One of four islands in the French West Indies, Martinique is best known as the birthplace of Napoleon’s empress Josephine and the site where now-dormant Mount Pelée famously erupted in 1902. Too sprawling to explore fully in a single day, the island features postcard-worthy beaches, lush rainforests, banana plantations, rum distilleries, and a smattering of historical sites. Though Fort-de-France was long considered a second-string cruise destination, there’s been a notable increase in arrivals in recent years following improvements at the port.