Billy Bones St.Maarten Getaway for CRUISE SHIP GUESTS

The best part of this St. Maarten outing is that it turns a cruise stop into a full day on the water. You swim near Creole Rock, look for turtles at Tintamarre Island, visit Pinel Island’s iguanas, eat lunch in Grand Case, and watch aircraft approach Maho Beach from the sea. It is a busy, good-value route with plenty of variety.

I like the small maximum group of 20 and the way the crew keeps the pace moving without making the day feel rushed. I also like the practical extras: an open bar, bottled water, snacks, flotation gear, and a hot local lunch. The main caution is the open-water ride, which can be very bumpy when the sea is rough, and weather can force changes to the route.

Key things to know before you book

• Four chances to swim and snorkel: Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, Pinel Island, and Baie Longue all bring a different kind of water stop.
• Lunch is part of the day: You eat at a local restaurant in Grand Case, with vegetarian food available if requested in advance.
• Maho Beach is viewed from the water: The boat gives you a chance to see low aircraft arrivals without spending your whole shore day on the beach.
• The tour is designed around cruise schedules: You provide your ship and docking information when booking, and the operator says missed tours caused by a late or non-arriving ship can be refunded.
• Expect a lively boat ride: Several people found the ride exciting, but rough seas can limit snorkeling or change the planned stops.
• Budget for the marine or port fee: The advertised price is $139 per person, plus a $10 fee per person.

A six-hour boat day from Bobby’s Marina

The tour starts at 10:00 a.m. at Bobby’s Marina on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg. You return to the same meeting point at the end, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup location.

This is a cruise ship excursion, but private transportation is not included. You need to get to the marina yourself unless the operator has separately arranged something with you. That detail matters in St. Maarten, where traffic and port delays can eat into a short shore day. Give yourself enough time to reach Bobby’s Marina after leaving the ship.

At booking, you must provide your ship name, docking time, time you expect to get off the ship, and required re-boarding time. That information allows the operator to judge whether the schedule works. I would treat this as essential, not a formality.

The boat carries no more than 20 people, though the exact number on your departure may be lower. A smaller group makes the swim stops easier and gives you a better chance to speak with the captain and first mate. Several crew members are named in the feedback, including Sammy, Jim, AJ, CJ, Franco, Frankie, Nicholas, Boy, Anthonie, Jad, Lucas, Merit, Damian, and Nico. The crew changes, so you should not book expecting one specific person unless Billy Bones confirms it.

Creole Rock brings the first serious swim

Creole Rock is scheduled for about 45 minutes and is described as one of the island’s best snorkeling spots. This is where you first use the provided mask, snorkel, and flotation equipment.

The stop works well early in the day. You get in the water before lunch, and the crew can help hesitant swimmers get comfortable. The water may include fish, sea urchins, stingrays, and other marine life. Visibility depends on the weather. On a calm day, this can be the strongest snorkeling stop. After wind or swells, the water may turn murky.

You should be comfortable entering open water and swimming with some independence. The tour calls for a moderate level of physical fitness, and that is a fair description. Flotation equipment is included, but this is not a glass-bottom sightseeing trip where you remain dry.

Tintamarre Island and the chance to see turtles

The next planned stop is Tintamarre Island, also for about 45 minutes. The main reason to stop here is snorkeling near sea turtles.

Turtle sightings are never guaranteed, and the captain may change the location if the sea is unsafe. That is not a weakness in the operation. A responsible crew should favor a calm, safe swim over checking every box on a printed route. On rough days, Tintamarre may be replaced by another beach or swim stop.

This part of the outing gives you a sense of St. Maarten beyond the cruise port. You are not simply looking at a beach from a bus window. You are out on the water, moving between small islands and open bays, with time to swim rather than just take a photograph.

Pinel Island adds beach time and curious iguanas

Pinel Island is planned as another 45-minute stop. It is the most relaxed break in the middle of the day, with beach time and the chance to see iguanas. The iguanas are one of the memorable small details of the route, though the wording if you dare hints at their bold behavior.

This stop suits you if you want more than snorkeling. You can get out of the water, walk a little, and enjoy the beach. It also gives children and less confident swimmers a change of pace. Families have found the beach stop especially useful, while older members of a mixed-age group can enjoy the scenery without needing to snorkel at every stop.

Pinel Island is not a substitute for a long, quiet beach day. The schedule allows about 45 minutes, and the tour has several more stops ahead. Think of it as a pleasant break within a moving boat tour.

Grand Case turns lunch into part of the island visit

The one-hour stop in Grand Case is one of the tour’s strongest value points. You eat a hot local lunch at a restaurant rather than settling for a packaged meal on the boat.

The exact meal can vary, but the food described includes options such as barbecue ribs, chicken, fish, rice, grilled vegetables, and sandwiches when weather or conditions affect the restaurant plan. The operator may take your order before the boat leaves, allowing the kitchen to prepare food before you arrive. Vegetarian food is available, but you need to request it when booking.

I like this stop because it gives the outing a local-food element. You are not spending six hours on rum punch and scenery alone. The meal creates a useful pause, and it is a good reason to book this excursion instead of simply hiring a short snorkeling boat.

Do not assume every day will produce the same lunch setup. Rough weather has sometimes led to a simpler meal, including sandwiches. The operator has also issued compensation when weather caused a significant change, but you should still book with flexibility.

