Cruises

If you’re going on a Caribbean cruise that will call at Martinique or if you’re just thinking about a cruise vacation, either way you may want more information about this French-speaking island that lies just north of Saint Lucia and Barbados and further south than Puerto Rico or Jamaica.

Martinique Cruise Update 2011 - 2012

MARTINIQUE c'est Magnifique!

Five cruise ships originally scheduled for St. Lucia diverted to Martinique

Named "Top Caribbean Destination for Delectable Dining of the Year 2009" by Caribbean Travel + Life Magazine and Top Caribbean Destination" by About.com in 2010, Martinique is an overseas region of France that stirs the passions with distinctive culinary delights, awe-inspiring natural beauty, a rich cultural history, warm smiles and so much more.

Download the PDF brochure

15 TOP REASONS TO VISIT MARTINIQUE ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE!

1. An elegant Caribbean island which offers a delightful mix of French and Caribbean influences.
2. Hearty welcome ashore.
3. Cruise boats dock close to downtown Fort de France, located on one of the largest bays in the world.
4. Brand new Malecon waterfront promenade, with a range of facilities offered to the visitors.
5. An updated choice of tours and leisure opportunities, including new segway and carriage rides.
6. A wide array of excellent shopping options, just a few steps from the cruise terminal.
7. A refined & exquisite Creole cuisine mixed with French influences.
8. Saint-Pierre, Classified City of Art and History considered the little Pompeii of the Caribbean.
9. A bounty of historical sites and museums.
10. Total freedom of transportation, no quota requirements.
11. Reliable and professional quality of taxi drivers’ service.
12. Safe and secure environment.
13. Excellent port facilities.
14. Strict respect of ISPS code.
15. No head tax applied.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS

Passengers with the following nationalities may enter Martinique without a visa:

United States of America citizens
Canadian citizens
European Economic Community (EEC) citizens
Brazil citizens
In addition, a visa is waived for citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Moncao, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela

Non-EEC citizens who are subject to a visa to enter Martinique must hold:

A valid Schengen visa delivered in France, or in any European Union member country or a valid residence permit issued by one of the European Union member states, or by one of the EEC states, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, or a valid residence permit issued in the United States of America, Canada or Japan.
• Passengers and crew members who do not meet the above conditions may not leave the ship.
For more details please contact your nearest French Consulate.
Visit also www.ambafrance-us.org for a listing of all French Consulates

Cruise guests are given personalized and friendly reception upon their arrival at Martinique's Tourelles and Pointe Simon Terminals.

Hostesses in Creole costumes greet guests with a beaming smile and handing out practical tourist information leaflets and maps.
Uniformed Taxi dispatchers assist visitors in arranging local transportation.
Knowledgeable professionals give useful tips on how to spend the day in Martinique.
Local musicians welcome visitors with lively Caribbean tunes.

Bilingual street guides, wearing white and red uniforms, are posted in strategic areas to greet and inform cruise visitors
Tourist information offices are located downtown (corner of rues Schoelcher & Antoine Siger next to the Saint-Louis Cathedral, 76 rue Lazare Carnot). If you have any questions regarding the Martinique capital, please consult the website of the tourist office of Fort-de-France: www.tourismefdf.com
New Restaurants Debut in Fort-de-France and Schoelcher
Le Gossip

Le Gossip is the talk of the town among young, hip locals in Martinique. A restaurant, boutique and art gallery all in one, Le Gossip regularly hosts fashion shows, poetry readings, wine tastings, and more in a lively downtown Fort-de-France location.
Le Césaire

Named in honor of Martinique's famed poet, Aimé Césaire, this charming eatery located in downtown Fort-de-France features the culinary creations of Chef Harold Jeanville, formerly of Ti' Foyaal and Lenotre in Paris where he worked alongside such culinary masters as Pierre Hermé and Alain Ducasse. The dynamic menu changes daily, ensuring a unique dining experience with every visit.
Lili's Beach Bar & Restaurant

Martinique's newest hot spot to see and be seen, Lili's is a chic beachfront bar and restaurant located at the La Batliere hotel in Schoelcher, just 10 min from downtown Fort-France. New menu choices are served up daily under the auspices of Chef Johnny Vahey, a native of Ireland who apprenticed under renowned celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey. Chef Vahey describes the cuisine as refined Caribbean/Creole with French accents and an emphasis on fresh, local products. The gourmet fare runs counter to Lili's casual, laid-back setting, lending a uniquely alluring, tropical style epitomizing the French Riviera in the Caribbean.

New attractions for cruise visitors

Discovering the Balata Gardens' canopy on aerial paths.

Balata Bridge Canopy Located only seven miles from Fort-de-France, and very much appreciated by our cruise guests and nature-lovers, the Balata Gardens of Martinique now offer an incredible innovating experience to its visitors by allowing them to explore its luxuriant canopy while comfortably strolling on fifteen-meter high wooden bridges running over the tops of one hundred-year-old trees and giving a magical breathtaking aerial view of the garden, the bay of Fort-de-France and the Carbet Pitons. The Balata Gardens are a real master piece and an internationally-renowned reference for the richness of its botanical collections.

Balata Garden
Route de Balata
97200 Fort de France
Tel : 011 596 596 64 48 73
Email : jardin-balata@wanadoo.fr
www.jardindebalata.com

Depaz distillery opens its "Château" to the public.

Depaz Castle Being one of the most visited venues by cruise guests, the Depaz Distillery has recently opened its plantation house to the public.
Surrounded by a well-tended park and beautifully nestled at the foot of the majestic and famed Mount Pelée, the plantation house of the former master shelters a precious collection of artifacts, archive documents, Creole costumes, and antique furniture. A real invitation to a wonderful voyage into the life of yesteryear!