Sint Maarten Winter Season (TNCM / SXM): Holiday Menus From Thanksgiving to New Year
Sint Maarten winter season catering (TNCM / SXM) follows a calendar every Caribbean crew knows by heart. It begins in late November, when American families fly south for Thanksgiving, builds through December as villas and yachts fill, and reaches its peak over Christmas and New Year, the brightest fortnight of the island's year. For these weeks, the menu on board becomes part of the celebration.
Global Diners prepares VVIP inflight catering in our own kitchens in Paris, Nice and Madrid and in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports. At Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM), our specialised team prepares festive menus for every moment of the season, with delivery coordinated with your FBO or handler. This article walks through the holiday calendar, from Thanksgiving to New Year, and the menus our clients enjoy most.
The winter calendar at Princess Juliana
The Caribbean winter season brings settled weather, calm seas and a steady flow of business aviation flights from North America and Europe. Thanksgiving opens the season with a first wave of family trips. Early December is gentle and elegant, perfect for couples and small groups. From mid-December, the holiday fortnight welcomes the year's largest number of business jets, as families head for villas, yachts and nearby St Barth. The first days of January bring the return flights, often within a few hours of each other.
Period | Typical mission | Global Diners menu idea |
Thanksgiving week | Family trips from the United States | Roast turkey with cranberry, pumpkin pie, children's meals |
Early December | Couples and villa stays | Lobster salad, French cheeses, light Caribbean dishes |
Christmas week | Families, yacht guests, St Barth connections | Smoked salmon, caviar, festive mains, bûche de Noël |
New Year's Eve | Celebration flights | Canapés, caviar, champagne subject to local rules |
Early January | Return flights home | Generous breakfasts, fresh juices, comforting mains |
During these weeks, ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours is ideal. It gives our kitchens time to source festive ingredients and seafood, and it lets our team confirm every delivery time with your handler before the island's busiest days. Our guide to peak-day catering planning shares the same principles from the Riviera's high season.
Thanksgiving menus for the first wave
Thanksgiving is a celebration of family and generosity, and the menu should feel the same. Our Thanksgiving selection centres on roast turkey breast with gravy packed separately, cranberry sauce, buttery mashed potatoes, green beans and a stuffing with herbs. Pumpkin pie and pecan tart follow, with whipped cream on the side. For guests who prefer a Caribbean note, the main course can be paired with sweet potato and a tropical fruit salad.
Classic roast turkey: sliced breast with gravy, cranberry and herb stuffing, ready for galley reheating.
Seasonal sides: mashed potatoes, green beans with almonds, roasted sweet potato.
Traditional desserts: pumpkin pie, pecan tart, apple crumble.
Children's plates: smaller portions of the same dishes, or simple pasta and chicken.
Crew meals: the same festive menu for the crew, so everyone on board shares the occasion.
Christmas on board: festive menus from Sint Maarten
Christmas flights deserve something special. The Global Diners menu card already includes smoked salmon, caviar, cheese and pastries, and for the holiday weeks our kitchens add festive dishes inspired by both sides of the Atlantic. A Christmas menu might open with smoked salmon and blinis, continue with roast beef tenderloin or a delicate fish with beurre blanc, and end with a bûche de Noël, mince pies or a Caribbean black cake, the rich fruit cake traditionally made for the season across the islands.
For flights from the French side's sphere of influence, Marigot pastries and French cheeses add an elegant touch, while guavaberry, the island's signature fruit, lends a local accent to desserts. Wine and champagne are available subject to local rules, and halal, kosher, vegan and alcohol-free festive menus are available on request, each with allergen labels on every item.
The holiday fortnight is when the Caribbean shines brightest. A festive menu, served calmly, is how the celebration continues in the cabin.
New Year's Eve and the celebration flights
New Year's Eve is the high point of the season in the north-eastern Caribbean, with fireworks over Gustavia, parties on the yachts and celebrations at the villas. Some guests fly in on the day itself, others leave for a celebration elsewhere. For these flights we suggest a canapé service rather than a full meal: caviar on blinis, lobster medallions, tuna tartare spoons, mini croques and sweet bites, with champagne subject to local rules or sparkling grape juice as an elegant alcohol-free choice.
For guests continuing to St Barth (TFFJ / SBH) on New Year's Eve, light boxes for the short hop complete the order. Our article on the St Barth connection via Sint Maarten explains how both legs are planned together.
Early January: comfortable return flights
The first days of January are among the island's liveliest for departures, as families head home to Teterboro (KTEB / TEB), Miami (KMIA / MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (KFLL / FLL), and Europeans fly back to Paris (LFPB / LBG) or Nice (LFMN / NCE). After a festive week, guests often prefer comforting, lighter dishes: a generous breakfast with eggs, fresh fruit and viennoiserie, a chicken or fish main course with vegetables, and fresh juices. Return-flight catering can be included in the same order as the arrival, so the whole holiday is confirmed in one dedicated quote.
Families travelling with young children appreciate a little planning for these long return flights. Our team can prepare children's boxes with simple pasta, chicken and vegetables, fruit, yoghurt and small treats, alongside the adult menu, so parents can relax and the crew can serve everyone at the same time.
Crews spending the holidays on the island will find practical ideas in our guide to crew catering for layovers and multi-day trips.