Baie Longue is a quick swim, not a full beach visit

Baie Longue is scheduled for only 10 minutes. This is a quick swim and a chance to cool off, not a long stop with time to explore.

Short stops can be useful on a packed route because they break up the ride without making the day drag. Still, you should not picture a full beach afternoon here. If you prefer slow travel and extended time in one place, the number of stops may feel hurried.

Maho Beach is best seen from the boat

The final major sight is Maho Beach, famous for aircraft landing and taking off close to the shoreline. The boat stays on the water for about 10 minutes, giving you a different view from the usual beach crowd.

The timing of a plane arrival is never guaranteed. The crew may wait for an aircraft if the schedule and conditions allow, and this has been a highlight for families and first-time visitors. The boat view also lets you see the spectacle without committing the entire shore excursion to standing on the sand.

You should keep your expectations sensible. This is a short viewing stop, not a full airport visit. If aircraft are your main reason for visiting Maho, a land-based stop may give you more time. If you want to combine Maho with snorkeling, islands, lunch, and swimming, this boat approach is much more efficient.

What the $139 price includes

At $139 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to spend a day in St. Maarten. It is also more than a simple beach transfer. The price includes a local guide, snorkeling gear with flotation, bottled water, alcoholic drinks, an open bar, snacks, and lunch.

That bundle changes the value calculation. If you would otherwise pay separately for a boat, snorkeling equipment, drinks, and lunch, the price becomes easier to justify. You also get a route covering several parts of the island in roughly six hours.

The $10 marine park or port fee is extra, so your basic cost is $149 per person before transportation to Bobby’s Marina. Private transportation is not included. For a cruise ship passenger who wants one organized day with no need to arrange separate beach and snorkeling stops, that is a reasonable package, but not a bargain for someone who only wants a quiet swim.

The open bar includes alcoholic beverages, but the minimum drinking age is 21. Nonalcoholic drinks and bottled water are included as well. Do not treat the bar as the main attraction. The real value is the combination of boat access, several water stops, lunch, and a ship-aware schedule.

Rough seas can change the whole day

The biggest variable is the sea. The speedboat ride can be smooth and exciting, but it can also be very bumpy. Some passengers found the rough water fun, while others had only one snorkeling stop because a second location was not safe.

The crew has changed routes to find calmer water and substituted Pinel Island when Tintamarre was not practical. That is good judgment, but it means you should not book with a rigid checklist. You may not visit every named stop.

If you are prone to motion sickness, bring whatever remedy you normally use and sit where the crew recommends. The supplied information does not promise a particular boat layout or seasickness support, so prepare for open-water movement. Children have enjoyed the ride, but parents should decide if their children handle fast, bumpy boat trips well.

The tour requires good weather. If Billy Bones cancels because of poor conditions, you can receive another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants is also required, and a cancellation for that reason brings the same choice of another experience or a refund.

Who will enjoy this St. Maarten excursion

I would choose this tour if you want a full, active shore day and like variety. It suits couples, families with older children, and mixed-age groups because you can swim, snorkel, eat, watch planes, and spend time on a beach in one outing.

It is also a good match for you if this is your first visit to St. Maarten and you want to see the island from the water. Captains such as Sammy, Jim, Boy, and Anthonie have been praised for safe handling, local information, humor, and attention to the group. The crew often gets into the water to help less confident snorkelers, though that should not be taken as a guarantee for every departure.

I would hesitate if you want a quiet, slow boat ride, dislike open bars and music, or need a guaranteed visit to every location. The route is ambitious, the ride can be rough, and weather can rearrange the day.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The tour requires at least two people per booking.

My practical booking advice

Confirm the meeting point and allow extra time after your ship docks. One booking problem involved arriving late because of a ship schedule change and confusion about the marina name, although the crew worked hard to recover the day. You should not rely on that kind of rescue.

Give dietary needs when you book. Request a vegetarian meal in advance. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a dry change of clothes, even though the tour supplies flotation gear and drinks. The information provided does not specify towels, so I would pack one.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refunded. This matters if your cruise line changes port timing, so enter the ship information accurately and contact the operator as soon as you know of a delay.

Should you book Billy Bones St. Maarten Getaway?

You should book it if you want the most variety possible from a six-hour cruise stop. The combination of Creole Rock snorkeling, possible turtles at Tintamarre, Pinel Island beach time, a Grand Case lunch, a quick Baie Longue swim, and Maho Beach viewing gives you a strong overview of St. Maarten by boat.

The $139 price makes the most sense when you value the included lunch, drinks, equipment, and small-group format. Add the $10 fee and your own transportation, then compare that total with separate boat and beach plans.

I would not book it for a guaranteed, calm-water snorkeling day. I would book it for a flexible day with a capable crew, several chances to get in the water, and a good chance of seeing more of the island than you could manage on foot from the cruise port.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours and ends back at the meeting point.

What stops are planned?

Planned stops include Creole Rock, Tintamarre Island, Pinel Island, Grand Case, Baie Longue, and Maho Beach, with the tour beginning and ending at Bobby’s Marina.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant in Grand Case is included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water and alcoholic beverages are included, along with an open bar.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and flotation equipment are included.

Is the $10 marine park or port fee included?

No. The marine park or port fee is $10 per person and is not included in the tour price.

Does the tour provide transportation from my cruise ship?

Private transportation is not included. The meeting point is Bobby’s Marina, and cruise ship passengers must provide ship and port timing information when booking.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund.