Friday, April 19, 2024

19 Best Things to Do in Grand Turk on a Cruise Port Guide

cruise to grand turk

Enjoy the smooth sailing catamarans are known for, as well as stops for snorkeling along the way. After spending time relaxing on the beach, you’ll sail back to the Cruise Center and enjoy a complimentary beverage. The Grand Turk Cruise Center is home to one of the largest swimming pools in the Caribbean.

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

Carnival Cruise Line must have noticed this too when they decided to turn the island into a cruise port in 2006. Ships dock on the southwestern tip of the island, at a pier built specifically for cruise ships; the facility is owned and operated by Carnival Corp. There's a number of duty-free shops, jewelry stores, souvenir stands, bars and restaurants located in the cruise center. Carnival Corp.'s cruise terminal is a destination in its own right, with retail shops, a recreation area on the beach and a huge pool. The pier can accommodate two mega-ships, theoretically from any of the many cruise lines under Carnival Corp.'s umbrella, including Princess, Carnival and Holland America.

Sights and Attractions at the Cruise Center

Private poolside cabanas with waiter service can be rented, but be sure to reserve yours early as availability is limited. Take a self-guided tour through the prison, which housed both men and women and as many as 60 prisoners. Learn about the day-to-day life of inmates as well as the mass escapes during the Great Hurricane of 1866. If you don’t want to do a sightseeing tour, you can catch a cab straight to Cockburn Town Beach, about a 10-minute ride from the Cruise Center. If you want the magic of snorkeling with a little more speed and adventure, power snorkeling is an exciting excursion available in Grand Turk.

Enjoy a Catamaran Excursion

Unlike many other Caribbean vacation cruise stops, Grand Turk is a very small island, and offers a completely different atmosphere than better-known destinations. There isn’t a crowded city or waterfront, just a laid-back little town with great beaches and a little British Bermudian Colonial heritage. Many tours include additional stops to snorkel and some have a unique opportunity to dive for conch and feast on fresh conch salad. You won’t want to miss out on the stunning beaches and chance to interact with marine life at Gibbs Cay. Whether you choose to hang out, eat and shop at the cruise center, venture into town or purchase a shore excursion, a port call in Grand Turk is sure to be a fun and memorable experience. Although you cannot bike or walk to the lighthouse, you can use a rental car, taxi, or ATV.

Soot spill from Carnival cruise ship in Grand Turk under investigation by Department of Environment and Coastal ... - Turks and Caicos Sun

Soot spill from Carnival cruise ship in Grand Turk under investigation by Department of Environment and Coastal ....

Posted: Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Pillory Beach is one of the quieter beaches located north of Cockburn Town. Away from the crowds at the other beaches, this is a place to come if you’re seeking solitude or somewhere quiet to read a book. If Christopher Columbus did first land at Grand Turk, this would have been the beach where he arrived.

In the Cruise Center, near Margaritaville, you’ll find a self-contained water attraction called the FlowRider. High-pressure water jets shoot a thin layer of water moving over a cushioned surface creating an artificial wave perfect for surfing, bodyboarding, or kneeboarding. Many passengers will enjoy their entire port day at Grand Turk within the Cruise Center. The local spices of Grand Turk have a kick, so don’t be surprised if you get some heat with your dinner! Plantain chips and jerk chicken are popular selections accompanied with peas and rice. Lionfish and Snapper are also popular seafood choices on the island along with Mahi Mahi and Lobster.

A Day in New York City and a Perfect Manhattan

cruise to grand turk

During 2023, this port welcomed over 143 ships, which was a 10.9 percent increase from previous years. Turks and Caicos is a collection of over 40 Caribbean islands located south of the Bahamas. The taxi stand is located to the left as you exit the airport terminal. Cruise Critic went exploring to find what’s available beyond the pier at Grand Turk.

Getting from Grand Turk International Airport (GDT) to Grand Turk Cruise Port

With so many options and accommodations out there, this can be a difficult choice. Of all the things to do in Grand Turk, wall dives – characterised by vertical descents alongside the edge of coral reefs or other underwater terrain – might be the most dramatic. Grand Turk is home to a 2,100-metre drop quarter of a mile from Duke Street beach. The Grand Turk Wall is known as the 'Grand Canyon of the Caribbean'. Who wouldn’t enjoy a private cabana experience complete with food and drinks?

There are private air-conditioned pool cabanas available to rent through your cruise line. However, there are no towels provided, so be sure to bring your own from the ship. There are a few eBike rental companies right outside of the Cruise Center terminal.

It’s necessary to take the inland roads to get to Governor’s Beach. To the south of the Cruise Center, the beach becomes a bit more secluded, albeit rocky as well. If you continue to the southern point of Grand Turk, you’ll be at Boaby Rock Point, and near some snorkeling reefs.

The Grand Turk Cruise Center is a 13-acre (5.2 hectare) complex and cruise port on the southern end of Grand Turk. As the only port in Turks and Caicos, the island really caters to cruise passengers. The modern Grand Turk Cruise Center, which was built in 2006, offers shops, restaurants, bars, and a giant swimming pool.

On a cruise to Grand Turk, you'll discover that these islands are best known for conch (pronounced conk). Visitors will find this shellfish in all forms – curried, fried, stewed or in a salad – and at nearly every island eatery. Try the conch fritters at Jack's Shack Beach Bar & Grill for a mouthwatering bite.

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