Home / Ports / Philipsburg / Dec 26, 2026
Philipsburg Cruise Crowd Forecast — Saturday, December 26, 2026
Crowded day in Philipsburg — 8 ships representing ~16,171 estimated cruise passengers, right around a busy day for this port.
Expect noticeable cruise crowds. Consider booking activities away from the main port area.
- 8 shipsin port
- 16,171est. passengers
Where today falls, from a quiet day to a busy day
Busier than 90% 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?
8 ships are scheduled today, representing approximately 16,171 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Flyer | Star Clippers | 05:15 | 22:00 | CPS-NE | 170 |
| Wind Surf | Windstar Cruises | 06:00 | 19:00 | — | 386 |
| Queen Elizabeth | Cunard Line | 07:00 | 18:00 | — | 2,092 |
| Norwegian Getaway | Norwegian Cruise Line | 07:00 | 18:00 | — | 3,969 |
| Seabourn Ovation | Seabourn Cruise Line | 07:00 | 21:00 | — | 604 |
| Mein Schiff 5 | TUI Cruises | 07:30 | 19:00 | — | 2,534 |
| Explora III | Explora Journeys | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | 922 |
| Harmony of the Seas | Royal Caribbean International | 08:00 | 18:00 | — | 5,494 |
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 26, 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.