Home / Ports / Philipsburg / Dec 30, 2026

A Little Crowded

Philipsburg Cruise Crowd Forecast — Wednesday, December 30, 2026

A Little Crowded day in Philipsburg — 4 ships representing ~11,538 estimated cruise passengers, 28% below a busy day.

Some cruise traffic, but likely manageable. Popular areas may be busier around the middle of the day.

  • 4 shipsin port
  • 11,538est. passengers

Quieter than 24% of scheduled cruise days at this port.

Morning rush: 3 ships arrive within the same hour — expect crowds at the terminal and excursion meeting points.
Provisional — schedule may change

Typical weather for Dec 30

79°typical high
77°typical low
30%of days see a shower
3%are all-day wet

Too far out for a live forecast — this is what's typical for this week of the year in Philipsburg, from 2015–2024 records. Weather data: Open-Meteo.

🧭 How to play this day

CROWD-TACTICAL

Maho still works if you go early — chairs sell out and the beach fills by late morning on busier days. See the planes, then move on: Orient Beach on the French side has far more room, or cross to Marigot for a very different, more relaxed scene. Leave generous time for the return — traffic builds through the afternoon.

Why is this a little crowded?

4 ships are scheduled today, representing approximately 11,538 passengers of combined capacity. 3 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

ShipCruise lineArrivalDepartureBerthCapacity
Norwegian JewelNorwegian Cruise Line07:0018:00—2,376
Marella VoyagerMarella Cruises08:0018:00—1,912
Regal PrincessPrincess Cruises08:0017:00—3,560
Carnival MagicCarnival Cruise Line09:0018:00—3,690

Arrival timeline

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Norwegian Jewel
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Marella Voyager
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Regal Princess
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Carnival Magic
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Bars show each ship’s scheduled time in port (6 AM – 10 PM port time).

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Shore day advice

Independent exploration works well today — book the most popular attractions ahead, and expect the midday peak near the port.

Looking for a quieter day?

See Philipsburg’s crowd calendar →

Data & accuracy

  • Schedule source: Port St. Maarten
  • Data last fetched: Nov 6, 2026
  • Forecast date: Dec 30, 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.