Billy Bones St.Maarten Getaway for CRUISE SHIP GUESTS

The best thing about this St. Maarten boat trip is its variety. In about six hours, you can snorkel at Creole Rock, look for sea turtles near Tintamarre Island, stop at Pinel Island, eat a hot local lunch in Grand Case, and watch aircraft pass low over Maho Beach. It is a full day on the water, not a single beach stop.

I like the small maximum group of 20 and the way the crew adjusts the route when seas turn rough. I also like that lunch, snorkeling gear, flotation equipment, water, and an open bar are included, so the $139 price covers much more than a simple boat ride.

The main caution is the sea. The ride can be very bumpy, and rough water may shorten or change the planned stops. You also need to pay a separate $10 marine park or port fee, and private transportation is not included.

Key points to know before you book

• Four water stops are possible: Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, Pinel Island, and Baie Longue all bring a different kind of swim or snorkel break.
• The boat leaves from Bobby’s Marina: Start time is 10:00 a.m., and you return to the same meeting point.
• Lunch is part of the day: A hot meal is served at a local restaurant in Grand Case, with vegetarian food available if requested in advance.
• The crew keeps an eye on ship time: Cruise passengers must provide docking and re-boarding details when booking.
• Maho Beach is viewed from the water: The final stop offers a chance to watch aircraft land and take off near the famous airport beach.
• Weather controls the route: The captain may swap stops or reduce snorkeling time when conditions are unsafe.

A full day around St. Maarten by boat

This excursion is designed for cruise passengers who want more than a quick taxi ride to one beach. You meet at Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg, board the boat, and spend the day moving around the island’s coast and nearby waters.

The boat ride itself is part of the experience. The crew provides music, drinks, local information, and help in the water. Past crews have included captains and guides such as Sammy, Jim, Boy, AJ, Nico, Frankie, and Anthonie, though your exact crew will depend on the date.

The group limit of 20 matters. It does not make this a private charter, but it should feel more personal than a large ship excursion. The crew can pay closer attention to hesitant swimmers, help with flotation gear, and keep the schedule moving.

You should expect a lively day rather than a quiet sailing trip. There is an open bar with beer, rum punch, sodas, water, and other alcoholic drinks. The minimum drinking age is 21. If you prefer not to drink, the nonalcoholic options and bottled water are included.

Creole Rock brings the first serious snorkel stop

The first major stop is Creole Rock, described as one of the island’s best snorkeling sites. You have about 45 minutes here, with masks, snorkels, and flotation gear supplied.

The water may reveal fish, sea urchins, stingrays, and other marine life. Visibility depends on recent weather, so do not expect perfect conditions every time. Swells can make the water murky, and the crew may shorten the stop if the sea becomes unsafe.

This is a good place to use the flotation equipment even if you are a confident swimmer. You can focus on looking below the surface instead of working to stay afloat. Guides sometimes enter the water to help people who are nervous about snorkeling.

A moderate fitness level is required, but you do not need to be an expert swimmer. Still, this is not a sit-back-and-watch-the-coast tour. You will climb aboard and off the boat, swim or snorkel, and deal with a moving sea.

Tintamarre Island and the chance to see turtles

Tintamarre Island is scheduled as another 45-minute stop. The main attraction is snorkeling in water where sea turtles may be seen.

The wording matters: turtles are a possibility, not a guarantee. Wildlife sightings depend on conditions and luck. The stop is still worthwhile for the setting and the chance to swim away from the main beaches.

The route may change here. Rough seas have caused crews to replace Tintamarre with a calmer location, and that is the right call when water conditions are poor. A captain who changes the plan rather than forcing an unsafe stop is doing the job properly.

If Tintamarre is open, you may get one of the more memorable swims of the day. If it is not, the substitute stop can still offer time in the water. Pack your expectations around the experience, not a fixed checklist.

Pinel Island adds a beach break

Pinel Island gives the day a change of pace. After the open-water snorkeling stops, you have about 45 minutes for beach time and a chance to see the island’s famous pet iguanas.

The iguanas are part of the fun, but you should not treat the stop as a guaranteed wildlife encounter. The appeal is the mix of sand, shallow water, and a more relaxed shore break. Families often appreciate this part because not everyone wants to snorkel at every stop.

Pinel also works as a backup when Tintamarre is too rough. One excursion had only one suitable snorkeling stop because of the sea, but the Pinel beach stop helped keep the day varied.

Bring a secure place for your phone and camera. You will be moving between boat, water, and beach, and the open-bar setup means you may be carrying a cup or bottle while walking around.

Grand Case provides the main meal

The boat reaches Grand Case for about an hour, including lunch at a local restaurant. This is more substantial than a snack packed on board, and it gives you a break from the boat.

Meals described by the crew include choices such as barbecue ribs, chicken, fish, rice, grilled vegetables, and other local-style dishes. One useful detail is that lunch orders may be collected before arrival, helping reduce the wait once you reach the restaurant.

The food has been one of the strongest parts of the day. It is also where the value of the $139 price becomes clearer. A boat tour with several stops, drinks, gear, and a full restaurant meal can cost more when each part is purchased separately.

Vegetarian food is available, but you need to request it when booking. You should also report other dietary needs at that time. Do not wait until you sit down at the restaurant, since the meal planning happens ahead of the stop.

Grand Case is not just a refueling point. It gives you a taste of the island away from the cruise port, with a local meal in a setting known for food. The one caution is that the precise meal may change, especially if weather affects the schedule or the restaurant arrangement.

Baie Longue is a quick swim, not a long visit

Baie Longue is scheduled for about 10 minutes. That makes it a quick swim stop rather than a full beach visit.

