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Is It Worth Getting Off the Ship in St. Maarten? (Honest Answer)

barely packed
barely packed
🥈Expert
👁️ 2K views📅 6 months ago⏱️ 46:11
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsCruise Vlog🥈Expert Creator
🧍 Best for SoloCaribbean · 7 nightsFrom MiamiVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I am headed out on a seven night Symphony of the Seas back to back.

Going solo. So, come along and let's go see what kind of adventure we can find.

The water taxi was a breeze. And trust me, if I can do it, you can do it.

It's a great beach day, too. So, if you want to just rent some chairs and hang out at the beach, it's perfect.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Take the water taxi in St. Maarten; it's easy and affordable at $7 round trip.
Arrive early to get a beach chair next to the water.
Bring sunscreen as the sun is intense.
Have your seat pass card handy when returning to the port.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Not knowing where to go or how to use the water taxiFollow people with wristbands; signs are available; it's easy to navigate.
Crowds and lines at the water taxiBring patience; lines can be long and people may cut.

Questions This Creator Answers

QIs it worth getting off the ship in St. Maarten?
QWhat is the process for taking the water taxi?
QWhat are the options for spending the day in St. Maarten?

Topics Covered

Loyalty Program3 Happy BaconService Crew4 Happy BaconValue Pricing1½ Happy BaconPort Destination4 Happy BaconEmbarkation1½ Happy BaconItinerary Route3 Happy BaconDining Buffet2½ Happy BaconPool Deck3½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

St. Maarten3½ Happy Bacon
Top: Water Taxi to Beach Area ($7 round trip)
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Is it actually worth getting off the ship in St. Maarten? Here’s what I experienced on my cruise stop. From water taxis to Great Bay Beach, I tested it myself so you don’t have to. This video kicks off my 20-day solo cruise adventure, starting with travel day chaos and St. Maarten. Welcome back to Barely Packed! 🌴 Come along as I kick off my 20-day solo cruise adventure—starting with a 7-night back to back on the Symphony of the Seas sailing before hopping over to Allure of the Seas! From a nerve-wracking same-day flight during a government shutdown 😅 to smooth TSA lines, Miami traffic nightmares, and the first moments stepping onboard one of my favorite Royal Caribbean ships—it’s all here! 🚢✨ In this vlog (Part 1), join me as I: 🛫 Survive travel day & get to the port on time 🚢 Board Symphony of the Seas & explore embarkation day chaos 🥗 Try (and fail) to enjoy my first lunch onboard 🌊 Experience the sail away and first sea days solo ☕ Discover early morning coffee 🇸🇽 Take my first-ever Water Taxi adventure in St. Maarten! 🏖️ Explore Great Bay Beach, beach bars, and shopping 💬 Share real solo cruising thoughts, tips & funny mishaps If you love Royal Caribbean vlogs, solo travel inspiration, and real, unfiltered cruise life, make sure to subscribe and hit the 🔔 @b@barely-packedfor Part 2 coming soon—when I explore St. Thomas, sea days, and my back-to-back process. This is the video i was referring to in this episode: Girls Gone Tropical: St. Thomas, St. Maarten & Zero Regrets/ Star of the Seas Cruise Life Chronicles https://youtu.be/WTu7Gkn0Yms #RoyalCaribbean #SymphonyOfTheSeas #CruiseVlog #SoloTravel #CruiseLife #StMaarten #BarelyPacked #cruisetips