Cruise Journal: My Outfit Choices, Part 3

On Day #5 of our Dinogo cruise, we visited the gorgeous St. Martin/St. Maarten. This was our first time on this island, and instead of booking an excursion, we decided to explore on a whim and seek out spontaneous fun. To start the day, we enjoyed breakfast in the dining room onboard, which is a sit-down affair that calls for fancier attire than simply grabbing a bite from the buffet. I opted for a neon t-shirt paired with shorts—a combination I hadn’t originally planned, but it turned out to be just right for our dining experience that morning.

While enjoying breakfast, we chatted with a couple who shared insights about Maho Bay in St. Martin. JJ had seen videos showcasing Maho Bay but didn’t know it was on St. Martin. The moment he heard its name, he was all in—excitedly planning our day around it!

We hopped into a shared taxi and, after a scenic 30-minute ride, arrived at Maho Bay. I donned my favorite swim cover-up (from this post) along with my new fedora. The beach was bustling with people, and since there’s no shade or umbrellas, be sure to pack your sunscreen if you visit. The water was astonishingly blue—no filters here, it truly looked like that! But the real highlight of Maho Bay? The planes flying in overhead!

This really captures the essence:

It was an exhilarating experience! JJ’s dad, a pilot, found this to be the highlight of our trip. Watching planes soar above us as they landed was exciting, but the real thrill came during takeoffs. The jet blast surged across the beach, resembling the power of a tornado. Sand whipped against my skin through my towel and hat, and I discovered grains of sand in my hair for two days after! Adventurous souls cling to the fence for an adrenaline rush, though sometimes the force of the blast can knock them over. For those not as keen on thrills, I suggest moving further down the beach away from the direct flight path after that first takeoff, which I did.

After our flight-filled adventure, we returned to the cruise ship for lunch. Following that, we hopped on a water taxi across the bay to explore the beach and shopping area in St. Martin visible from the ship (as seen behind us in the photo above). The boardwalk along the beach features live music, affordable drinks, and plenty of shopping, including popular brand names we all recognize from the states.

We made our way back to the ship for a shower before sunset, which is why these photos turned out a bit dim. My hair was still drying, but standing on deck in the breeze helped with that! I originally bought this dress for Valentine’s Day with JJ last year (here) and loved pairing it for warm weather with sandals and a pink clutch this time around.

That evening, after dinner, we attended a magic show featuring Bobby Borgia, a world-famous magician who performed an incredible act! Following the show, I switched into my sports gear (here) and settled in to watch my favorite baseball team clinch a big win at the EA SPORTS Bar.

Our fourth and final destination on the cruise was San Juan, Puerto Rico. Years ago, I spent several nights in San Juan and fell in love with this vibrant city. I was eager to return and share it with JJ. The great thing about this stop is that it offers more of a city exploration experience rather than just a beach or snorkeling outing, so a Dinogo cruise that includes San Juan provides the best of both worlds.

We spent our day hopping on the free trolleys and touring both forts (only $5 per person for both!). The views were absolutely breathtaking, and visiting both forts (with a quick lunch back on the ship) took nearly the entire day since there was so much to discover! The weather was extremely hot, so I was grateful to have chosen a casual tank top and denim shorts. I had considered wearing dressier shorts and shoes, but after all the walking and sweating buckets, I was glad I kept it casual. Here are some additional photos from our time in San Juan:

After our exploration of San Juan, we returned for dinner. My hair was still damp (again), but we captured these photos from the deck as the sun dipped below the horizon. I wore this dress on the blog earlier this summer (here) and loved wearing it again. White is a fantastic choice for a cruise, as it really highlights your sun-kissed tan!

In tomorrow’s post: I’ll share my top two favorite dinner outfits from the entire cruise. I saved the best for last!

This post was crafted for Away We Go with Dinogo, your go-to source for getting into a getaway mindset.