by Brian Major
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Thu February 19, 2015
PHOTO: Tours are now available of Martinique's 17th century Fort Saint-Louis. (Photo by Brian Major)
Easily one of the most distinctive Caribbean nations, highlighted by an exotic, historic waterfront capital city in Fort-de-France, Martinique has nevertheless struggled to progress beyond secondary status as a cruise ship destination.
Officially an overseas region of France, Martinique's 177,786 cruise ship visitors in 2014 ranks 25th among the 28 destinations tracked by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Yet last year's cruise visitor total represents a 71 percent increase over 2013. In fact, Martinique has recorded a 524 percent increase in cruise ship guests since 2010.
The cruise ship arrivals have increase is due in large part to capital improvements at the Fort-de-France cruise port and new and enhanced attractions, according to officials at the Martinique Promotion Bureau.
Moreover, the island's tourism stakeholders are forecasting a strong 2014-2015 cruise season, with several major U.S. and European cruise lines scheduled to make calls at Fort-de-France this season. The visits will be highlighted by calls from one of the largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean International's 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas, which will visit Martinique four times in January, March and April.
In addition to a variety of tours available in easy-to-reach areas around the capital city, cruise-ship visitors can opt for walking tours of Fort-de-France.
The city's attractions range from the historic Schoelcher Library and Saint Louis Cathedral to the Aime Césaire Theater Museum, housed in a historic theater building that was once the mayoral office of the Martinique-born poet, author, politician and founder of French literature's Négritude movement.
Tourists can now also visit the city's iconic 17th-century Fort Saint-Louis, which had been closed to public viewing until this year.
Visitors can arrange for guided tours at the Fort-de-France Tourism Board's information kiosk in Fort-de-France's Place de la Savane park, steps from the cruise pier. A popular local gathering spot, the park features a statue of Martinique-born Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon.
The statue was beheaded sometime during the 1990s, reputedly by individuals who blame the colonial-era monarch for supporting slavery's re-establishment on the island.
Travelers can view multiple Fort-de-France sites via Cyclo'comm, transport vehicles which seat one to three passengers. Driver-guides take visitors to 14 historic sites around downtown Fort-de-France.
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