Fort-de-France Martinique

825 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Costa Cruises (125 Cruises)

Cruise COS Costa Cruises Favolosa ship

Costa Favolosa

4066 Passengers
114500 tons
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Costa Serena.

Costa Serena

3780 Passengers
114500 tons
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Holland America Line (40 Cruises)

MSC Cruises (390 Cruises)

msc meraviglia cruise ship

MSC Meraviglia

4500 Passengers
167600 tons
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msc opera cruise ship

MSC Opera

2150 Passengers
65591 tons
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MSC World Europa3

MSC World Europa

5400 Passengers
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Ponant (44 Cruises)

LE BOUGAINVILLE.

Le Bougainville

184 Passengers
9 tons
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Princess Cruises (24 Cruises)

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (17 Cruises)

Silversea Cruises (34 Cruises)

Star Clippers (81 Cruises)

Royal Clipper

Royal Clipper

333 Passengers
4425 tons
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Virgin Voyages (16 Cruises)

Fort-de-France Port, Martinique | Cruise Port Guide & Shore Excursions

The harbour opens up, wide and calm, and the first thing visible from the deck is a stone promontory bristling with cannons that has stood guard since the seventeenth century. Behind it, Fort-de-France climbs in tiers toward the hills, with the distant silhouette of the Pitons du Carbet as a backdrop. A French port of call at the heart of the Lesser Antilles, Martinique's capital is experienced in French, in euros, and to a Creole rhythm.

From the Pier to the Heart of Town in Ten Minutes

The Pointe Simon terminal puts passengers just 500 metres from the centre: walk along the waterfront and you arrive at La Savane, the large park planted with royal palms that serves as the city's living room. Across from it, Fort Saint-Louis, still an active naval base, can be visited with a guide; from atop the ramparts, the view runs the length of the bay, taking in the ship and the tightly packed rooftops of the historic quarter.

The Library That Came from Paris

At the corner of La Savane stands Martinique's most photographed landmark: the Schœlcher Library, a flight of fancy in iron, glass, and mosaic designed by Henri Picq, first shown in Paris at the 1889 Exposition before being dismantled and shipped here by boat. It still functions as a public library, and visitors can step inside to leaf through a newspaper beneath its dome. A few streets away, Saint-Louis Cathedral, by the same architect, points its metal spire above the shopping streets.

Markets, Spices, and Creole Streets

The large covered market, a metal-framed hall from the late nineteenth century, is fragrant with cinnamon, vanilla, and colombo spice blend. Vendors sell flavoured rums, tropical flowers, and peppers in every colour, with conversation thrown in for free. Around it, Rue Victor-Hugo and Rue de la République line up shops, pastry counters, and façades with wrought-iron balconies. This is the moment for a codfish fritter eaten standing at the counter, or a glass of iced cane juice.

Balata, the Forest on Display

About twenty minutes up into the hills, the Balata Garden brings together nearly 3,000 tropical species around a Creole house: rows of pink porcelain roses, giant water-lily ponds, hummingbirds hovering in mid-air. Suspended walkways fifteen metres above the ground let visitors walk through the canopy of century-old mahogany trees. Along the same road, the Sacré-Cœur de Balata church, a scaled-down replica of the Montmartre basilica, comes as a surprise around a bend.

Across the Bay

Water shuttles departing from the waterfront cross the harbour in twenty minutes to Anse Mitan and Les Trois-Îlets: shaded shores, restaurants right on the sand, and a view of the city from the opposite shore. A simple way to end the stop in warm water, well away from any traffic.

The Farewell

As the ship casts off, Fort Saint-Louis passes by one last time to starboard and the mountain lights up in the evening glow. Fort-de-France doesn't reveal itself all at once: it blends France, Africa, and the Caribbean along the same street, sometimes on the same plate. Visitors leave with a bag of spices tucked away and a few words of Creole picked up at the market.

Practical Notes

  • Pointe Simon terminal, 500 metres from the centre; some ships dock at Les Tourelles, further out, with shuttle service.
  • Currency: the euro; cards are widely accepted, but the market prefers cash.
  • The Balata Garden is reached by taxi or excursion (about 10 kilometres along winding roads).
  • Frequent water shuttles run to the other side of the harbour: check the last return time before boarding.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the Pointe Simon terminal, 500 metres from the centre: you follow the waterfront and reach La Savane in about ten minutes. Some ships, however, berth at Les Tourelles, further out, with a shuttle. Check which one appears on your itinerary.
Yes, the whole historic centre. La Savane, Fort Saint-Louis, the Schœlcher library, the cathedral and the covered market fit within a few streets. Only the Balata garden, up in the hills, requires a taxi or an excursion.
It is Martinique's most photographed building: a fantasy of iron, glass and mosaic designed by Henri Picq, shown in Paris at the 1889 Exposition, then dismantled and shipped here. It still functions as a public library, and you can step in and leaf through a newspaper under its dome.
The centre on foot in the morning: La Savane, the Schœlcher library, St Louis cathedral and the covered market. In the afternoon, choose between the Balata garden up in the hills and a ferry across to Anse Mitan to finish with your feet in the water.
A late 19th-century iron hall fragrant with cinnamon, vanilla and colombo spice. The vendors sell infused rums, tropical flowers and chillies in every colour, conversation included. It is the place to pick up a bag of spices and a few words of Creole.
It is a tropical garden about twenty minutes' drive up in the hills, gathering nearly 3,000 species around a Creole house: rows of pink porcelain flowers, giant water lily ponds, hummingbirds hovering. Walkways suspended fifteen metres up let visitors walk through the crowns of century-old mahoganies.
Yes, with a guide: it is still an active naval base. From the ramparts, the view runs along the bay, your ship and the packed roofs of the historic quarter. The stone spur bristling with cannon has stood guard over the harbour since the 17th century.
Yes. The ferries leaving from the waterfront cross the bay in twenty minutes to Anse Mitan and Les Trois-Îlets: shaded shores, restaurants with their feet in the sand and a view of the city from the far side. Check the time of the last return before boarding.
The euro and French: Martinique is a French department, and the call is experienced in French, in euros and to a Creole rhythm. Cards are widely accepted, but the market prefers cash. Creole is the language of daily life.
A cod accra eaten standing at a counter, or an iced cane juice, along rue Victor-Hugo and rue de la République with their shops, pastry counters and wrought-iron balconies. The covered market also sells infused rums and colombo spice to take home.