Name Game: Difference Between St. Maarten and St. Martin
The dual identity of the islands often creates confusion about the correct spelling of the name. Here’s how to explain the difference to clients. The Dutch side is part of the Netherlands Antilles and is correctly called “Saint Maarten.” The French side, on the other hand, is called “Saint Martin.” The Dutch side's capital is Philipsburg and the popular tourist attraction Loterie Farm uses only one 't', not the spelling of Lottery or Lotterie, as many people often call it.
Cruise Business Expected to Soar
In August, St. Maarten announces the $97.5 Cruise Pier Expansion Project. Servicing more than one million cruise passengers annually, the new cruise facilities currently under construction parallel to the existing pier, will measure 1,460 feet long by 50 feet wide and will be able to accommodate the 220,000-ton genesis class cruise ship. Also, the expansion project is expected to add two acres of land to the Great Bat area, connecting the new pier to the main thoroughfare in front of the John Craane Cruise Terminal Building. The expansion also includes plans for an 853-foot extension to the Captain David Quay and adds an additional 90,420 square-feet of container storage and handling space. The project is funded by a $40 million loan form Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.