Today in the St. Maarten Cruise Port: Vidanta Elegant
It is the high diversity of ships in Philipsburg Port that makes it a spectacular sight from Great Bay Beach, the Philipsburg Boardwalk, and Fort Amsterdam. The mix ranges from sailing ships like Wind Surf to the largest cruise ships in the world, such as the Icon-class.
In VISIT St. Maarten | St. Martin’s weekly cruise ship highlight, today’s focus is on a frequent smaller visitor. Here are some interesting facts about the Vidanta Elegant, docked in port today!
A Homeporting Guest
The Vidanta Elegant “homeports” in St. Maarten. If you’re not familiar with cruise terminology, this means the ship uses St. Maarten as its official departure point and restocks supplies on the island. This is why the Vidanta Elegant is a frequent sight on Saturdays, when many cruises begin.
St. Maarten is often chosen as a homeport because of its large cargo harbor and excellent flight connections via Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). It also means there’s a good chance you’ll see Vidanta cruise guests at resorts and boutique hotels on the island, as many homeporting visitors like to combine their cruise with a few days exploring their departure destination.
One Crew Member Per Passenger
The Elegant carries 298 passengers. By comparison, its largest St. Maarten counterpart, the Star of the Seas, can accommodate roughly 20 times that number.
However, the difference becomes apparent when considering personal service. On the Vidanta Elegant, there is one crew member for every passenger. On the Star of the Seas, the ratio is 1:2.4, highlighting the Elegant’s focus on luxury and personalized attention.
Yacht or Cruise?
Judging by the crew-to-passenger ratio, the Vidanta Elegant is designed for luxury travel. Is it a yacht or a cruise ship? Its marketing emphasizes the best of both worlds: “Enjoy all the personalized service of a private yacht with all the extensive amenities of a cruise ship.”
A Mexican Owner
The Vidanta Elegant is owned by Grupo Vidanta, a major Mexican hospitality and tourism conglomerate that operates resorts, real estate, golf courses, and other luxury travel businesses. Founded in 1974 by Daniel Chávez Morán, Grupo Vidanta is headquartered in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.
360° Infinity Pool Experience
The yacht features the “Infinito Sky Deck,” a pool deck unlike any other. The infinity pool wraps around the top deck, offering panoramic, unobstructed ocean views on all sides. At night, LED lighting and ambient installations transform the area, creating the illusion that the pool is floating in the sky.
The Vidanta Elegant will continue to homeport from St. Maarten during the winter season — check the cruise schedule for its next arrival. Guests on board the Vidanta are advised to book shore excursions on St. Maarten in advance, as not all excursions operate on Saturdays.
