In St. Martin I would have 3 friends or 4 people in all and rent a cab for the day.
Do NOT pay till you are back at the dock, and finish with your tour/cab.
Take a cell phone.
Set the price and how many are going etc. before you get in the cab. What ever he wants offer 1/4 of that, and settle at 1/2, no more.
You will have a great time, because you can see almost the whole Island in a day and still have time to shop and have lunch on the other side.
We hardly ever take a ship tour unless it is free.
In St Thomas I would go to St John for the day if you have already been to St Thomas, if not shop to you drop then head to the beach or back to the ship where it is half empty and you can swim in the pool with only a few people to bother you.
Good Luck and have Fun, what-ever you do.
