Getting to Martinique by Sea

Inter-Island Distances

From Martinique (Fort-de-France) to...

By Sea

Ferries

Martinique is served by three ferry companies that connect to three other islands: Saint Lucia, Dominica, and Guadeloupe with its dependencies. Note: the Martinique-Guadeloupe route takes between 3 and 4 hours.

• L'Express des Iles: This is the "historic" company operating in the region for about 30 years, holding a monopoly on certain routes. Its routes follow the St. Lucia - Martinique - Dominica - Guadeloupe axis, allowing various combinations between these islands at 80 € one-way or 120 € round-trip.

• Jeans for Freedom: A recent low-cost competitor to L'Express, serving French islands. The Guadeloupe-Martinique route costs 80 €.

• West Indies: A small company offering roughly 2-hour connections between St. Lucia and Le Marin in Martinique. Check locally for details.

Cargo

The French West Indies are a "classic" for Atlantic crossings by cargo ship. Opportunities between mainland France (including Le Havre) and Martinique are fairly easy to find.

Cruises

The Caribbean is the world’s top cruise destination, and nearly every island is included in many providers’ itineraries. In 2014, 150 cruise ships and 235,000 cruise passengers visited the island, with over a quarter enjoying a cruise departing from Martinique. There’s plenty of choice, with most offers lasting 7 to 10 days, including departures or stopovers here.

Sailboats

Martinique attracts many sailors, especially from November to May, arriving from Europe but also from the rest of the Caribbean. One- or two-day sailing trips between the island and its neighbor Saint Lucia are a classic in the region.