Martinique

[groovlstk]

My wife and I are planning to take a Star Clippers cruise in the Caribbean in a month, and one of the ports of call is Martinique. My wife has a permanent green card but will not apply for US citizenship until Aug. The sales rep told me the French immigration officer in Martinique may refuse to allow her entrance and suggested we apply for a Schengen visa, but it seems like a lot of work for one freakin' afternoon on the beach.

Has anyone travelled to Martinique w/their wives or fiancees?

[tfcrew]

Yup...
Ukraine and Russia are listed.
Just like France would be...

6. Important information 
•The consular administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant.


•Please be aware that submitting the aforementioned documents does not guarantee the approval of the visa.


•Please note that holders of visas are still subject to immigration control upon first entry into France. The visa itself does not grant the right to enter France.

http://www.consulfrance-chicago.org/spip.php?article673

*I meant yup you would need a visa for your wife as it is considered French soil.
Nope ..never been there. I thought the French were out of this side of the Atlantic.
Here's another link... Read all of both pages

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/165/passport_visa/Caribbean/Martinique.html

[tfcrew]

Svetlana's son & DIL went to Dominican Republic w/o a visa and it looks just as ..inviting.
Only need residence card but watch out for earthquakes down there.

[kievstar]

Ukraine and Russians can travel easily to Dominican Republic they pay the visa at the airport and nobody gets turned away.  Americans pay as well in the airport.

What Groove is talking about is different.  That island will probably let your wife on without a visa. 

[Gylden]

it says that a shengen won't work. Must be a visa to Martinique

[groovlstk]

Yeah we've visited Jamaica and St. Croix in the last 2 years with no problems, and all the other islands on our itinerary won't require a visa. I'm torn between cancelling and taking a chance (our sales rep said the same thing as Kievstar, that they would probably let her disembark but it will depend on the immigration officer's mood).

Funny enough, my wife is fielding all sorts of alternative recommendations from our Russian friends, who don't understand why we'd choose a sailboat cruise instead of one of those floating nursing homes like Royal Caribbean 

[viking]

I have traveled to many islands in the Carib. Honestly, once you are on the beach they are pretty much all the same. The main difference may be in the shopping for clothes, gifts and the like. If the other ports of call are just as nice as this island, maybe staying on an empty boat to yourselves may not be a bad idea for one afternoon? Or just get off, take the chance the customs guy has a nice smile and lets you thru. Worst case is back on the boat.