Get on the water minutes from Simpson Bay — sail a 65-foot catamaran out to Anguilla, snorkel a quiet reef, or watch the sun drop from a trimaran deck. Compare the best Sint Maarten boat tours, from full-day catamaran sails to evening cruises, and book with free cancellation.
Signature Day-Sail — 109 Reviews, 4.6★ Sint Maarten's Signature Full-Day Catamaran Day Sail
Spend an all-inclusive day aboard the 65-foot sailing catamaran Lambada, cruising the turquoise water out to the Prickly Pear Cays off Anguilla. Snorkel the reefs, swim off a powder-white Anguillan beach, and relax with lunch and an open bar on the way back.
Real-time dates and prices for the full-day Lambada catamaran sail to Anguilla and the Prickly Pear Cays — pick your day and see live availability.
These Sint Maarten boat tours cover the full range — from a full-day catamaran sail out to Anguilla and the Prickly Pear Cays to half-day snorkel cruises with an open bar and lunch, a luxury 62ft catamaran day sail, trimaran cruises and short sunset trips from Simpson Bay. Whether you want a long day swimming and snorkelling offshore or just a scenic evening afloat, you'll find the duration, price and rating for each below. Prices are per person.
from $135Most Booked — 109 Reviews, 4.6★ 
from $139Luxury Pick — 72 Reviews, 4.7★ 
from $125Open Bar & BBQ — 83 Reviews, 4.6★ 
from $149Top Rated 5.0★ — 29 Reviews 
from $66Top Rated 5.0★ — 40 Reviews 
from $45Sunset Favorite — 176 Reviews, 4.6★ | Tour | Price | Rating | Book | Duration | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trimaran Cruise + Snorkel & Lunch | $149 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 5.5 hrs | Trimaran day-sail | A relaxed, roomy sail |
| Luxury 62ft Catamaran Day Sail | $139 | 4.7 ★ | Check | 5 hrs | Luxury catamaran | Comfort on the water |
| Full-Day Sail to Anguilla Cays | $135 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 7.5 hrs | Full-day catamaran | An all-day adventure |
| Catamaran Snorkel + Open Bar | $125 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 7 hrs | Catamaran + BBQ lunch | A social day-sail |
| Sunset Sailing Trimaran | $66 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 2 hrs | Sunset trimaran | An evening on the water |
| Lambada Sunset Cruise | $45 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 1.5 hrs | Sunset catamaran | Best-value sunset |
A Sint Maarten boat tour can mean very different days on the water, and the boat matters as much as the route. A catamaran day-sail is the classic choice — a wide, stable twin-hull with deck space to spread out, usually a full or half day with snorkelling, an open bar and lunch. A trimaran has three hulls and a netted trampoline you can lie out on, and tends to feel quicker and sportier. A sunset cruise is the short, scenic option — an hour or two out of Simpson Bay with a drink in hand as the sky turns. The right one depends on how long you want to be out and what you want from the day.
Here's how the main types of boat tour compare at a glance, and which boat each one runs on.
| Boat tour | Boat | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-day sail to Anguilla | 65ft catamaran | 7.5 hrs | An all-day adventure offshore |
| Snorkel cruise + open bar | Catamaran | 7 hrs | A social day with BBQ lunch |
| Luxury day sail | 62ft catamaran | 5 hrs | Comfort and space on the water |
| Trimaran cruise + snorkel | Trimaran | 5.5 hrs | A relaxed, roomy sail |
| Sunset sailing tour | Trimaran | 2 hrs | A scenic evening afloat |
| Sunset cruise | Catamaran | 1.5 hrs | Best-value sunset |
The signature Sint Maarten boat tour is the full-day catamaran sail across to Anguilla and the Prickly Pear Cays — two tiny uninhabited islands ringed by some of the clearest water and best snorkelling in the region. The 65-foot Lambada makes the roughly 12-mile crossing from Simpson Bay, anchors over the reef for snorkelling, then makes a swim stop off a powder-white Anguillan beach on the way back, with lunch and an open bar included. It's a long day — around seven and a half hours — but it's the one that turns a boat trip into a proper adventure.
The open-water crossing can get a little bumpy if the trade winds are up, so if you're prone to seasickness, take a tablet before you board. Bring a passport-style photo ID; the cays are technically Anguillan waters and operators sometimes carry a small cay fee.
If a full day at sea sounds like a lot, the catamaran snorkel cruises are the sweet spot — a relaxed day sailing the French coast of Saint-Martin (St Martin), past Marigot and into the calm seas of the sheltered bays, with music, an on-board open bar and light snacks, stopping to snorkel and swim before a fresh BBQ lunch on deck. These trips are as much about the social atmosphere and the swimming as the sailing, and snorkel gear is provided, so you don't need to bring anything but a towel and sunscreen. They're a favourite for groups and for anyone who wants the water without the long Anguilla crossing.
