Martinique Showcases Unique Cruise Appeal at Cruise360

Martinique made waves at Cruise360 with a dynamic presentation titled “Sail Away to Martinique’s Hidden Treasures,” showcasing the island’s evolving cruise infrastructure, cultural depth, and enhanced accessibility by air and sea. The well-attended session took place at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and drew strong interest from travel advisors and cruise industry stakeholders.

Led by a veteran trio from the Martinique Tourism Authority (MTA) and in collaboration with American Airlines, the seminar highlighted the island's strategic push to position itself as a premier Caribbean cruise destination.

Muriel Wiltord, Director of the Americas at MTA, emphasized the importance of airlift in bolstering Martinique’s homeport potential. “The accessibility of Martinique from the United States is facilitated by American Airlines, providing seamless travel options between Fort-de-France and Miami, with convenient connections at Miami International Airport,” she noted.

Monique Macaire-Sprott, MTA’s U.S. Manager for Marketing, Administration, Cruise & Water Sports, spotlighted Martinique’s diverse visitor experience, from its UNESCO biosphere reserve and Creole heritage to standout attractions like Mount Pelée. She also detailed the island’s varied accommodations, including a renovated Club Med, luxury villas, eco-lodges, and transparent “bubble” hotels.

Importantly, Macaire-Sprott stressed the island’s commitment to accessibility, noting: “We make sure that if you have clients who have wheelchairs or who have problems walking, we have electric vehicles that will come at the gangway to meet with them if they need to.”

Roger Blum, a cruise industry veteran and Martinique’s cruise tourism consultant, focused on the island’s robust maritime infrastructure. “For an island of its size, Martinique actually has eight unique cruise ports,” he said. “Two of them — Pointe Simon and Les Tourelles in Fort-de-France — can accommodate the world’s largest ships, while the remaining six serve boutique and ultra-luxury vessels.”

Blum also detailed the port diversity stretching from the historic Saint-Pierre in the north to Le Marin, a southern yachting hub. He noted that luxury cruise lines such as The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Seabourn, Regent, Silversea, and Oceania now include Martinique in their itineraries.

Glenn Heilbron, Channel Sales Manager with American Airlines, discussed the carrier’s nonstop Miami–Fort-de-France service and how it integrates seamlessly with cruise travel. “Passengers can travel by air into the island and then take a cruise there — and backwards also,” he explained.

Attendees were provided with curated destination marketing materials and invited to explore Martinique further at the trade show floor. The session concluded with a strong call to action: embrace Martinique’s specialist program and trade tools to tap into one of the Caribbean’s most underrated cruise gems.