Costa Favolosa: FDF - FDF - FDF07A2D

     The beautiful island of Guadeloupe is part of the French Antilles and is geologically two islands joined together, Grande Terre and Basse Terre. Point a Pitre is on Grande Terre and is Guadeloupe's largest commercial centre. When Christopher Columbus landed on the southern coast of Basse Terre in 1493 he baptised the beach Santa Maria, and the island Santa Maria de Guadeloupe de Estremadura, subsequently changed to Guadeloupe.
     First Spanish settlers, and then French, developed sugar cane production on the islands, which also became centres of the slave trade. Eventually, with the initial help of French revolutionary Victor Hugues and later Victor Schoelcher, the slaves of Guadeloupe were freed. The island is still French territory, administered by a governor appointed by the Paris Ministry of the Interior. The two halves of Guadeloupe are quite different in character.
     Grande Terre has a gentler landscape, but is the more lively side, with Pointe a Pitre market, narrow alleyways, picturesque villages and large sugar cane plantations. Basse Terre is more lush and mountainous. It also has one of the Caribbean's few national parks, complete with rivers, rainforest and the dominating presence of the 1,467-metre high Soufrière volcano. The hot springs of Soufrière Park are masterpieces of nature. Both sides of the island have some excellent beaches.
     The lifestyle of Guadeloupe is simple and relaxed. A substantial number of the island's villagers still barter for their goods and services rather than use money. And although tourism has flourished, the local economy is still largely based on agriculture. Island attractions include a museum dedicated to local poet, St. John Perse, awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1960, the Schoelcher Museum, dedicated to the slavery abolitionist, and the beach resort of Gosier, one of the most bustling tourist centres in the Lesser Antilles.

     St Kitts and its sister island Nevis comprise a tiny nation with a unique history. St Kitts - on which Basseterre is the main town - is the popular derivation of St Christopher, the name given to the island by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Its inhabitants are called "Kittitians". Nevis gets its name from the Spanish word for snow in description of a curtain of white clouds that at one time supposedly always covered the top of the mountain that dominates the island. In 1623, the two islands became a British colony.
     The islands maintain a close link to their English heritage, although throughout their modern history the English dominance has been regularly challenged, particularly by the French and Spanish eager to control the islands' considerable sugar cane crop. Nevis in particular attracted much commercial interest - and rivalry - as well as considerable piracy. Many of the islands' 45,000 inhabitants can trace their ancestors to the African slave trade of the 17th Century.
     The symbol of contemporary culture on the islands is a carnival, which starts of Christmas Eve and embraces the entire population - and visitors - in a joyous celebration. The St. Kitts Music Festival is also very popular, attracting musicians from all over the Caribbean. The islands, which are part of the British Commonwealth, became independent on September 19, 1983, and have since continued to attract thousands of visitors from around the world.

     In 1493, when Christopher Columbus first set foot on the white sand beaches of St Maarten, he declared: 'I was looking for the Indies and I found the Garden of Eden'. Named after a priest who lived on the island from 330AD-397AD, St Maarten has been historically influenced by the Dutch, English, French and Spanish.
     Today the island is shared by the Dutch in the south, who call it Sint Marteen and the French in the north, who refer to it as St Martin de Tours. But the first people to leave their mark on the island were Arawak Indians who were skilled farmers and developed a thriving community on St Maarten. In the 17th Century, the existence of salt pans soon attracted the attentions of the Spanish, later displaced by the Dutch and the French. The initial agreement between the Dutch and French to share the tiny island dates back to 1648, although it was broken many times and there were frequent skirmishes between the two sides, at times with British involvement.
     The Caribbean curse - piracy - befell St Maarten for some 150 years and stories still persist of as yet undiscovered treasure buried on the island or sunk with galleons. The more notorious pirates and buccaneers included John Hawkins, Francis Drake, Henry Morgan and William Dampier. The border between the Dutch and French sides of the island is marked by a monument between Union Road and Bellevue. Each side of the island has splendid beaches and the crystal clear waters offer excellent bathing and numerous watersports. The tiny port of Philipsburg extends along a sandbank between the sea and a reclaimed salt pond.

     Roseau is the capital of the rugged, volcanic island of Dominica, situated in the Windward Islands between French Guadeloupe and Martinique. It is nothing to do with the Dominican Republic, with which it is sometimes confused. Its mountainous landscape is rich in tropical rainforest, beautiful waterfalls and meandering rivers. It also features the largest warm water volcanic lake in the world, appropriately named the Boiling Lake and locally referred to as the 'pressure cooker'. The island's fascinating geography has made it a longtime centre of geological research. Some 70,000 people live on English-speaking Dominica, half of them in Roseau. The island was first inhabited by the Carib Indians who called the island Waitukubuli (tall woman). Columbus named it Dominica simply because it was Sunday, November 3, 1493 when he discovered it. In 1607 an English Captain Smith founded the port of Jamestown, which remained under English rule until commercial rivalry with the French led to a lengthy series of conflicts between the two colonial powers.      The English finally gained control of the island in 1763, but the strategic importance to the French of the island led to further hostilities, notably in 1796 and 1805 when a large portion of Roseau was destroyed. Some stability returned as English rule was consolidated. Dominica eventually gained full independence in November 1978, only a few months before disaster struck, in the name of the 220kph Hurricane David, which left 42 dead and three-quarters of the islanders homeless. The island slowly recovered and, in 1980, appointed Mary Eugenia Charles as Prime Minister, the first woman in the Caribbean to hold such high office. Her reign lasted some 15 years.      The town of Roseau was extensively rebuilt after the hurricane and today is a bustling commercial centre. The waterfront and market are particularly charming and the Roseau Museum is a renowned cultural institution

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Fort-de-France, the capital of the Caribbean island of Martinique, is the perfect destination for those who want to experience authentic Caribbean charm combined with modern urban life.

Fort-de-France has a rich history, and today it is a lively hub that reflects French colonial elegance mixed with African and Caribbean influences. Here, you feel as if you are walking through history – narrow streets, colorful shops, local cafes, and museums make Fort-de-France a true cultural gem.

Must-see attractions include Fort Saint-Louis – a historic 17th-century fortress that offers an incredible view of the entire bay, Cathedrale Saint-Louis de Fort-de-France, and the Jardin de Balata, a botanical garden that is an ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Surrounded by natural beauty, the city is also a perfect starting point for exploring the stunning Caribbean beaches, such as those in areas like Anse Mitan and La Baie des Flamands.

Fort-de-France is also a gastronomic paradise. The city offers a wealth of flavors – from fresh seafood to various local specialties like colombo (Caribbean curry) and accras (fried fish balls).

Water sports: Fort-de-France and its surroundings provide excellent conditions for sailing, snorkeling, and diving. Martinique is of volcanic origin, and Mount Pelée is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.

Nestled along the coastline under the tropical sky, Fort-de-France offers an unforgettable experience that blends history, culture, and natural beauty, all set in a charming, romantic atmosphere.