By Alexander Britell

Low-cost carrier Norwegian officially launched its first ever flights from Fort Lauderdale to Martinique on Monday, kicking off the new nonstop service with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and some French Caribbean flair. (The flight was welcomed at Martinique’s Aime Cesaire International Airport with the traditional water salute).

The new service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, providing a new, ultra-affordable option for travelers looking to experience the heart of the French West Indies.

Martinique has increasingly been on the radar of in-the-know travelers to the Caribbean in recent years, thanks to its intoxicating blend of high cuisine, rich culture, beautiful scenery and it’s remarkable mix of French and Caribbean influences. That’s without mentioning its 12 rum distilleries — making it the world’s greatest destination for rum, too.

Martinique’s Joelle Desir, director general at CMT (third from left) and Muriel Wiltord (third from right) director Americas, cut the ribbon for the inaugural flight.

“We welcome you to the most magnifique destination in the Caribbean,” Joelle Desir, director-general of the Martinique Tourism Committee, told travelers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at the inaugural flight ceremony. “Martinique is a real treasure island, and you will be welcome with open arms.”

The low-cost service (with flights that began as low as $59 one-way) is also quite a pleasant in-flight experience, with friendly service and a host of food and beverage options available for purchase, including local rhum from Martinique.

You won’t find better in-flight rum in the world than on Norwegian’s Martinique flights.

This week, Norwegian also kicked off service to Martinique from both Providence and resumed flights from New York’s John F Kennedy airports, meaning it’s never been easier to get to the island.

Martinique is still a new word for many travelers, and that’s what makes it such a fulfilling destination — there’s that sought-after joy of discovery all over the island, thanks to a road network that’s the best in the Caribbean and one simply begging for raw, unadulterated exploration.

But while it’s seriously easy to get around, Martinique’s unknown quality makes it eminently exotic, too — a combination that’s very hard to find in the Caribbean these days.

For more information, visit Norwegian.