The luxury 62ft catamaran day sail is the more comfortable version of the same idea — fewer people, more deck space, fresh food and unlimited drinks — and it leaves from the Philipsburg side, handy if you're staying or docked near the cruise port. Note that crossing between the Dutch and French sides is an open border with no passport check, so a coastal cruise along St Martin needs nothing more than your sunscreen.
Boat tours on this page run from $45 to $149 per person. The $45 Lambada sunset cruise is the cheapest — a 1.5-hour evening sail with a drink included — and the $66 sunset trimaran tour is the next step up. The day-sails are where the value sits: the catamaran snorkel cruise with open bar and BBQ lunch is $125, the full-day sail to Anguilla and the Prickly Pear Cays is $135, the luxury 62ft catamaran day sail is $139, and the roomy trimaran cruise with snorkelling and lunch is $149.
The day-sail prices include lunch, drinks and snorkel gear, so there's little to add on board — bring only cash for tips and any extras. Hotel pickup and cruise-port transfers are offered on several trips; check each listing for exactly what's covered.
Boat tours run year-round in Sint Maarten, and the sea is warm and swimmable in every season, with air and water temperatures around 80–84°F. The dry season from December through April brings the calmest seas and the lightest rain — the most reliable conditions for the long Anguilla crossing and the snorkel cruises — along with the busiest cruise traffic. May and November are sweet spots with warm weather and thinner crowds. The official Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November; serious storms are uncommon on any given day, but it's the wetter, breezier stretch, and crews move or cancel boat trips around any passing weather.
Morning departures generally give the calmest water; afternoons and evenings can pick up a little chop, which is why the sunset cruises stay close to the sheltered coast.
Sint Maarten is one of the Caribbean's busiest cruise ports, and a boat tour is one of the most popular shore excursions. Ships dock at the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility in Philipsburg, a short taxi or water-taxi from the Simpson Bay marinas where most boats depart; the luxury catamaran day sail leaves from the Philipsburg side, which is the easiest to reach on a port day. A half-day snorkel cruise or a shorter trimaran sail fits comfortably within most port calls, but the full-day Anguilla sail at seven and a half hours usually does not — leave that for a longer stay.
Always give the operator your ship name and all-aboard time so they get you back to the cruise port with margin to spare.
For most people the answer is no — the catamarans and trimarans featured here are wide, stable multihulls that handle the Caribbean swell far better than a monohull, and the sheltered coastal cruises stay in calm water. The one trip where conditions can be felt is the full-day crossing to Anguilla, which crosses open water and can get bumpy when the trade winds are up. If you're prone to motion sickness, take a tablet about an hour before boarding, sit toward the centre and rear of the boat where movement is least, keep your eyes on the horizon, and choose a morning departure when the sea is calmest.
The shorter sunset cruises and the snorkel trips in sheltered bays are the gentlest options of all.
Most of the day-sails build in at least one snorkel stop, and the water around Sint Maarten and the offshore cays is warm, clear and full of life — reef fish, rays and the odd turtle over the seagrass. The Prickly Pear Cays off Anguilla and the sheltered bays along the French coast are the standout spots, with easy entry straight off the back of the boat. Snorkel gear is provided on the cruises that include it, so you don't need your own, though bringing a mask you know fits is never a bad idea.
You don't need to be a strong swimmer — the crew hands out flotation belts and keeps an eye on everyone — but if you've never snorkelled, say so when you board and the crew will get you comfortable in the shallows first.
A boat tour is a full day in the sun and salt water, so come prepared. Wear a swimsuit under light clothing, and bring a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. A light cover-up or rash guard helps on the long day-sails when the sun is relentless on open deck.
Pack a waterproof phone case or a dry bag for valuables, a little cash for tips and any extras, and a seasickness tablet if you're prone to it. Most day-sails provide snorkel gear, lunch and drinks, so there's little else to carry — leave the big bags at the hotel and travel light.
The sea stays warm and swimmable all year, so timing is about sea conditions, rain and crowds rather than temperature.
Temperatures are approximate daytime averages (°F). Water stays warm and swimmable in every month.
