Philipsburg

St. Maarten is the smallest piece of land shared by two sovereign states. Legend has it that the Dutch and French boundaries of the island were determined by two men who challenged one another in a race around the island, with the Frenchman walking faster and claiming more land. Legend or not, both the Dutch and French settled here in the 1630s and despite occupancy by the British twice, the Dutch and French have lived peacefully together ever since they arrived.

The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 180 days before the cruise begins.

Around the Island Art Tour
Tour Code: SMR-6062
Duration: 3 3/4 hours
Retail Value: $89.00
Price: Free

Discover some of St. Maarten's most talented artists, and their unique works of art, during this memorable art tour around the island.

Depart the pier for the drive to picturesque French Oyster Pond. Upon arrival, you will proceed for a visit to the quaint home and gallery of Dona Bryhiel, a well-known artist of the modern figurative style and mixed media. Her beautiful watercolors of France and St. Maarten are a pleasure to behold. Your drive will then continue on to the Oyster Pond home and studio of Marie Moine, who continues the French tradition of big fire earthenware. Here, you will see her Creole paintings; unique freehand creations that abound with color.

Next, a visit will be made to O'Reilly Hill, which overlooks Grand Case. Here, you will visit the home and studio of Minguet, whose lithographs, oils and watercolors feature an explosion of incredible color. You will then drive to Concordia, a bustling suburb of Marigot, for a visit to the home of Francis Eck. The works of this French professional artist of the modern figuration school have been exhibited in Paris, London, Tokyo, Geneva, and recently, Art International New York 98. From here, you will drive to the Dutch St. Peters home of St. Maarten native Ruby Bute. During your visit, you will hear her poetry and view her artwork, which is highlighted by the island's culture, natural beauty and people.

Your tour will conclude with a visit to Maximilian's Art in the Garden gallery, which is located in mid-town Philipsburg, Dutch St. Maarten. Nestled in a garden setting, this unique gallery features Maximilian's original paintings and prints displayed amongst plants and flowers. From realism to abstract, you will find original works in oil, pastel and acrylic. Considered one of the most successful artists on Dutch St. Maarten, Maximilian has had numerous exhibitions locally, as well as in Washington D.C., New York and Cuba.

Following your visit, you will re-board your coach for the return drive to the pier.

Please note: Artists will permit photographs and videos to be taken of their homes and works in general, but not individual paintings. Works of art are available for purchase, and prices vary from a few dollars to thousands of dollars. The artists will accept most major credit cards. Refreshments and snacks are available at all locations. Artists may vary, with a maximum of five artists visited during the tour.

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Terms & Conditions:

Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tours operate rain or shine. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.