Forte de France, Martinique

Martinique is a dependent territory of France and retains both French and Caribbean culture. It is a rich, highly developed island with a six-lane highway, huge shopping malls, and some of the finest restaurants in the Caribbean. Fort-de-France is the island's capital city as well as its cultural and commercial hub. It is a cosmopolitan, fast paced city which is the largest on the island.

Just off the wharf is a city park called La Savane where there is a now-headless statue of Empress Josephine, first wife of Napoléon and perhaps the most famous person born on Martinique.

Just across the Rue de la Liberté from Josephine is the Bibliothèque Shoelcher, a stunningly beautiful building. It was built of iron in Paris by the architect of the Eiffel Tower and transported to Fort de France in 1890. It houses a collection of books donated by Victor Shoelcher.

Things to See & Do

* Musée de la Pagerie - sugar estate
* La Savane - central park
* Les Ombrages botanical gardens
* Les Salines beach
* Shop in Downtown Forte de France

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - euro (EUR)
Language - French, Creole
Land Area - 1,101sq km
Population - 425,000
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code - 596

Port Location - Cruise ships land at Pointe Simon in the Capital city of Fort-de-France.

Transport Links - All flights to Martinique arrive at Lamentin International Airport, just a 10-minute drive from Fort-de-France. Flights are available to and from Paris daily and from cities on the east coast of the US.

Public transportation, the cheapest transport option, consists of buses known as taxi collectifs. Cars, bikes and motorbikes are available for rent. Ferries run between Fort de France and the main resort area of Pointe Du Bout.