A quick way to match the right boat trip to your day — by the boat, how long it takes and roughly what it costs.
| Boat tour | Length | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-day sail to Anguilla | 7.5 hrs | An all-day offshore adventure | $135 |
| Catamaran snorkel cruise | 7 hrs | A social day with open bar & lunch | $125 |
| Luxury catamaran day sail | 5 hrs | Comfort and space on the water | $139 |
| Trimaran cruise + snorkel | 5.5 hrs | A relaxed, roomy sail | $149 |
| Sunset sailing trimaran | 2 hrs | A scenic evening afloat | $66 |
| Sunset cruise | 1.5 hrs | Best-value evening sail | $45 |
All prices are per person and include lunch and drinks on the full and half-day sails.
The full-day sail over to Anguilla was the highlight of our trip — the water at the Prickly Pear Cays was unreal for snorkelling, and the crew kept the lunch and open bar coming. A long, perfect day on the water.
We did the catamaran snorkel cruise with our teenagers and everyone loved it. Music, BBQ lunch, two snorkel stops and a really friendly crew. Easy pickup and back in good time for our ship.
Booked the sunset trimaran for our anniversary and it was so relaxing — lying on the netted deck with a drink as the sun went down behind the hills. Worth every penny for the evening alone.
The luxury catamaran day sail had loads of deck space so it never felt crowded. Great food, unlimited drinks and a lovely calm snorkel bay. Exactly the comfortable day we wanted.
Full-day catamaran sails, snorkel cruises, a luxury day sail, trimaran trips and short sunset cruises — the full spread of Sint Maarten boat tours, compared side by side.
We lay out real prices, ratings, durations and review counts so you can match the right boat to your budget and your time on the island.
Whether you want a 1.5-hour evening cruise or a seven-and-a-half-hour sail to Anguilla, the options run the full range — and we tell you which suits you.
Several boats offer cruise-port pickup and finish well before all-aboard, so a half-day sail fits neatly into a single port call.
The operators we feature are island-based sailing crews who know the reefs, the Anguilla crossing and the calmest sunset routes by heart.
Most boat tours can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, so you can book early and keep an eye on the sea forecast.
The stops and stretches of water that make a day-sail worth it — see the live map above for where most boats depart.
Most day-sails depart Simpson Bay; the luxury catamaran leaves from the Philipsburg side near the cruise port.
For most visitors the full-day catamaran sail to Anguilla and the Prickly Pear Cays is the best all-rounder — seven and a half hours of sailing, snorkelling and swimming with lunch and an open bar included. If you'd rather a shorter, more comfortable day, the luxury 62ft catamaran day sail covers the water in five. Compare every Sint Maarten boat tour to match one to your day.
Probably not. The catamarans and trimarans featured here are wide, stable multihulls that handle the swell far better than a monohull, and the coastal snorkel and sunset cruises stay in calm water. The full-day crossing to Anguilla is the one trip that can get bumpy when the trade winds are up, so take a seasickness tablet about an hour before boarding, sit centre-rear and keep your eyes on the horizon. See the sunset and snorkel cruises if you want the gentlest options.
A catamaran has two hulls and a wide, stable deck — the classic choice for a day-sail with plenty of room to spread out, like the snorkel cruise with open bar and lunch. A trimaran has three hulls and a netted trampoline you can lie out on, and tends to feel quicker and sportier, as on the sunset sailing trimaran tour. Both are very stable; it mostly comes down to the feel of the boat and the trip length.
Yes, and they're among the most-booked shore excursions. Ships dock in Philipsburg, and the luxury catamaran day sail leaves from the Philipsburg side, the easiest to reach on a port day. A half-day snorkel cruise or a shorter trimaran sail fits within most port calls, but the full-day Anguilla sail usually does not. Give the operator your ship name and all-aboard time, or contact us for help choosing one that fits your time ashore.
The boat tours on this page run from $45 to $149 per person. The $45 Lambada sunset cruise is the cheapest, and the $66 sunset trimaran is next. The day-sails — which include lunch, drinks and snorkel gear — run $125 for the snorkel cruise, $135 for the full-day Anguilla sail, $139 for the luxury catamaran and $149 for the trimaran cruise. Compare all the prices side by side.
The full and half-day sails do. The full-day Anguilla sail, the catamaran snorkel cruise, the luxury catamaran day sail and the trimaran cruise all include lunch and an open bar or unlimited drinks, plus snorkel gear. The short sunset cruises include a welcome drink rather than a full meal. Check each listing for exactly what's covered before you book.
You don't need to be a strong swimmer. The crews hand out flotation belts and keep an eye on everyone at the snorkel stops, and if you've never snorkelled they'll get you comfortable in the shallows first. Snorkel gear is provided on the cruises that include it. If swimming isn't your thing at all, a sunset cruise is a great way to enjoy the boat without getting in the water. Browse the tours to find your fit.