July 2010 - Eastern Caribbean Cruise / Saint Maarten

Group photo at Saint Maarten port

Our ship from St Maarten beach

Anette, Terri and Larry enjoying a cool drink

Terri and Larry at St Maarten welcome sign

Our cruise ship (on the right) at St Maarten port

Saint Maarten Port of Call

Our first port of call was Saint Maarten Netherland Antilles. According to legend, the island of St. Maarten was divided when a Frenchman and a Dutchman, standing back to back, started off in opposite directions around the island until they met. Whether the Dutchman's beer slowed him down we do not know, but the Frenchman walked fast enough to claim 21 square miles of the island, to the 16 square miles for the Dutch. This lively tale says much about the the unique nature of St. Maarten, capital of the Dutch Leeward Island group. No formal boundaries exist between the Dutch and French side; a simple welcome sign tells you when you cross from one country to the other. But the differences are as noticeable as the spelling of the names (the French call it St. Martin), and their distinctive personalities add to the charm of this Caribbean hideaway. It adds to the gastronomical delight of visitors as well, with restaurants that enjoy an international reputation for their cuisine.

While in port Terri and Anette went on a shopping spree to get all the "free" stuff that Terri was entitled to receive because she bought the shopping book onboard. In the end I think we all determined that the "free" stuff wasn't really all that free. Larry and Bill found a comfortable shaded spot on the boardwalk to sip cold beers. Kimberly and Catherine enjoyed the white sandy beach which was right off the boardwalk. Overall an enjoyable port of call (even if we didn't really do or see very much).