SINT MAARTEN tours

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Sint Maarten Tours – Cancellation & Refund Policy

Last Updated: July 2026

At Sint Maarten Tours (accessible via www.sintmaartentours.com), we understand that travel plans can change unexpectedly, especially when dealing with flights, cruises, and island weather. We aim to be as flexible and fair as possible.

By booking a tour or transportation service with us, you agree to the terms outlined below.

1. Standard Cancellation Windows

For standard direct bookings made on our website, our refund schedule is based on the time elapsed before your scheduled tour departure or pickup time:

  • Up to 24 Hours Before Departure: You are eligible for a 100% full refund or a free rescheduling of your tour, subject to vehicle/guide availability.
  • Less than 24 Hours Before Departure: Cancellations made within 24 hours of the scheduled start time are non-refundable. At this stage, local guides, vehicles, and logistics have already been locked in for your party.
  • No-Shows: If you do not arrive at the designated pickup location within 15 minutes of the scheduled time without prior communication, it will be marked as a “No-Show.” No-shows are non-refundable.

2. Cruise Ship Delays & Itinerary Changes

We closely monitor the daily arrivals at Port St. Maarten (A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility). We know that ships can experience mechanical delays, routing shifts, or missed ports due to sea conditions.

Our Cruise Passenger Guarantee: If your cruise ship is unable to dock at Port St. Maarten, skips the port entirely, or changes its itinerary so that you arrive after your tour has departed, you are entitled to a 100% full refund.

  • Arrival Delays: If your ship docks late, we will make every effort to adjust your pickup time so you can still enjoy your island tour. If the delay makes it impossible to fulfill the tour safely or within your ship’s remaining port hours, a full refund will be issued.
  • Notification: While we monitor port schedules, please notify us via email or WhatsApp as soon as your ship’s captain announces a change in routing or docking status.

3. Weather & Safety Cancellations

Your safety is our absolute priority. Sint Maarten enjoys beautiful tropical weather, but heavy rainfall, high winds, or rough seas can occasionally make certain routes or activities unsafe.

  • Operator-Initiated Cancellations: If Sint Maarten Tours cancels your tour due to severe weather, safety concerns, or force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances like road closures or government mandates), you will be offered the choice of rescheduling at no extra cost or receiving a 100% full refund.
  • Passing Showers: Tours are not canceled for light tropical showers. We operate rain or shine unless the conditions pose a safety hazard.

4. Stayover Guests & Flight Disruptions

If you are staying at a resort, villa, or hotel on either the Dutch or French side of the island and your flight to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) or Grand Case Airport (SFG) is delayed or canceled:

  • Please contact us as soon as you receive notice from your airline.
  • We will automatically waive the 24-hour cancellation rule and reschedule your airport transfer or island tour for free to match your new arrival date.
  • If your entire trip is canceled by the airline and you cannot make it to the island, we will issue a full refund, provided you show proof of the airline’s cancellation notice.

5. Bókun Platform Refund Processing Time

Once a refund is approved by our team and processed through our Bókun booking platform:

  • The system immediately issues a credit record and releases the funds back to the original credit card or digital wallet used during checkout.
  • Depending on your underlying payment provider and your individual bank’s clearing time, please allow 5 to 10 business days for the funds to reflect on your credit card statement.
  • Sint Maarten Tours does not charge processing fees for legitimate cancellations made within the allowable windows.

6. How to Cancel or Reschedule

To request a cancellation or modification to your booking, please reach out to us directly with your Name and Booking Confirmation Number through one of our official communication channels:

  • Email: sintmaartentours@gmail.com
  • Phone / WhatsApp: +1 721-587-2899

⚙️ Quick Checklist for Your Bókun Dashboard

To make sure your website automatically handles what this policy says, log into your Bókun account and configure these settings:

  1. Go to Settings > Product Extensions > Refunds & Cancellations.
  2. Create a Simple or Advanced rule titled “Sint Maarten Standard Policy” and set it to a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the experience.
  3. Apply this cancellation rule to each of your individual experiences under the Pricing > Rates tab of your product editor. This ensures that if a traveler uses Bókun’s self-service cancellation link, the system automatically checks the clock and applies the rule seamlessly without you needing to do manual math.