Home / Ports / Philipsburg / Mar 18, 2027
Philipsburg Cruise Crowd Forecast — Thursday, March 18, 2027
Crowded day in Philipsburg — 5 ships representing ~13,640 estimated cruise passengers, 15% below a busy day.
Expect noticeable cruise crowds. Consider booking activities away from the main port area.
- 5 shipsin port
- 13,640est. passengers
Where today falls, from a quiet day to a busy day
Busier than 85% 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?
5 ships are scheduled today, representing approximately 13,640 passengers of combined capacity. 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Opera | MSC Cruises | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | 2,150 |
| Allure of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | 5,492 |
| Wonder of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | 5,524 |
| Seven Seas Prestige | — | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | n/a |
| Renaissance | Compagnie Française de Croisieres | 13:00 | 22:00 | — | 474 |
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: Mar 18, 2027
- 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.