Be Happy – Private Catamaran Cruise Sint Maarten Full Day Tour

Be Happy gives you a full day on the water without sharing the boat with strangers. The route links four very different coastal stops, from the long white sand of Long Beach to the underwater attractions at Little Bay. The crew provides drinks, snacks, water gear, and stories as you move around the island.

I like the private charter setup, especially for families or groups marking a birthday. I also like the useful mix of snorkel gear, a paddleboard, floating mat, and fishing equipment, so you are not limited to sitting in the sun. The main drawback is the price: at $960 per person, this is a major splurge, and towels are not included.

Key points to know

• Four two-hour stops: Long Beach, Plum Bay, Grand Case Beach, and Little Bay give the day a clear shape.
• Little Bay has the most unusual activity: Snorkel near underwater statues, a sunken submarine, and a helicopter.
• The boat is private: Only your own group participates, making the day more personal and relaxed.
• Food and drinks are supplied: Expect alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, juices, water, snacks, and madeleines.
• The route depends on weather: Poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.
• Bring your own towel: Towels are the notable item not supplied on board.

A private day aboard Be Happy

The appeal here is simple: you get a boat, a crew, and a full day to enjoy St Maarten’s coast at your own pace. Be Happy is a luxury sailing catamaran, and the private format means your group does not have to fit around strangers or a fixed public-tour mood.

The boat leaves at 9:00 a.m. from Bobby’s Marina at 22H Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg. The trip lasts about eight hours and returns to the same marina. That makes this an easy choice if you want one substantial sea day rather than several short outings.

Your crew handles the practical work while you choose how active to be. You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard, fish, float, or simply sit with a drink and watch the shoreline. The crew also shares stories and facts along the way, which adds some sense of place instead of making the day only about sun and water.

The service matters here. A birthday celebration described with this charter included beautiful island stops and lunch at a good beach restaurant, with the staff helping make the day feel special. Lunch is not listed among the included items, so you should confirm the plan and budget for it separately rather than assume it comes with the charter.

Long Beach: two hours of sand and clear water

Long Beach is the first major stop and one of the easiest places to understand the appeal of St Maarten’s coast. It is known for its broad stretch of white sand and clear blue water. The name is useful rather than poetic: this is one of the island’s longest beaches.

You can use this stop to settle into the day. Swim, stretch out on the beach, or use the floating equipment from the boat. After the early departure, two hours gives you enough time to enjoy the water without rushing back aboard after a quick splash.

This is also a good stop for people in your group who do not want a packed activity schedule. Not everyone wants to snorkel at every anchorage. Long Beach offers a calmer opening, with room for swimming and beach time before the day moves to more specialized spots.

The tradeoff is that a beach stop can feel less distinctive if your main goal is wildlife or underwater sights. The water and sand are the attraction here, not a particular wreck or reef feature. If you want to make the most of the day, use Long Beach for easy swimming and relaxation, then save your energy for Little Bay.

Plum Bay and the Terres Basses shoreline

The sailing along Plum Bay changes the mood. This is a smaller, more secluded beach in the gated Terres Basses area, and it is visited less often than the island’s better-known beaches. From the water, you pass striking luxury villas, including a villa associated with Donald Trump.

This section is less about a checklist attraction and more about seeing a quieter side of St Maarten. The coastline gives you a look at private homes and protected beach areas that you may not encounter during a normal island drive. It is a good fit for a group that enjoys scenery, sailing, and a slower pace.

The two-hour allocation also gives the crew flexibility. You can spend time in the water, use the floating mat, or remain on board and enjoy the view. The available paddleboard adds a little motion without turning the stop into a demanding sports session.

Privacy is both the strength and the limit here. Since Terres Basses includes gated areas and private villas, you should think of Plum Bay mainly as a coastal viewing and swimming stop. Do not expect a land-based visit through private property. The catamaran lets you appreciate the area from the proper public vantage point, the water.

Grand Case Beach, with time for a beach lunch

Grand Case Beach is on the French side of St. Martin and is known for clear water and pale sand. It is one of the more popular beach areas on the island, so this stop can feel more social and developed than Plum Bay.

The setting works well for a long pause. You can swim, relax, or use the boat’s water equipment, then consider arranging lunch at a beach restaurant. A beach lunch fits naturally into the day and was part of one especially successful birthday outing, but the supplied snacks and drinks are the only food and beverage items clearly included.

That distinction matters at this price. The boat supplies madeleines, oranges, mixed nuts, peanuts, chips, soft drinks, juices, water, and alcoholic beverages. Those provisions should keep you comfortable between activities, but they are not a full restaurant meal. Ask the operator how lunch will work before departure if a proper meal is important to your group.

Grand Case is also a useful middle-of-the-day stop because it gives you choices. Active people can swim or paddle. Those who prefer a slower afternoon can stay aboard, eat a snack, and watch the coast. With a private charter, your group has more freedom to balance those preferences than it would on a tightly managed shared boat.

