Martinique at Seatrade Cruise Med 2026: building the future of cruise tourism in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

On 16–17 September 2026, Martinique took part in Seatrade Cruise Med, one of the cruise industry’s leading international events, as part of the Caribbean Village in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The Martinican delegation brought together key stakeholders from across the cruise tourism ecosystem, including the Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique, the Martinique Tourism Authority, Antilles Shipping, Roger Albert Voyages and Chautram. Together, they engaged with leading cruise companies, including MSC Cruises, Carnival UK, Four Seasons Yachts, Silversea, Costa Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Marella Cruises and Star Clippers.
Discussions focused on upcoming cruise seasons, opportunities to develop calls to Martinique and evolving passenger expectations, with particular emphasis on enhancing the visitor experience ashore.

Beyond increasing the number of cruise calls, Martinique’s ambition is to make cruise tourism a stronger driver of economic value for the island. This means offering passengers a distinctive and authentic experience that encourages them to discover the destination’s many assets, from its culture, gastronomy and heritage to its arts, shopping, craftsmanship and natural environment.
Achieving this ambition also means highlighting the complementary strengths of Martinique’s cruise destinations. Fort-de-France, Saint-Pierre, Les Trois-Îlets, Les Anses-d’Arlet and Le Marin each offer a different gateway to the island, providing passengers with a diverse range of experiences and opportunities to explore Martinique beyond the port of call.

The delegation also met with CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) to discuss broader industry trends, as well as the specific challenges and opportunities facing Caribbean destinations and the French West Indies.
These exchanges provided an opportunity to share perspectives on the future of cruise tourism in the region and the importance of strengthening dialogue between destinations and industry stakeholders.
Discussions with Oxford Economics focused on how to better assess the economic impact of cruise tourism in Martinique, by sector and by port. Developing a more detailed understanding of the economic benefits generated by cruise activity will help identify where value is created and inform future strategic decisions and investments.

Martinique’s participation in the Caribbean Village also highlighted the importance of a more collective regional approach. By strengthening cooperation between Caribbean destinations, the region can gain greater visibility, foster dialogue on shared challenges and opportunities, and establish a stronger voice within the international cruise industry.
Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen industry relationships, explore new development opportunities and reaffirm a shared ambition: to build a more sustainable and economically valuable future for cruise tourism in Martinique, while delivering an authentic and memorable experience for visitors.
The Martinique Tourism Authority thanks all members of the delegation for their collaboration and continued commitment to the destination.