How to order holiday catering at Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM)
Email order@globaldiners.com with the aircraft registration, dates, delivery times and passenger count for each flight of the holiday trip.
Mention the occasion, for example Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year, so our team can suggest a festive menu.
Add dietary needs, allergies, children's meals and crew meals.
Receive your dedicated quote and a written confirmation from our specialised team.
Our team coordinates every delivery time with your FBO or handler at Princess Juliana.
Coming very soon: the Global Diners client portal
The Global Diners client portal is coming very soon. It is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance, a welcome help when a holiday trip includes several flights. Until it opens, every request goes through order@globaldiners.com.
Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin High Season: Ordering Private Jet Catering at Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM)
Demand peaks from mid-December to early January, in March for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and around Carnival in April or May, so we recommend ordering early during these periods.
Event | When | Where |
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta | March | Simpson Bay and the waters around the island |
Christmas and New Year holidays | Mid-December to early January | Sint Maarten, Saint-Martin and neighbouring islands |
Caribbean superyacht season | December to April | Simpson Bay Lagoon and marinas |
St. Maarten Carnival | April to May | Philipsburg Carnival Village |
St Barths regatta connections | March to April | Routed through Princess Juliana to Saint Barthélemy |
Christmas and New Year holidays at Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM): Mid-December to early January
The holiday weeks bring the year's highest number of business jets to Princess Juliana, as families head for villas, yachts and nearby St Barths. Long-range aircraft often park here for several days while passengers continue by turboprop. Book catering early, ideally when the trip is confirmed, and remember to arrange return-flight catering in the same order. Festive menus, children's meals and generous breakfast boxes for early departures are available on request.
Event schedules are published by organisers each year and can shift, so please confirm the timing with our team when ordering.
Local flavours for flights from Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM)
The island's food reflects its Dutch, French, African and Caribbean heritage. Johnny cakes, saltfish, stewed conch, pigeon peas and rice, and callaloo are local staples, while barbecue ribs and grilled lobster from the roadside 'lolos' of Grand Case on the French side are island institutions. Fresh mahi-mahi, red snapper and spiny lobster are widely available. Marigot, the French capital, contributes bakeries, pastries and French cheeses, and the Dutch side has its own Gouda tradition. Guavaberry, a local berry made into a spiced liqueur, is the island's signature flavour, and tamarind, soursop and passion fruit appear in juices and desserts. On board, grilled lobster or shrimp served chilled with lime and herb sauces makes a simple starter, and johnny cakes filled with saltfish are a local breakfast. Caribbean-spiced chicken or fish packs well for reheating, and tropical fruit platters suit any time of day. For guests travelling on to St Barths or Anguilla, light boxes can be prepared for the second leg. Guavaberry treats, Marigot pastries and restaurant pick-up from either side of the island are all possible on request.
Also nearby: St Barth (TFFJ / SBH)
Saint-Barthélemy's airport, formerly known as Gustaf III, has a short runway between a hillside pass and the beach at Saint-Jean, so it is served by small turboprops and commuter aircraft flown by specially approved pilots. Most jet passengers fly into Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM) and complete the short hop by turboprop or sea. Visitors come for the island's villas, beaches, French restaurants and yachting, centred on the harbour at Gustavia. The season runs from December to April, with the Christmas and New Year fortnight the busiest time of the year, and the airport operates in daylight hours only.
Dining mixes French technique with Caribbean ingredients: grilled mahi-mahi, lobster, accras de morue and Creole sauces sit alongside classic bistro dishes. Gustavia's harbour front and Saint-Jean gather most restaurants and beach clubs, and lunch on the sand is an island ritual. The rue de la République and nearby streets in Gustavia hold luxury jewellery, watch and fashion boutiques, generally free of sales tax, with smaller island designers in Saint-Jean and Lorient.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM): Atlantic Aviation, Menzies Aviation St Maarten and Signature Aviation
Teterboro (KTEB / TEB): Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature Aviation
Miami (KMIA / MIA): Signature Aviation and Tursair Fueling
Fort Lauderdale (KFLL / FLL): Sheltair, Fontainebleau Aviation, Ocean Aviation and Signature Aviation
Paris (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Nice (LFMN / NCE): Signature Aviation, AviaVIP and DC Aviation G-OPS
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a Thanksgiving menu for a flight from Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM)?
Yes. Roast turkey with gravy and cranberry, seasonal sides and pumpkin pie are available on request, with reheating guidance for every hot dish. Mention the occasion in your request to order@globaldiners.com.
How early should I order catering over Christmas and New Year?
We recommend ordering 24 hours ahead as a rule, and a little earlier during the holiday fortnight, ideally when the trip is confirmed. Return-flight catering can be included in the same order.
Is champagne available for New Year flights?
Wine and champagne are available subject to local rules. Sparkling grape juice and fresh tropical juices make elegant alcohol-free alternatives.
Can the crew share the festive menu?
Yes. Crew meals can follow the same festive menu as the passengers, or a simpler selection, as you prefer.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM)
Private jet catering in Teterboro (KTEB / TEB)
Private jet catering in Miami (KMIA / MIA)
Celebrating the season in the Caribbean?
From the first Thanksgiving flights to the last return of January, Global Diners brings festive menus, one specialised team and our kitchens to Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM). Send us your holiday schedule, and we will prepare a dedicated quote so every flight of the season feels like part of the celebration.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
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