If St. Maarten isn’t already on your cruise radar, it’s about to be. The island famous for its beaches, its duty-free shopping, and those planes that skim right over Maho Beach just landed a serious upgrade to its Disney Cruise Line schedule, and the growth curve is steep.
Here’s the short version. The Disney Destiny made its very first stop at the island on July 1, and instead of it being a nice one-off photo op, it kicked off a whole new chapter. Disney Cruise Line and the government of Sint Maarten announced they’re expanding their relationship in a big way.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Right now, Disney has just three calls scheduled to St. Maarten for this year. Next year? Try roughly fourteen. And according to the island’s tourism minister, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, even more growth is planned for 2028 beyond that.
That’s not a tweak to the schedule. That’s a more than fourfold jump in a single year, with no signs of slowing down.
Why Now? Look at the Disney Fleet.
The timing is no accident. Disney Cruise Line is in the middle of a massive building spree. The Disney Destiny just launched in November 2025, only a year after the Disney Treasure. The Disney Adventure set sail earlier this year, though that one is staying put in Singapore. The Disney Believe arrives in late 2027, and at least four more ships are coming after that.
The minister herself pointed to those five additional ships in development as the reason the island sees so much room to grow with Disney. More ships means more itineraries, and more itineraries means Disney needs more great ports. St. Maarten is raising its hand.
Big Business for a Small Island
It’s easy to see why the island wants this. According to the St. Maarten government, every single Disney call brings thousands of visitors ashore, and those visitors spend money with taxi drivers, tour operators, restaurants, shops, and attractions all over the island.
There’s a branding win too. Officials believe a steady stream of Disney ships will boost St. Maarten’s visibility with families and repeat cruisers, cementing its status as one of the Caribbean’s premier stops while supporting tourism jobs across the economy. The minister also gave credit to Port St. Maarten, whose partnership building and route development work helped land a cruise line of Disney’s caliber in the first place.
One Honest Note of Caution
To the island’s credit, the announcement wasn’t just confetti. The minister openly acknowledged that growth this fast comes with homework. She talked about improving traffic flow, strengthening transportation and visitor services, and making sure the island’s infrastructure keeps up, so that both tourists and the people who actually live there benefit.
That’s a real consideration. Anyone who has visited a popular cruise port on a four-ship day knows how quickly charm can turn into gridlock. The island says its goal is sustainable, responsible growth, and how well it delivers on that will shape what these visits actually feel like.
What This Means for Your Next Disney Cruise
If you love Eastern Caribbean itineraries, keep an eye on 2027 sailings. With fourteen calls on the books, St. Maarten is going to start popping up on a lot more Disney itineraries, which means more chances to pair Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay with a day of beaches and shopping on one of the Caribbean’s most distinctive islands.
Disney clearly believes in this port, the island is investing to match, and cruisers get more options out of the deal. Everybody wins, as long as the island can keep up with its own success.
