D-Boat: The Old Oil Tanker Thats Now A Floating Bar In The Caribbean

If diving into the warm Caribbean from a floating theme park sounds like fun, D-Boat takes things to the next level.

Once an oil tanker, the ship now boasts a stylish bar with uniformed staff and an upper deck with sun loungers, rope swings, waterslides and diving boards – plus water trampolines and a blob jump that catapults participants to freakish heights.

Experiencing D-Boat

D-Boat is based on Simpson Bay on the west side of Sint Maarten, a hilly, Dutch-speaking slice of the Caribbean with gorgeous beaches and a cruise-ship dock. D-Boat has been here since the summer of 2019 when it moved from nearby Antigua.

The boat is now permanently moored and offers standard packages that give access (including pick-ups from the shore) from 10am to 6pm, as well as evening events. Once onboard, you can take it easy in the shady bar area or the sun loungers, or go wild with the activities. Slides reach down from the top deck, barreling you into the clear waters, while ropes let you swing out over the sea before dropping in for a dip.

There are also water trampolines and diving boards, plus swimming and snorkeling, but the main event is arguably the giant blob catapult. One person sits at the tip of this giant inflatable before another leaps onto the back, launching the person in front like a flailing bullet into the sky.

DJs (and sometimes musicians) complete the package, so you can dry off with a dance. If you’re hungry, meals are served onboard, and there’s a wide range of drinks. People of all ages are welcome during the day.

Visiting Simpson Bay

The main pick-up for D-Boat is on Simpson Bay, behind the I Scream Candy shop, although the water taxi can also go via Kim Shaw beach by prior arrangement. Simpson Bay is right by the airport, but it’s a fine place to explore, with great beaches, clear waters, a rum distillery and activities like horseback riding.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.