Martinique is France in the Caribbean — and that distinction matters practically, culturally, and culinarily. As an overseas territory of France, Martinique uses the Euro, follows French law, and offers the experience of genuine French culture — bakeries, bistros, Bordeaux — against a backdrop of volcanic mountains, jungle-covered hills, and turquoise Caribbean water. It is unlike any other island in the Lesser Antilles, and Sailors who approach it as a standard beach stop consistently wish they’d treated it more like a destination.
Fort-de-France: The City
Fort-de-France is Martinique’s capital and cruise port — a proper French city with a daily covered market selling spices, rum, tropical fruits, and crafts, a cathedral that wouldn’t look out of place in a French provincial town, and the kind of street-level café culture that makes wandering the downtown genuinely pleasurable. The Savàne waterfront park is lined with palm trees and faces the harbor where Virgin Voyages ships dock.
Best Things to Do
Martinique rum distillery tour: Martinique produces AOC-designated rhum agricole — rum made from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, with a flavor profile that distinguishes it completely from other Caribbean rum styles. The Habitation Clément and Depaz distilleries both offer excellent tours with tastings.
Mount Pelée: The active volcano that destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre in 1902 — one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in recorded history — now offers hiking through the cloud forest on its slopes with views over the northern part of the island. Not for casual walkers, but extraordinary for those prepared for the climb.
Saint-Pierre: The former “Paris of the Caribbean,” destroyed by the 1902 eruption, now partially preserved as an open-air archaeological site. The remains of the theater, jail (whose only survivor, supposedly protected by his cell walls), and submerged ship wrecks tell a haunting story.
Beaches: Les Salines on the south coast is widely considered Martinique’s finest beach — a long, palm-lined arc of fine sand accessible by taxi or rental car.
Rum tasting and French lunch: The combination of a morning distillery tour and afternoon lunch at a Fort-de-France bistro with ti’ punch and Créole cuisine is one of the best port day experiences in the entire Virgin Voyages Caribbean network.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Learn a few French phrases. English is widely spoken in tourist contexts but French is the daily language. Even a simple “bonjour” and “merci” goes a long way in a French island culture.
- Get to the market early. The Fort-de-France covered market is best in the morning before the heat and crowds build.
- The rhum agricole is genuinely worth a distillery visit. Even for Sailors who don’t typically drink rum, the AOC-designated rhum agricole of Martinique is a specific product with a specific terroir story. The distillery tours are excellent.
Ready to Sail?
As certified First Mates, Joel and Erin can help you choose the right Virgin Voyages Lesser Antilles itinerary and plan your Martinique day properly.
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