, is one day after the Eras Tour will be in the city. Fans lucky enough to attend the concert can continue their Taylor euphoria for four more days on the high seas. Since this is a new themed cruise, there aren't any reviews, but based on the positive fan vibes from Eras Tour concerts and movie viewings, among other events, we're guessing it's going to be a great time for Swifties. Swifties must agree, since the cruise is already sold out. Cancellations do happen, though, so hopeful fans can join the waiting list.  Contact the cruise's organizers to sign up.

Disney's Halloween On The High Seas

Go on just about any cruise-related blog or website and you'll see that Disney Cruise Line's Halloween-themed cruise, officially called Halloween on the High Seas, is a popular favorite. As you probably expect from Disney, this themed cruise is perfect for a family vacation , so it's not too scary. The cruise is hosted on multiple Disney Cruise Line ships, and each one is decorated with the care and attention to detail you'll find in most Disney-related enterprises. The Pumpkin Tree is the highlight of the decor, with pumpkins that eventually appear on its branches and transform into lit and unlit jack o'lanterns.

Halloween on the High Seas also features Halloween activities (including a trick-or-treating night) and exclusive Halloween-themed desserts. Disney cruises in general are known for their opportunities to meet the studio's beloved characters, and during the Halloween on the High Seas cruises, some of those characters are in costume. Notably, Disney Cruise Line's official site tells us, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle Cow will be dressed as the Sanderson Sisters -- who wouldn't want to see that? 

This magical mixture of whimsy, fun, and exclusive opportunities is the perfect way to cast a spell on Disney fans of all ages. Luckily, Halloween on the High Seas is held during a number of different times in September and October, so you and your family should be able to find a place on board!

The Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise

Sure, Hallmark Channel Christmas movies might be a little on the cheesy side, but let's be honest: lots of us dream of being in one in real life. You can get a little of the real-life Hallmark movie experience by visiting some of the movies' filming locations , but now there's a way to have an even more immersive experience: The Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise.

Passengers will get to meet Hallmark Channel movie stars, attend panels and photo ops, and get to see a new Hallmark Christmas movie before its world premiere. Maybe best of all, passengers can take part in lots of Hallmark Christmas movie-inspired activities, including tree lighting and cookie decorating -- all while wearing their favorite ugly Christmas sweaters.

2024 is the first year of the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise. It was originally intended to be just one cruise, but a second one was added after the first one sold out. As of now, two Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruises are scheduled for 2024. Both go from Miami to the Bahamas and back and last four days in November. ... And both are sold out. But Christmas is a time of miracles, so if a Hallmark Channel Christmas experience on the high seas sounds like your dream come true, sign up for the waiting list as soon as you can!

Hurtigruten Northern Lights Cruises

Themed cruises are often about fandoms and hobbies. But Norway-based cruise line Hurtigruten offers a themed cruise that's about something even bigger: the Northern Lights . There are several Northern Lights-themed cruises out there, including some luxurious options by Cunard. Unfortunately, the Northern Lights aren't always visible, but Hurtigruten stands out by offering a Northern Lights Promise for cruises scheduled between September 26 and March 31 and lasting longer than 11 days. If the Northern Lights aren't visible during your cruise, they'll give you another one. So if you're serious about seeing the Aurora Borealis, this is the company to choose.

The Northern Lights are the focus of Hurtigruten's eponymous cruises, but there are also other things to do on board, including scientific lectures and photography lessons. There are excursions, too -- notably a dog sledding option. Passengers who've taken one of Hurtigruten's cruises unanimously praise the stunning fjords and landscapes you can admire from the ship and during excursions, not to mention their experiences of seeing the Northern Lights. Some warn that the ships aren't as luxurious or modern as many other cruise ships, primarily because Hurtigruten's ships are also functional vessels intended to transport and deliver mail to various points on the Norwegian coast. Still,  Cruise Critic reviewers like cmolaison praise the friendly crew, the surprising level of comfort, and the "stunning vistas" you'll see, saying he and his family "highly recommend" taking a Hurtigruten cruise.

Cruise & Crop Crafting Cruises

If the perfect vacation for you is a combination of R&R and crafting, you're in luck! There are several crafting-themed cruises. One of the most popular is organized by Cruise & Crop, with ships around the world hosting different crafting- and arts-themed trips. This makes them the most accessible themed cruises on our list, with different price ranges, departure points, itineraries, and ports of call. One thing all crafting cruises have in common, though, is groups of like-minded people exploring their creativity amid the other joys of cruising.

For instance, one of Crop & Cruise's 2024 offerings is a Mexican Riviera cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas, featuring scrapbooking and other papercraft classes taught by artist Barb Warne. The ship departs from Los Angeles on April 19, returning April 26. Many Cruise & Crop cruises sell out quickly, so if this idea has sparked both your wanderlust and your creativity, be sure to check their list of 2024 cruises and reserve as soon as you can.

Star Trek: The Cruise

For seven days and nights every year, thousands of Star Trek fans gather to be a part of a fandom extravaganza at sea. Star Trek: The Cruise is an experience that features celebrities aboard (2024's guests include LeVar Burton and Wil Wheaton, among many others), costume and cosplay events, and lots of fun activities. 

