Sonesta Maho Beach Resort has turned its rooftop into a full-scale all-inclusive adventure deck, and the property is already marketing the product as soft open for summer 2026 bookings.
Travelers comparing St Maarten family all-inclusives should treat Pelican’s Nest Sky Deck as a real amenity change, not a brochure slogan.
The resort says the 59,000 square foot rooftop is fully included in the stay, with mini golf, a climbing wall, entertainment, and morning fitness space now part of the base package.
- Product: Pelican’s Nest Sky Deck on Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.
- Soft open: Official site lists June 8, 2026 as the soft open date.
- Scale: About 59,000 square feet of rooftop adventure and entertainment.
- Price model: Activities are included in the all-inclusive stay, not sold as add-ons.
- Where: Maho Beach, St Maarten, minutes from Princess Juliana Airport.
What Sonesta says is open now
On the official Pelican’s Nest Sky Deck page, Sonesta labels the rooftop the Caribbean’s first all-inclusive rooftop adventure experience and states that it soft opened on June 8, 2026.
The page frames the deck as an open-air playground for families, couples, and groups, with no hidden fees language on included access.
That is the core traveler claim: the rooftop is part of the stay math, not a paid day pass stacked on top of room rates.
Sonesta’s earlier April 21, 2026 PR Newswire release put the size at 59,000 square feet and described phase one programming around mini golf, rock climbing, a kids’ play area, multi-sport simulators, a rooftop running track, and a plaza with live performance space.
The same release quoted Saro Spadaro, president and CEO of The Maho Group, calling the deck a destination within a destination. Treat that as management positioning, not independent proof of every activity hour.
For guests comparing island days on and off property, Deep Arrival’s St Maarten day guide remains useful for beaches, Maho plane spotting, and shore logistics beyond the hotel fence.
What is included on the deck
The operator page lists Birdie Bay Mini Golf as an 18-hole rooftop course and a three-story rock climbing wall paired with a spiral Spider Tube slide.
It also lists an interactive sports simulator, a rooftop running track with fitness stations, a kids’ playground zone, shuffleboard, and the Birdie Bay Bar for drinks and views.
Entertainment is part of the pitch. The PR release and property marketing both describe live music, family game shows, movie nights, and rotating interactive challenges from day into evening.
One timing detail matters for July arrivals. The official Sky Deck page says the interactive sports simulator is available from July 15, 2026.
That means early summer soft-open guests should not assume every named station was open on the first soft-open day.
Phase two is still future work. The April release says a 2027 expansion could add zip lines and FlowRider surf simulators.
That is a pipeline claim, not a current amenity you can book this week.
Who this changes the stay decision for
Sonesta Maho Beach is the family-facing resort in the Sonesta Resorts St Maarten pair. The adults-only sister property is Sonesta Ocean Point.
Guests who want kids’ clubs, multi-age rooftop play, and beach access should evaluate Maho Beach. Do not assume both brands carry the same rooftop product.
The property sits on St Maarten’s southwest shore beside Maho Beach and near Princess Juliana International Airport. Plane spotting remains a separate beach activity outside the rooftop story.
The deck does not replace beach days. It adds a second vertical activity layer when heat, crowds, or flight-watching plans need a break.
Travelers planning a wider French Quarter and Philipsburg mix can pair the resort product with Deep Arrival’s St Martin things to do guide for dual-side island routing and non-hotel days.
Cruise guests who only have one port day in St Maarten should not treat this as a default shore plan.
The Sky Deck is a hotel amenity for resort guests, not a public day ticket product described on the official pages reviewed for this report.
How to compare it against other all-inclusives
Guest letters and resort booking chats still matter for height rules, weather holds, and bar hours. Those details rarely appear fully on the marketing page.
If you are flying into Princess Juliana, Maho’s location cuts transfer time versus east-side resorts. That can free an extra hour for rooftop time on arrival day.
The useful comparison is not whether Maho has a pool. It is whether an included rooftop adventure deck changes the value of a multi-night package versus a cheaper beach-only all-inclusive with paid activity menus.
Ask for current hours, weather closures, age or height rules on the climbing wall and slide, and whether the sports simulator needs reservations.
Official marketing says access is included. Operations details can still gate how often a family can use peak-demand stations.
Also separate confirmed soft-open language from phase two renderings. Zip lines and FlowRider belong in the 2027 watch list until Sonesta publishes open dates.
If your trip is built around Maho Beach plane spotting, keep that as a beach-level plan. Use the Sky Deck when the beach is crowded or kids need structured activity between meals and water time.
| If you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| Booking a family Maho stay for 2026 | Confirm Sonesta Maho Beach, not Ocean Point, and count Pelican’s Nest in the value math. |
| Traveling before mid-July 2026 | Expect soft-open programming and wait until July 15 for the sports simulator. |
| Comparing paid-activity resorts | Price food and drinks first, then treat listed Sky Deck activities as included extras. |
| On a St Maarten cruise call only | Do not assume public day access unless the hotel confirms a day product. |
| Shopping a 2027 thrill trip | Wait for phase two open dates before paying for zip lines or FlowRider. |
- Package choice: Prefer Maho Beach over Ocean Point when rooftop family play is a decision driver.
- Daily plan: Use the deck for heat breaks, evening shows, and shared family activity blocks.
- Budget: Count listed Sky Deck activities as included unless your rate rules say otherwise.
- Timing: Soft open is current; phase two thrills remain a 2027 pipeline.
- Island days: Keep beach and dual-side St Martin touring as separate plans from rooftop hours.
The practical next step is simple. If a Maho all-inclusive quote already fits your dates, ask the resort or your advisor to confirm that Pelican’s Nest remains included on those nights and which stations are operating during your stay window.
When did Pelican’s Nest Sky Deck soft open?
Sonesta’s official Sky Deck page lists a soft open date of June 8, 2026. The April press release had pointed to an early June phase one debut, so use the operator page as the current status language.
Is the rooftop included in the all-inclusive rate?
Sonesta markets Pelican’s Nest experiences as fully included in the all-inclusive stay, with no add-on fee language on the official page. Always recheck your specific rate rules before travel.
What activities are available on the Sky Deck?
Operator materials list mini golf, a climbing wall with tube slide, a sports simulator, running track, kids’ play area, shuffleboard, bar service, and live entertainment. The sports simulator is listed as available from July 15, 2026.
Is this at the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point?
Pelican’s Nest is marketed for family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, not for adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point.
Can cruise passengers visit for a day?
The official pages reviewed for this story describe a hotel amenity for resort guests, not a public day ticket. Cruise visitors should verify any day access separately before counting on it for a port call.
