FCCA has been absolutely crucial in our development,” Commissioner RoyCamille added. That support and guidance has paid particular dividends for Martinique in terms of attracting new cruise lines to feature Martinique in their itineraries. “Just a few short years ago, passengers would have to search long and hard to find Martinique in the major cruise itineraries,” said Roy-Camille. “Even the small handful of cruise lines that stopped here only did so infrequently. Partnering with the FCCA changed all that in a big way.” During the 2014-2015 cruise season, all of the major U.S. and European cruise lines will call Fort-de-France, including four visits by Royal Caribbean International’s celebrated Quantum of the Seas in her inaugural season and nine calls by Jewel of the Seas. Notably, Carnival Splendor and Norwegian Pearl are also making their first-ever stops in Martinique this winter. Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and the German operators TUI and AIDA will also visit Fort-deFrance this season. The growing strength in Martinique’s cruise sector isn’t solely confined to port calls, however. The island is emerging as an excellent homeport option for major cruise lines, as well. Already Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, Croisière
de France, Club Med Cruises, and le Ponant are taking advantage of the newly modernized cruise terminals in Fort-de-France, along with the recent expansion in nonstop air service to the island from the U.S. mainland, Canada, and Europe to anchor attractive itineraries in Martinique. “In all, covering port calls and homeporting for the 2014-2015 season, we’re projecting more than 300,000 cruise passengers among the 176 port calls, so the upward trend we’ve enjoyed since 2010 is continuing,” said Roy-Camille. The increase in cruise passengers, up more than 45 percent over the previous year, and port calls, up nearly 30 percent, haven’t gone unnoticed on the local level either. The trickledown effect has been profound, yielding subtle, yet meaningful, improvements to the overall visitor experience for passengers while in port.
with cruise passengers in mind. A Cruise Village providing a vibrant and colorful welcome to “The Isle of Flowers,” for instance, was initially launched for the 2013-2014 cruising season. In it, cruise passengers are met with English-speaking vendors accepting U.S. dollars for all types of local arts, crafts, jewelry, skin care products, perfumes, designer accessories and souvenirs. Helpful and informative guides are also on hand offering tips on what to see, do, taste, and experience during port calls in Fort-de-France. For entertainment, The Cruise Village features live music with Creole dance performances at regular intervals. Tastings of Martinique’s legendary rhum agricole brands, the only rums in the world that carry the prestigious A.O.C. seal of exceptional quality, are also available. The Cruise Village is located right at the entrance to the Pointe Simon Cruise Terminal, making it impossible to miss for passengers disembarking there.
“As more and more U.S. cruise lines have committed to Martinique, more of our local merchants have started accepting U.S. dollars. Along the same lines, more than 200 staff from local stores enrolled in English classes over the summer months last year. In short, Martinique is rolling out the red carpet for American cruise passengers like never before.”
“Much of the thinking that went into developing the Cruise Village, new interactive walking guides of Fort-de-France, and other recent product improvements came from our interaction with the FCCA,” said Roy-Camille. “In every way, they’ve proven to be a truly indispensible asset in our business development, one that we intend to tap into as we continue to strive for success in the cruise sector.”
That red carpet includes several new innovations developed expressly
For more information, visit www.martinique.org. First Quarter 2015 • Cruising Magazine 51