But what makes Star Trek: The Cruise truly unique is that audience participation is very much encouraged. Passengers and celebrity guests are all considered the crew of one great, big, intergalactic vessel. Passengers get to interact with the guest stars in events like karaoke battles, and stars share parts of their earthly lives with Q&A sessions and even glimpses at other projects they may be involved in.

The first Star Trek: The Cruise was held in 2017 and since then it's been a fan favorite. Star Wars and cruising aficionado Aaron Bossig writes on  Trek Movie.com that many fans go on the cruise every year, and proudly wear t-shirts from the previous ones. He calls Star Trek: The Cruise "an extra special convention experience." 2024's edition will be held on the Mariner of the Seas, departing from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 22 and returning on February 29.

Literature Festival At Sea

Once a year, aboard the legendary Queen Mary 2, passengers can mingle with writers, poets, journalists, and critics in a full-blown literary festival in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Literature Festival at Sea invites writers in all genres to host round table discussions, participate in Q&As revolving around their work and areas of expertise, host workshops, and converse with passengers.

Whether passengers want to participate as much as possible or just attend a few events, the Festival seems to be an excellent addition to a typical Queen Mary 2 voyage. On TripAdvisor , passenger Artemis C writes of her experience at a previous Literature Festival at Sea that "the whole week was a joy". 

2024's lineup features crime novelists, journalists, historians, and more, for what's sure to be a fascinating week of discussion and discovery. If you'd like to combine an elegant transatlantic cruise and a literary experience, 2024's Literature Festival at Sea will take place from November 13-20, departing from Southampton, U.K., and arriving in New York. Cunard has also launched an Australian Literature Festival at Sea, scheduled from December 11-16, 2024, on the Queen Elizabeth, which departs from and returns to Sydney. 

Chefs Making Waves

Many cruise lines are proud of their food offerings. Some cruises feature dishes created by world-famous chefs, and others even host food and wine festivals. But no culinary cruise event seems quite as, well, fun, as Chefs Making Waves. This culinary-themed cruise will set sail for the first time in 2024. Onboard will be a number of beloved celebrity chefs, including Anne Burrell and the Cake Boss himself, Buddy Valastro. Cooking demos and, of course, food tastings of all kinds (including sit-down meals, desserts, and street food) are on the menu. Best of all, Chefs Making Waves is an all-inclusive cruise, so everyone can eat and drink without having to pay extra!

There will be all of the usual cruise-related fun, from swimming to excursions, to help you work up an appetite. There will also be unique games, with some of the chefs participating in events like bingo and a celebrity chef sing-off. If this sounds like an awesome cruise, you're not the only one who feels that way. Chefs Making Waves will take place from March 25-29, departing from Miami with excursions in Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas ... and it's already sold out. But you can still  sign up for the waiting list . With a little luck, you'll be able to enjoy this delicious, themed cruise experience.

Soul Train Cruise

Imagine a festival with a lineup featuring some of the best soul and R&B acts of all time. Now imagine it's on a relaxing cruise ship. This dream is actually reality -- it's called the Soul Train Cruise. The popular themed cruise will be celebrating its 11th year in 2024 and the lineup is on fire. Dozens of groups and artists will perform, including The Temptations, Boyz II Men, and En Vogue. Passengers can also learn how to dance like people did back in the old school days of Soul Train's TV show, with lessons from some of the show's actual dancers. There will also be wine tastings, Q&A's, comedy shows, and a lot more.

With all of this on offer, it's no surprise that the Soul Train Cruise is sold out. But sign up on the waiting list and keep your calendar free from January 27-February 3, and you may get lucky. If you do, the cruise leaves from Fort Lauderdale, with ports of call in Tortola (British Virgin Islands) and St. Maarten.

The Gothic Cruise

The Gothic Cruise is an annual event held on an ordinary cruise ship. Goths mingle with "norms" but have their own private events on board, mostly DJ sets and concerts. There's also a masquerade ball, with Goths decked out in their finest Victorian-style garb ... as long as it meets ship safety requirements, that is. The cruise's website specifies that simulated weapons aren't allowed and notes that hoop skirts are fine for the ball but not in the ship's dining areas, "due to the close proximity of the tables". And yet, the Goth community thrives on these cruises -- and even gains norm fans along the way. 

In a Porthole Magazine article about the Gothic Cruise, longtime attendee Spike Pittman says that many mainstream passengers are wary of the Goths at first, "But by the end they're begging to get into our private events." Some even book their future cruises to coincide with the Gothic Cruise, even if they don't plan on attending every event. 

The Gothic Cruise has been held since 1989. Cruising doesn't seem very Goth, but in the end, the article points out, it comes down to what all themed cruises offer: a sense of community (in this case, one that often stays up all night and sleeps during the day). If this moves your little black heart, the 2024 Gothic Cruise will be held on the Norwegian Escape (but book through the Gothic Cruise's website for private event access), departing from Orlando on March 2, and returning March 9.

Read the original article on Explore .