Short stops can feel rushed, especially after snorkeling and lunch, but they also let the captain add another stretch of coast without sacrificing too much time. If you want to swim at every location, keep your gear ready and listen for boarding instructions.

The stop is also a reminder that this is a moving sightseeing route. You are not spending most of the day at one beach. You are sampling several places around St. Maarten from the water.

Maho Beach finishes with low aircraft views

The final stop is Maho Beach, famous for aircraft landing and taking off close to the shore. The boat watches from the water for about 10 minutes.

Aircraft schedules are unpredictable, so seeing a large jet is never guaranteed during your exact stop. Crews have waited for a plane when time allowed, and the view from the boat avoids the need to spend the day standing on the sand.

This is a smart final stop for a cruise excursion. It is quick, memorable, and close to the return route. You get a look at one of St. Maarten’s best-known sights without giving up the snorkeling and beach stops earlier in the day.

Keep your camera ready, but do not let the plane spotting take over the whole outing. The strongest part of this tour is the combination of water activities, food, and coastal views.

Rough seas can change the best-laid route

The main variable is weather. The boat ride can be bumpy, especially on open stretches of water. Some people enjoy the speed and movement, while others may find it uncomfortable.

When the sea is rough, the captain may remove Tintamarre, use a calmer snorkeling area, shorten a swim, or change the lunch plan. One altered meal was reported as sandwiches rather than the planned restaurant lunch, while another outing still served a full meal after the route changed.

That flexibility is important. The itinerary is best viewed as a plan, not a promise that every stop will happen in the listed order. A calm-water swim is more valuable than forcing a stop in unsafe conditions.

If you are prone to motion sickness, bring whatever remedy you normally use. The provided information does not promise a smooth ride, and the boat can move quickly between stops.

The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the same options apply.

What the $139 price really covers

At $139 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day in St. Maarten. It is also not just a transportation ticket.

The price includes:

• Local guide
• Open bar
• Beer and other alcoholic drinks
• Bottled water
• Snorkeling equipment
• Flotation gear
• Lunch
• Return to Bobby’s Marina

The separate $10 marine park or port fee is easy to overlook. Add that to the advertised price when comparing options.

Private transportation is not included. You need to reach Bobby’s Marina yourself unless a separate pickup arrangement applies. The meeting point is on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg, and the listed start time is 10:00 a.m.

For a cruise passenger, the value is strongest if you want several activities in one booking. If you only want a beach, a taxi or beach transfer will likely cost less. If you want snorkeling, lunch, drinks, coastal sightseeing, Pinel Island, and Maho Beach in one day, the price becomes easier to justify.

Cruise timing requires careful planning

The tour ends back at Bobby’s Marina after roughly six hours. Cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking.

This information is not a formality. The crew plans the day around the ship schedule, and the experience is intended to return you with time before departure. One delayed cruise passenger reached the boat late after a port timing mix-up, and the crew worked hard to make the day possible. Do not rely on that kind of rescue.

Give yourself plenty of time to get from the ship to the marina. The operator does not include private transportation, and the meeting point needs to be clear before you leave the port.

The activity ends where it begins. That makes the return simple, but you remain responsible for getting back to the ship from Bobby’s Marina.

Who will enjoy this boat tour most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want an active, social day and like the idea of seeing several parts of St. Maarten from the water.

It suits:

• Cruise passengers who want a full island water day
• Families with older children
• Adults who enjoy snorkeling and swimming
• People who value lunch and drinks included in the price
• Couples looking for a mix of scenery, food, and beach time
• Visitors who prefer a group capped at 20 rather than a large excursion boat

It may not suit you if you want a quiet, slow cruise, a guaranteed fixed route, or a long stay at one beach. It is also a poor match if rough water makes you uncomfortable or if you do not have a moderate level of physical fitness.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Booking details worth handling early

A minimum of two people is required per booking. Confirmation is issued at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time.

Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If the activity is canceled because of poor weather or too few participants, you can select another date or receive a full refund.

Mention vegetarian food or other dietary needs when you book. Also provide your cruise information at that point, including the ship name and all relevant port times.

Should you book the Billy Bones St. Maarten Getaway?

I would book this tour if I wanted one energetic day that combines snorkeling, swimming, a local lunch, drinks, Pinel Island, and Maho Beach. The strongest reasons are the small group size, helpful crew, flexible route, and broad mix of stops.

I would skip it if my priority were a guaranteed visit to every location or a calm, motion-free boat ride. Weather can change the route, and the sea can be rough.

For most cruise passengers who want to see more than Philipsburg, this is a strong-value choice. Add the $10 fee, arrange your own way to Bobby’s Marina, allow a generous return margin, and arrive ready for a wet, busy, and varied day.

FAQ

How long is the Billy Bones St. Maarten boat tour?

The activity lasts approximately six hours. It starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends back at Bobby’s Marina.

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Bobby’s Marina on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Is transportation to the marina included?

Private transportation is not included. You need to make your own way to the meeting point unless another pickup arrangement is specifically provided.

What is included in the $139 price?

The price includes a local guide, open bar, alcoholic drinks, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, flotation gear, and lunch.

Is there an additional fee?

Yes. A $10 marine park or port fee per person is not included in the tour price.

Will I definitely see sea turtles?

No sighting is guaranteed. Tintamarre Island is used for snorkeling where sea turtles may be seen, but wildlife and water conditions can vary.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The route may be changed, with stops shortened or replaced. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Can I request vegetarian food?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you should request it when booking. You should also provide any other dietary requirements in advance.

What cruise information is needed when booking?

Cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time.