Getting ashore
Philipsburg is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Philipsburg, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
Philipsburg Cruise Port
Philipsburg is a solid port day with regular dockside arrivals and substantial cruise traffic throughout the year, but concentrated in December through March.
Usually docks
Often busy
~9h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Philipsburg
How much time will you have?
About 9h is typical
Most cruises spend 9h to 10h in Philipsburg, which makes it a solid port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Philipsburg get?
Expect other ships to be in port.
Multiple ships overlap very often (54% of days), with around 5,610 cruise passengers on a typical day.
- Typical day: ~5,600 passengers
- Busy day: 21,000+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 54% of days
Check your date
September 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Philipsburg fits into a cruise
Philipsburg is most commonly visited on Eastern Caribbean itineraries, often alongside Miami and San Juan .
Commonly arrives from
Philipsburg
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Philipsburg
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from December through March.
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from December through March.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
283
285
293
145
31
32
33
38
37
46
200
360
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Philipsburg typically carry around 2,918 guests, with MSC Opera, MSC World Europa, and Crown Princess calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 MSC Opera 68 calls
- 2 MSC World Europa 40 calls
- 3 Crown Princess 35 calls
- 4 Arvia 33 calls
- 5 MSC Seaview 28 calls
- 6 MSC Meraviglia 27 calls
Next port calls
Sep 16 Regal Princess
Sep 17 Star of the Seas
Sep 22 Icon of the Seas · Rhapsody of the Seas
Sep 23 Allure of the Seas
Sep 28 Rhapsody of the Seas
Cruises that visit Philipsburg
Once the port-day tradeoffs look right for you, here are some good sailings that feature Philipsburg.
MSC Opera
Genova → Livorno → Basseterre, Saint Kitts → La Romana
Oct 30 · 17 nights
Visits Philipsburg on day 15
About average
$845 oceanview · $50/night
Costa Fascinosa
Savona → Barcelona → Philipsburg → La Romana
Dec 5 · 15 nights
Visits Philipsburg on day 14
Good value
$1,120 inside · $75/night
13% below typical · 30-day low
Costa Fascinosa
Barcelona → Málaga → Philipsburg → La Romana
Dec 6 · 14 nights
Visits Philipsburg on day 13
Good value
$1,075 inside · $77/night
17% below typical · 30-day low
MSC Opera
Marseille → Barcelona → Basseterre, Saint Kitts → La Romana
Nov 1 · 15 nights
Visits Philipsburg on day 13
$629 inside · $42/night
Limited price history
SeaDream II
Lisboa → Philipsburg → San Juan
Nov 14 · 13 nights
Visits Philipsburg on day 13
About average
$5,041 oceanview · $388/night
MSC Opera
Civitavecchia (Rome) → Genova → Basseterre, Saint Kitts → La Romana
Oct 29 · 18 nights
Visits Philipsburg on day 16
About average
$670 inside · $37/night
Cruise routes that include Philipsburg
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Philipsburg, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
Transatlantic Crossing via Livorno, Marseille & Barcelona
From $845
$845
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Itinerary ESBCN-ESAGP-ESLPA-GPPTP-SXPHI
From $1,120
$1,120
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Itinerary ESAGP-ESLPA-GPPTP-SXPHI
From $1,075
$1,075
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Transatlantic Crossing via Barcelona, Tangier & Antigua
From $629
$629
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Eastern Caribbean Arc via Philipsburg
From $5,041
$5,041
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Transatlantic Crossing via Civitavecchia, Livorno & Marseille
From $670
$670
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Related ports near Philipsburg
Compare nearby cruise ports with active sailing coverage.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Philipsburg
Short answers for common search intent around the best time to visit, itinerary patterns, and how to compare cruises that include Philipsburg.
What is the best time to visit Philipsburg on a cruise?
The best time to visit Philipsburg depends on both schedule density and live pricing. Use the calendar above to compare exact port-call dates and the featured cruises section to see which sailings currently stand out.
When is Philipsburg busiest for cruise traffic?
Traffic patterns are still building as more schedules get indexed. Jibhop will surface the busiest months as upcoming port-call coverage expands.
Which cruise itineraries usually include Philipsburg?
Common upcoming itinerary families that include Philipsburg include Transatlantic Crossing via Livorno, Marseille & Barcelona, Itinerary ESBCN-ESAGP-ESLPA-GPPTP-SXPHI, and Itinerary ESAGP-ESLPA-GPPTP-SXPHI. Open any itinerary card to compare route mix, next departures, and which sailings look strongest on price.
How should I compare cruises that visit Philipsburg?
Start with the best cruises section to see today's strongest pricing signals, then use the port-call calendar to find the exact visit dates that fit your trip. Once you narrow the timing, compare itineraries and ships rather than choosing on this stop alone.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Philipsburg
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Philipsburg in your trip.