Hi all!

My sister and I are taking a cruise to the eastern caribbean in the early part of Dec 2010.
We are looking for a store (I heard Grand March is good) in St.
Maarten to get some basic stuff we don't want to haul around before the cruise. "Stuff"
includes bottled water (have you seen the price they charge for bottled water on a cruise?
grrrrrr) and some snacks.
As neither of us is familiar with that area, we are wondering where was the closest store/market
to where we dock that we could get the things we are looking for.
Is there someplace near the dock we port at? Or how expensive is a taxi there to take us to where
we want to go?
Any and all input is appreciated!
Thanks to all,
Joni

Joni,

Could be wrong but I believe it's Sang's market.

Respectfully,

pat

Try Afoo on Back Street too.

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

My impression is that this cruise is not departing from Philipsburg but maybe Marigot? Please confirm where you will be boarding the ship so that we can direct you to the best selection. Also, will you have access to a car prior to your cruise. That would also make a difference. The reason I ask is that we had guests who stayed at our place take a cruise right before staying at our place. I happened to be on the island and met them and brought them to a pier for boarding and it was right outside of Marigot proper. If that is the case then the above 2 stores would be way too far away.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

Thanks for the responses!
Actually, we are starting from Ft. Lauderdale and St. Maarten is the second island that we will be visiting. Unfortunately, the first one is the private cruise island and I don't think it would have what we are looking for. Fun maybe...but no snacks!
We will be docked in Philipsburg only for the day which is why we are looking for someplace very close. After reading your responses, I did see other info sites/boards mention of Sang's and Afoo's. So these places would be within walking distance of the dock?

Thanks again!

Joni

If you focus on what you left behind, you will never see what lies ahead.

OK Joni...sorry. By the way you worded it, it sounded like your cruise was beginning in SXM which is why I thought you may be needing something closer to Marigot. The recommendations above are perfect.

The stores are walkable but not right at the docks which is an expansive area. There are tenders that can take you to the pier in Philipsburg so very little walking is required to get to the center of the town but if you decide to walk to Philipsburg proper, it probably is a 15 minute walk from the gates of the pier terminal. From there, I am not sure what the walk time is to these stores.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2010 07:38AM by John.

I've been on several cruises over the last 10-12 years and I would be enormously surprised if you were allowed to bring beverages back on board the ship. When it's alcohol, they confiscate it and return it to you the night before disembarkation. I can't speak definitively to bottled water, but the same rule may well apply.

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read on another board that Sang's isn't particularly sanitary. If you go there, make sure everything you purchase is packaged.

Joni,

Maybe it's just me, but why not just get what you need before your cruise ship leaves in Ft. Lauderdale? And i would then to agree with Jazzgal, unless it's juat a couple of bottles of water, i doubt the cruise line would let you board with a few cases of bottled water.

And on another note, you are only in St Maarten for the day, why not take the time to enjoy this great island instead of running around for a few bottles of water....There is so much to see, and so much to do....just an opinion

I will be in Sint Maarten next week (8/1/10)at a time share with a full kitchen. We intend to cook most of our meals in order to save some money. Which grocery stores are closest to Divi Little Bay? Anything within a 15 minute walk?

Thanks

nothing within a 15 minute walk,although there is a tiny grocery store on the hotel premises.. Le Grand Marche Bush Road is a large supermarket and is about a 5-7 minute drive away
aren't you going to be renting a car?

[barcann.livejournal.com]

I will be staying in a time share with a kitchen and was wondering what is the closes and most reasonable grocery store to the flamingo beach Villas. also, do they take credit cards and American cash? I also hear it is extremely expensive to eat there. Any advice would be appreciated.

thanks Terry

Market Garden is right down the road from Flamingo. CC and cash accepted. It can be very expensive or very cheap. All depends on where you dine.

Anonymous User Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I will be staying in a time share with a kitchen
> and was wondering what is the closes and most
> reasonable grocery store to the flamingo beach
> Villas. also, do they take credit cards and
> American cash? I also hear it is extremely
> expensive to eat there. Any advice would be
> appreciated.
>
> thanks Terry

tERRY,
The grocery closest is Market Garden or something similar to that and US dollars are taken everywhere on the island so not a problem. Credit cards I dont know about as we never tried. No problem with cooking in but Regarding food and eating out on the island, it can be very expensive or it can be very reasonable and its up to you and where you choose to eat. You can go to Grand Cass and spend a fortune or the same thing at a few places at Atlantis Casino or you can eat at a bunch of places like Lees, Pineaplle Petes, Sugar Cane Cafe, or the lolos in Grand Cass or on some of the beaches. Theres places for every budget and theres even pizza places, subway and MickeyD and Burger King if your of a mind to so dont sweat the dining out. And even if you go to some of the nicer but lesser places there are ways to cut down on meal costs to. Tap water instead of bottled flat or sparkling water, shared apps or entreees or desserts and limit your wine and mixed drinks out since your gonna have a full kitchen at Flamingo. And eat in breakfasts and take lunches to the beach will all save a fortune for a couple of splurge meals. Enjoy and Mange et mange.