Fort de France, Martinique

French history, natural beauty and rum

Thanks in large part to its French and West Indian influences, Martinique, a lush mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles with its dormant Mount Pelée volcano in the backdrop, exudes a cosmopolitan flair with a sophisticated culinary and cultural scene that draws travelers not only to its natural wonders, beautiful bays and beaches, but also to its heart at Fort-de-France, the capital. While French is the official language, most islanders also speak Antillean Creole. As part of the European Union, the island uses the euro as its currency.

Arriving on an MSC Southern Caribbean cruise into Fort-de-France, its steep hills, colorful colonial architecture, ornate balconies and tropical flowers are immediately noticeable. Book an MSC excursion to the Balata Cathedral, a miniature replica of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, Paris, that affords a spectacular view of Fort-de-France and the bay.

Before Martinique came to be known by its current name, it was once called Madinina, the island of flowers. At Balata Botanical Gardens, discover 300 types of palm trees, take in views from the garden's suspension bridge and enjoy the tropical flowers in bloom across 16 acres of lush landscape.

Or try the island's best rum distilleries. MSC excursions take you to the Depaz Distillery, in business since 1651, or the St. James Rum Distillery & Museum to learn about the process of making rum and taste traditional Rhum Agricole, made by using freshly squeezed sugarcane juice rather than the conventional molasses.

After, visit the ruins of the theater in St. Pierre, the former cultural capital of Martinique that was tragically destroyed by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée. The modern-day town of St. Pierre is France's 101st “City of Art and History.”