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If you’re going on a Caribbean cruise that will include Martinique as a port of call or if you’re just thinking about a cruise vacation, you may want more information about this French-speaking island that is located just north of Saint Lucia and Barbados and south of Puerto Rico.

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.

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Martinique Cruise Village

Martinique has recently started a new initiative to welcome its cruise visitors, the Martinique Cruise Village, a complex consisting of vendors and information points, located at Pointe Simon, at the entrance of downtown Fort-de-France.

Open for arrivals of vessels at the Pointe Simon Cruise Terminal, the Village will be in place on these calls days, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, through the season, until Friday April 18th.

Vendors include local clothing, jewelry and accessory designers, locally produced skin care products and perfumes, souvenir shops, local artists exhibiting their paintings and tasty snacks.  All vendors accept payment in US Dollars.

The experience is enhanced with live local music, entertainment, rum tasting, and greetings by multi-lingual hostesses. Our local AOC rums will soon be available for sale and visitors will be able to bring back the perfect souvenir to their loved ones.

The Martinique Tourism Authority and the Fort de France tourist office also have booths onsite to assist visitors in designing their perfect day in Martinique.

Further into the city, visitors will be assisted by “city stewards” easily noticeable by their red jacket uniform. These multi-lingual local guides, dispatched through the city are always handy to answers questions, give directions or just welcome visitors.

This season Martinique welcomes calls from Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Aida, Seabourn, Star Clippers, Club Med, Compagnie du Ponant, Costa, MSC, Sea Cloud and Swan Hellenic.

* All pictures of Martinique Cruise Village are copyright MICHA for the Martinique Tourism Authority.

 

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ENTRY FORMALITIES FOR CRUISE VISITORS DURING THEIR SHIP’S CALL IN MARTINIQUE

1/ Transit pax

Don't need Visa

 Need Visa

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

  • Citizens of the European Economic Community
  • Citizens of the United States
  • Citizens of Canada
  • Citizens of Japan

Passengers requiring a visa must hold one of the following:

  • a currently valid Schengen visa, regardless of the terms of the visa and the issuing country
  • a valid visa for the United States
  • a currently valid residence permit issued by a member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco or San Marino
  • or a currently valid residence permit issued by Canada, Japan, or the United States of America

For passengers not fulfilling the above requirements, a visa waiver (special authorization) can be issued in their favor by the Prefecture of Martinique (French Government Administrative Office). To that end, a separate list with full details (names, dates of birth, passport numbers etc.) as well as the copies of related passports, will must be sent to the Prefecture 48 hours prior to ship’s arrival by the designated ship’s agency. If the list is received after this 48 hours delay, the passengers concerned must stay on board.

2/ Passengers starting their cruise in Martinique

Passengers of restricted nationalities will not be allowed to start their cruise in Martinique if they do not have the appropriate immigration documents.

3/ Passengers ending their cruise in Martinique

For nationalities requiring a visa, the port immigration officers will have to stamp their passports before leaving the ship”