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Travel InformationFort De France Cruises, Martinique
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French and Caribbean flavours combine in Martinique’s Fort de France. Here, you can sip rum punch and sunbathe in a palm tree-dotted park, in between shopping for Yves Saint Laurent clothes and touring sites designed by Gustave Eiffel. Vendors shout out their catch of the day – in French – at the Creole market. And in the restaurants, crêpes are served alongside spicy Caribbean chicken.
• You’ll see the Fort St Louis as you come in to port – this 15th-century castle is perched on a headland next to the marina. It’s an active military base, but visitors are allowed in for guided tours. Keep an eye out for the iguanas that roam through the grounds.
• Designed by the man behind Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the Schoelcher Library is one of the city’s most eye-catching buildings. Its colourful exterior is topped by a Byzantine dome. Inside, it’s a bit like a museum, with antique books and furniture on display, while also lending books to the public.
• The Balata Gardens are a complete contrast to the city’s urban centre. Towering trees frame lagoon-like ponds, while hummingbirds flit between rainbow-coloured flowers. Climb to the top of one of the suspended walkways for the best view.
SHORE EXCURSIONS View all excursions
St Pierre & Rum Distillery
This tour mixes local history with the local tipple. And the first stop is Balata Church. Don’t be surprised if this white-domed beauty looks familiar – it’s a scaled-down replica of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris. It’s then onto a rum distillery. You’ll not only get a tour, but a tasting session of Martinique rum. Next up is St Pierre - the Caribbean equivalent to Pompeii. In 1902 over 30,000 people were killed when Mount Pelee erupted. The museum relives the disaster and tells the story of a prisoner who managed to escape death by lava. Finally, there’s a little more history in store. Le Carbet is a small fishing village made famous in 1502 when Christopher Columbus landed here.
Kayaking Mangroves
Had your fill of sunbathing and swimming? This is one for the more active crowd. You’ll first travel to a nearby islet to pick up your kayaks. And with paddles at the ready, you’ll head off into the quiet mangroves. You’ll be in the water about 40 minutes, gliding under tropical canopies. And red and black mangrove trees sprout from the water. Guides are on hand to make sure you get the most out of the day and help you perfect your technique. Plus there’s plenty of time to chill with a fruit juice, or swim in the sea before taking the boat back to the ship.
Beach Break & Snorkel
A must for anybody who wants to explore life under the waves, this one drops anchor at two great snorkelling sites. First up is Anse-Dufour. You’ll get a great view of the beach itself, with white sands fringed by palms. Crew members are on hand to help fit your snorkelling gear, and brief you on the kind of sea creatures you’re likely to see. You’ll have about 40 here, before going back to the boat and sailing off to the next spot – the Bat Cave. This place teems with tropical fish. In fact, it feels like snorkelling in an aquarium, with angelfish and parrot-fish among the brightly colour species. After another 40-minute session, it’s time to make you’re way back to the ship.