Sea cruises to Martinique — page 24

We recommend flying in the day before the cruise begins.

• Arrive at the port 2–3 hours before departure.
• When booking an airport–port transfer, allow at least 5 hours between landing and the scheduled sailing.

No. Martinique and Guadeloupe are French overseas departments, and therefore part of the European Union and the Schengen area. Ukrainian citizens with a biometric passport need no visa, and Polish citizens, as EU nationals, do not either. A US visa is required only for itineraries departing from the United States.

The category holds 661 sailings (snapshot of 9 July 2026). The bulk falls within the winter season, from December to early April. The itineraries are operated by MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises.

Most often St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis. Departure and return are at Fort-de-France on Martinique or Pointe-à-Pitre on Guadeloupe. Typical length is 7 or 14 nights.

The season runs November to April and peaks from December to early April: comfortable weather and the widest choice of programmes. In November the ships are still crossing from Europe, and in April they return, so transatlantic Europe–Caribbean itineraries are available in those months.

The main hubs are Paris and Frankfurt, served most often by Air France and Condor. A direct flight from Europe takes about nine hours. From Poland, Moldova or Ukraine, total journey time with a connection runs from 13 to 18 hours.

Yes. MSC offers turnkey packages: departure from Paris or Frankfurt, a meet-and-greet at the airport, a transfer to the ship and back. The price covers the cruise, the transfers and the flights. Center Cruises clients frequently choose this option.

Demand is growing: travellers usually take two to four nights on Martinique and hire a car. Often a better solution exists, though: instead of a seven-night cruise plus a hotel, take fourteen nights. The same ship runs two different itineraries that combine neatly, so the holiday is longer and the experience richer.

Miami offers the world's widest choice of ships, including the newest mega-vessels, but requires a US visa and almost a full day of travel with a connection. Martinique and Guadeloupe offer fewer ships — compact MSC and Costa vessels — but no visa barrier, a direct nine-hour flight from Paris, and packages that include flights and transfers.