Little Bay and its unusual underwater sights

Little Bay is the most distinctive stop on the route. It is promoted as a strong snorkeling location, with underwater statues, a sunken submarine, and a helicopter resting below the surface. These features give you something specific to look for instead of simply swimming in open water.

The provided snorkeling equipment makes this stop more convenient. You do not need to arrange a separate rental for masks and related gear, although you should remember that anyone entering the water does so at their own risk. The crew can provide the equipment, but you remain responsible for judging your comfort and ability in the sea.

The underwater attractions also make Little Bay a good choice for mixed-age groups with different interests. One person can snorkel while another uses the floating mat or stays aboard. The paddleboard and fishing equipment offer more options, though conditions and crew instructions will determine what is practical on the day.

Do not expect the same kind of wildlife encounter every time. The clearly stated draw is the underwater collection of statues and sunken objects, not guaranteed marine life. Your enjoyment will depend on visibility, sea conditions, and how comfortable you are swimming with a mask.

What comes with the $960 price

At $960 per person, this is not a casual beach excursion. The price makes the most sense when you value privacy, a full eight-hour charter, and the ability to shape the day around your own group.

You are paying for more than transportation between beaches. The package includes crew service, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, fruit juices, water, snacks, fishing gear, a paddleboard, a floating mat, and snorkeling equipment. Those extras reduce the need to organize several separate rentals or carry your own drinks and gear.

The private format is the key value. If you are celebrating a birthday, planning a family day, or traveling with a group that wants control over its pace, a private boat can feel worth more than a cheaper shared cruise. You avoid strangers choosing the music, activity timing, or amount of time spent in the water.

Still, the cost deserves a clear-eyed look. The charter does not include towels, and a full restaurant lunch is not listed as part of the package. If your group is mainly looking for a short swim and a quick ride, this is likely more boat time and expense than you need. If you will use the entire day and the equipment, the calculation looks better.

Group discounts are available, though no discount amount is provided. Ask for the exact group rate before booking. The tour is often reserved about 120 days ahead, so a popular date, birthday, or cruise-ship visit may require early planning.

Drinks, snacks, and useful things to bring

The food service is designed for steady grazing rather than a formal meal. You can expect madeleines, oranges, mixed nuts, peanuts, and chips. Drinks include alcoholic beverages, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, ginger ale, club soda, assorted fruit juices, and water.

That is a generous range for an eight-hour boat day. It also means you can keep the day moving without stopping every time someone wants a drink or small snack. If you need a full lunch, special dietary item, or a particular beverage, confirm what can be arranged.

Bring a towel. It is the one obvious omission from the supplied equipment list. You should also plan your personal items around a wet day, since swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and the floating mat are central parts of the outing.

The itinerary can change with weather. A change of route does not bring a price reduction or automatic cancellation, so you should be comfortable with some flexibility before booking. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Who will enjoy this catamaran most

I would recommend Be Happy most strongly to people who want a private celebration or a full, flexible day at sea. The birthday example is telling: attentive staff, attractive stops, and the option of a beach lunch make the charter well suited to a special occasion.

Families can also benefit from the range of activities. A child who tires of snorkeling can use the floating mat. An adult can paddleboard or fish. Someone who prefers not to swim can remain on deck with a drink and still enjoy the coast.

This is less suitable if you dislike boats, do not swim, or want a land-focused tour. Most people can participate, but entering the water is optional and done at your own risk. The best fit is a group that wants at least some swimming, snorkeling, floating, or sailing time.

The private arrangement also helps groups with different energy levels. You are not forced into a single activity all day. That flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose this over a basic beach transfer.

Booking advice and the final call

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted, and poor weather may lead to a new date or full refund.

I would book Be Happy if you want an all-day private charter, have a group large enough to share the cost, and will make real use of the water gear and four coastal stops. It is especially appealing for a birthday or another day when privacy and attentive service matter more than keeping the budget low.

I would skip it if you only want a short swim, a guaranteed restaurant meal, or a cheap way to see the island. The value comes from the full day, the private boat, the crew service, and the range of activities. Used that way, Be Happy offers a polished and flexible way to experience St Maarten from the water.

FAQ

Where does the Be Happy catamaran cruise depart?

The tour starts at Bobby’s Marina, 22H Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.

What time does the tour start?

Departure is at 9:00 a.m.

How long does the private catamaran tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and ends back at Bobby’s Marina.

Which beaches and bays are included?

The planned stops are Long Beach, Plum Bay, Grand Case Beach, and Little Bay.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with fishing gear, a paddleboard, and a floating mat.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, juices, water, and snacks such as madeleines, oranges, mixed nuts, peanuts, and chips are included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can receive a full refund or choose a different date. The route may also change because of weather without a price reduction or cancellation.