St Thomas and St Maarten with a baby

Published May 9, 2026 · By Dave Giovacchini

Cruising St. Thomas and St. Maarten with a baby is absolutely doable — budget $50–$150/day in port extras on top of your fare, with the biggest costs being a private beach excursion ($80–$200 for two adults) and baby-friendly logistics like a travel stroller rental or taxi with car seat arrangements.

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

Bringing a baby on a Caribbean cruise stopping at St. Thomas and St. Maarten sounds terrifying on paper. It's actually one of the more manageable itineraries for new parents — calm waters, short port days, and beaches that don't require a Trek through the jungle. But the costs are different from a child-free sailing, and nobody tells you that upfront.

What a Baby-Friendly Cruise to St. Thomas & St. Maarten Actually Costs

Your cruise fare is the same whether you're traveling with a baby or a 40-year-old. Most lines charge infants a nominal fare — typically $100–$300 round-trip — though some count them as a third or fourth guest at a reduced rate. The real money is in what happens once you're onboard and in port.

Bottom line: budget $80–$150/day in port expenses for a realistic mid-range experience at both stops.

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

Key Factors That Drive the Cost Up (And What's Worth It)

St. Thomas specifics: The main draw is Magens Bay — one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean and genuinely flat-terrain friendly with a stroller. Admission is $5/person (babies free). Taxi from the cruise pier runs $15–$20/person each way via shared open-air safari taxi. Babies ride free on your lap but those taxis have no car seat option — worth knowing before you decide. A private taxi with a driver who'll wait costs around $60–$80 for 2–3 hours.

St. Maarten specifics: Orient Beach on the French side is the go-to. Beach chairs rent for $5–$10 each, umbrella another $5. The water is calm and shallow near shore — ideal for babies. Getting there from the cruise pier is a $7–$10/person shared taxi or $30–$40 for a private car. Again, no formal car seat infrastructure — most families bring a travel seat or accept the risk for short distances.

Onboard with a baby: Most mainstream lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Princess) have nursery or babysitting services — but they have minimum age requirements, typically 6 months, and charge $6–$8/hour per child. Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean starts at 6 months for nursery. If your baby is under 6 months, check the line's policy — some won't let infants that young sail at all.

Drink packages still make sense: You're not chasing rum punches all day, but if you're a two-adult couple taking turns with the baby, someone's still drinking. The Deluxe Beverage Package across most mainstream lines runs $70–$95/person/day pre-cruise (check your Cruise Planner for your sailing's exact rate — it fluctuates). With port days you'll drink less, so evaluate honestly whether it pencils out.

Gratuities don't stop because you have a baby: Expect $17–$20/person/day in auto-gratuities on most mainstream lines in 2025–2026. That's for the two adults — babies aren't charged gratuities.

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

Practical Tips to Save Money and Stay Sane

Pack everything baby-related before you board. Sunscreen, diapers, formula, snacks, baby Tylenol, thermometer — the ship's gift shop markup is brutal, and port pharmacies are hit-or-miss. The one thing you can't always predict is formula availability if you run short, so overpack.

Bring a compact travel stroller, not your full-size rig. St. Thomas and St. Maarten ports are navigable but not perfectly paved. A compact umbrella stroller ($30–$50 to buy) beats renting something questionable in port. Plus you own it for the whole trip.

Book a private transfer or excursion. The shared safari taxis in St. Thomas are fun and cheap, but with a baby and a bag full of gear, a private driver is worth the premium. Budget $60–$80 and you get door-to-door service and someone who'll wait while you're at the beach.

Orient Beach over Maho Beach in St. Maarten. Maho is famous for the low-flying planes — great for Instagram, terrible for a baby's ears and sleep schedule. Orient is calmer, shallower, and the beach chair vendors are relaxed about families.

Use sea days for your drink package ROI. With a Caribbean itinerary that includes St. Thomas and St. Maarten, you likely have 2–4 sea days depending on departure port. Those are your beverage package days. In port, focus on water, snacks, and keeping the baby happy.

Check nursery eligibility before booking. If getting a dinner alone or a few hours of quiet matters to you, call the cruise line and confirm the minimum age for supervised care. Don't assume.

Consider booking through a travel agent who specializes in family cruises. They know which cabin categories have the most room for a pack-and-play, which ships have the best nursery setups, and can sometimes snag onboard credits that offset baby gear costs. CruiseHub is a solid starting point: book through CruiseHub.

Best Ships and Lines for This Itinerary With a Baby

Disney is the standout for infants specifically because the nursery takes babies from 3 months old. You'll pay a premium — typically 30–50% more per person than Royal Caribbean for a comparable Caribbean itinerary — but if you want evening freedom, it's the only mainstream line that reliably delivers it for babies under 6 months.

St. Thomas and St. Maarten are forgiving stops for first-time cruising parents. The ports are accessible, the beaches are calm, and you don't need to hike or snorkel to have a good time. Plan your budget around $80–$150/day in port extras, pack every baby supply you might conceivably need, and decide early whether evening childcare matters enough to justify Disney's price tag.

Use CruiseMutiny to compare the full cost of different cruise lines on this itinerary — including drink packages, gratuities, and excursion budgets — before you commit to a booking.