Cruise Deals

In the last few years, one of the Caribbean’s most exotic island destinations has been sailing ahead full steam in its efforts to draw more tourists to its shores. Located in the Eastern Caribbean Sea, the island of Martinique has recently seen a huge surge in cruise passenger tourists. This season, 280,000 guests are expected to visit, including those arriving on 24 ships that have never docked on the island before.

The rise in tourism on Martinique is the result of a concerted effort to advertise the island’s charms and accommodate new visitors. Beginning in 2011, the Martinique Tourism Authority initiated a program to make the island more accessible to guests from all over the world, especially North America.

The tourism authority has helped local businesses improve their signage, and uniformed English-speaking guides are now available to assist cruise passengers venturing ashore. In addition, many shop workers have voluntarily enrolled in English language classes to improve their ability to communicate with tourists. Resorts have revamped their operations to improve services for guests as well.

In terms of infrastructure, the Pointe Simon cruise terminal saw upgrades in 2013, and the Tourelles terminal has sought to streamline operations such as luggage handling. The government has also financed the dredging of the main harbor to accommodate larger cruise ships.

So what does Martinique offer cruisers?

The island’s deep Caribbean roots are intermingled with a distinctive European influence. Because it is a part of France, the culture of Martinique is unmistakably French in character—including the language, which can make for a challenging but unforgettable visit! Fields of banana trees and sugarcane dominate the island, and define much of the local cuisine and drink, including the popular rums made in the island’s several distilleries.

The main city is Fort-de-France, where visitors can take in a variety of museums and historical buildings. Shoppers will enjoy the local shops as well as high-end French boutiques and open-air markets. For a more decadent resort-style experience, go to nearby Trois Ilets. The beaches, cafes, and sunshine give this part of Martinique a sophisticated St. Tropez vibe.

Shore excursions include a variety of options, such as full-island or city tours, sailing and snorkeling, 4×4 adventures, and more. There are also a number of beaches around the island perfect for laid-back relaxation and all kinds of water sports.

With its beautiful beaches, elegant shopping, unique museums, forest treks, and excellent dining, Martinique has something for any cruiser.

Cruisers enjoy a very different sort of experience depending upon whether they sail during the high or low season, or choose something in between. For this reason, different vacationers plan different itineraries to take advantage of the perks offered by sailing at different times of the year. Do they want an exciting high-season cruise with all the advertised amenities—along with big crowds? Or, would they prefer a quieter (and possibly cheaper) off-season cruise, with its risk of poor weather or sleepy ports of call?

Regardless of what time of year they choose to travel, cruisers with Royal Holiday have a wide variety of destinations that can accommodate high- or low-season cruising almost any time of year. The following list divides up Royal Holiday’s main cruise offerings by general destination, and provides the typical high- and low-season dates for each locale.

Alaska

The high season for glacier watching along Alaska’s majestic, rugged coast falls in the June-to-August timeframe. Summer cruises in these coastal waters of the northern Pacific offer the best opportunities for inland excursions and spotting wildlife. Cruising in the low season—during May and September—guarantees much smaller crowds but a higher risk of canceled excursions due to bad weather.

The Baltic

Northern Europe’s peak season for cruising falls in the summer, from June to August. City and beach life is truly vibrant in the Baltic ports, and the weather is warm and comfortable. The biggest advantage of low season—from May to mid-June and September—is that the crowds disperse, leaving behind more relaxed beaches and city centers, while the weather remains agreeable.

The Caribbean

Vacationing in the Caribbean is popular almost year-round. The cruise high season runs from June to August, during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, and throughout the Carnival season, which lasts from February to April. With so many options from which to choose, a cruiser will experience a memorable vacation during high season. Low season covers the rest of the year, when the kids are back in school, thus leaving cruisers to enjoy reduced crowds and nice weather, with only occasional storms.

The Mediterranean

As with the rest of Europe, high season in the Mediterranean runs during the summer, from May to August. During these times, the ports of call resemble scintillating tourist meccas, packed with exciting things to do. The best off-season times to visit are during the spring (March to April) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is still nice, but the family crowds have returned home.

South America

Being south of the equator means that the peak seasons for Brazil, Argentina, and the rest of South America are reversed. Beaches and tourist attractions are packed during the summery peak season from January to April. However, the crowds thin dramatically during the low season. In equatorial locations like Brazil, the off-season winter weather from June to August is still lovely, and the lack of tourists makes for a quieter, more relaxing vacation.