Home / Ports / Philipsburg / Dec 17, 2026
Philipsburg Cruise Crowd Forecast — Thursday, December 17, 2026
Crowded day in Philipsburg — 7 ships representing ~13,088 estimated cruise passengers, 19% below a busy day.
Expect noticeable cruise crowds. Consider booking activities away from the main port area.
- 7 shipsin port
- 13,088est. passengers
Where today falls, from a quiet day to a busy day
Busier than 83% of scheduled cruise days at this port.
🧭 How to play this day
CROWD-TACTICALMaho on a multi-ship day is shoulder-to-shoulder with a long, slow taxi ride each way. Better: commit to the French side — Orient Beach for space and lunch, then Grand Case's lolos for the island's best food. If Maho is non-negotiable, go at opening, rent chairs at the water's edge, and be back in a taxi by early afternoon before traffic peaks.
Why is this crowded?
7 ships are scheduled today, representing approximately 13,088 passengers of combined capacity. 6 of them arrive within the same hour, concentrating the morning rush.
Compared with other cruise days: Well above average for this port.
Ships in port
| Ship | Cruise line | Arrival | Departure | Berth | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allura | Oceania Cruises | 07:00 | 19:00 | — | 1,200 |
| Azamara Journey | Azamara | 08:00 | 22:00 | — | 694 |
| Celebrity Ascent | Celebrity Cruises | 08:00 | 17:00 | — | 3,260 |
| Marella Voyager | Marella Cruises | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | 1,912 |
| Star of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 08:00 | 17:00 | — | 5,610 |
| Star Pride | Windstar Cruises | 08:00 | 22:00 | — | 312 |
| Emerald Sakara | Emerald Cruises | 21:00 | 14:00 | — | 100 |
Arrival timeline
Bars show each ship’s scheduled time in port (6 AM – 10 PM port time).
Shore day advice
Book excursions in advance, start early, and avoid the main port area at midday.
Looking for a quieter day?
Data & accuracy
- Schedule source: Port St. Maarten
- Data last fetched: Nov 5, 2026
- Forecast date: Dec 17, 2026
- Provisional: this date is more than 7 days out — cruise lines adjust itineraries for weather and operations, so the schedule may change.
- Estimates are based on published ship capacities, not actual bookings or how many passengers go ashore.