Did You Know… There Are Island-Hopping Deals by Ferry From St. Maarten?
A Nearby Archipelago to Discover
St. Maarten is centrally positioned among many Caribbean islands. If you are on the northern (French) side of the island, Anguilla is right next door—just seven kilometers away at its closest point. To the east, you cannot miss the commanding view of St. Barths, located just a bit farther out. To the south, the imposing dormant volcanoes of Mount Scenery on Saba and The Quill on Statia never seem far away either. On a clear day, St. Kitts and Nevis are visible as well.
This proximity and permanent presence on the horizon invites visitors on St. Maarten / St. Martin to explore. What are these neighboring islands like, and how do they differ from one another? Many of these surrounding islands are actually connected to St. Maarten / St. Martin by ferry, making it one of the few true “ferry hubs” in the Caribbean.
Island-Hopping History
This maritime connection builds on a long tradition. The central pier in Philipsburg, located right in front of the cruise port, is named after the legendary captain Arsene Hubert “Austin” Hodge. This pier was not just the main entry point to the Dutch side for visitors, but also a vital link for travelers heading to other islands. Captain Hodge’s schooner, The Blue Peter (and before that, The Trixie), maintained passenger and mail services between 1947 and 1962. Today, the pier still serves as one of three welcome jetties for cruise visitors.
As its port and airport grew, St. Maarten / St. Martin became an essential regional transit point. It is no coincidence that the St. Maarten airport is such a well-known travel hub for the area.
From Schooner to Sabre – the Makana Age
Following in the wake of The Blue Peter, special deals now make it easy to explore these islands in depth by ferry. The 72-foot Sabre Catamaran Makana takes you along three islands south of St. Maarten, allowing you to trace Captain Hodge’s legendary routes -now in high-speed comfort. Featuring two air-conditioned passenger decks and an open upper sun deck, it accommodates up to 150 people. Its 1,300-horsepower John Deere engines achieve an average cruising speed of 23 knots -roughly double the speed of The Blue Peter – giving you plenty of time to explore the surrounding islands whatever your island hopping ambitions are.
The Makana “4 Islands One Escape” program offers both day trips and inter-island vacations, featuring special hotel packages on St. Maarten at properties including the Seaview Beach Hotel, Sapphire Beach Club, Commodore Suites, Holland House Beach Hotel, and Pasanggrahan. As part of the initiative, travelers can also enjoy savings of 10% on all ferry routes across the six “4 Islands One Escape” experiences, making it even easier to discover the neighboring islands by sea.
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