Table Of Content

Cruisers could easily spend the whole day in Margaritaville enjoying the laid-back, Caribbean vibes. Be sure to try the nachos, burgers, jerk salmon and conch fritters, and swim up to the bar for a signature Margarita. The Cruise Center has an astounding 45,000 square feet of shopping including Diamonds International, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Tanzanite International, and Colombian Emeralds.
Night Exotic Eastern Caribbean CruiseDetails
There are many shops, restaurants, and bars located within the Cruise Center boundaries, including the largest Margaritaville in the world. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.
Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America
Carnival cruise ship oil spill in TCI waters - Turks and Caicos Sun
Carnival cruise ship oil spill in TCI waters.
Posted: Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The beach is covered in white sand and has more than enough space to relax. You can chose a regular lawn chair or pay and upgrade to a chair with an umbrella. The city on Grand Turk is called Cockburn Town and if you want a feel for the “real” Grand Turk, it’s a neat place to visit, albeit a bit spread out.
What is the best time of year to visit Grand Turk?
If you want to explore nearby city of Puerto Plata, you’ll find a waterfront area with a marketplace, restaurants, shops and historical exhibits. For water fun and relaxation, the recreation area features a pool, a splash zone, private cabanas, bars, lounges and lush, green space. If a slow horseback ride along a white sandy beach is on your to-do list, Grand Turk might just be the perfect place to try it. Available as a ship’s shore excursion, it’s necessary to sign up at the beginning of your cruise to avoid a sold-out disappointment. On the west side of the island between the cruise port and Cockburn Town is Governor’s Beach. Most guests agree that this beach is the best beach on Grand Turk because of its beautiful landscape and shallow waters, perfect for swimming.
It was built in 2012 to commemorate 50 years since the splashdown. There are beautiful monuments and murals erected at the exhibition. It has been open to Carnival and its subsidiary cruise lines like Princess and Holland America ever since. Here, we explore the island’s cultural significance, etiquette, and events, offering you a deeper connection with this enchanting destination. By understanding the logistics of the Grand Turk cruise port, you can navigate your visit with confidence, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.
Ride a Dune Buggy in Grand Turk
It’s a bit rocky but a great beach for beachcombing and maybe a little snorkeling. It’s accessed on the western runway of the JAGS McCartney airport. The coral walls which range from 30 feet to more than 7000 feet deep are just a hundred yards out on the water. Explore the colorful burst of marine life in some of the best diving spots in the world.
Explore the History of the Town
They love to interact with people, and you will get a chance to snorkel or even swim with them. This hidden gem is located a few yards from the pier, at the end of cruise center beach. It’s less crowded than Margaritaville and other food joints located near the pier. The lighthouse is located north of the cruise port center, and you can access it only by vehicular means. The lighthouse is not functional, and for $3 per person, you can gain access to the grounds around the lighthouse. Drop the kids off at the supervised children’s area, and head to the adults sanctuary bungalow.
Grand Turk Cruise Port: Amenities, Location, What's Nearby and More

For guests in need of a little island pampering, a beach side massage is sure to melt away any tension one may have. The Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) is financed and operated by Carnival Corporation. Cruise Critic went exploring to find what’s available beyond the pier at Grand Turk. Here are our eight favorite Turks and Caicos excursions -- and why you might want to try them, too.
Clam shell shade for the beach chairs, floats, and snorkeling equipment are available for rent at the Beach Rental Hut centrally located on the beach. You can also find a lot of gifts on Front Street in Cockburn Town. There are a few permanent shops, but when tourism is at its high point, you’ll see many vendors pop up a tent to sell their handmade items. It’s basically the same menu at all of Jimmy Buffet’s restaurants, but if you plan to go back and forth to the ship all day, it’s convenient. If a quieter luncheon is more your taste, hop into a taxi to the Osprey Beach Hotel and the Bird Cage Restaurant. There you’ll find poolside dining with a bird’s-eye view of the ocean.
The best times to visit Grand Turk are between May and October as that’s when the weather is nice and sunny. It hosts the oldest excavated shipwreck ever, (the molasses reef wreck) which was discovered in West Caicos. The museum has other shipwrecks too like the treasure hunting Spanish ship, a slavery ship, and Tainos artifacts. In 1962 John Glenn splash landed off the west coast shores of the Grand Turk. He did so in his Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft after being on a mission orbiting the earth.
If you didn’t reserve your shore excursions ahead of time, there are tons of vendor booths within the complex for you to choose your tour. Planning excursions can be overwhelming, so try to research before visiting. Your cruise ship will dock at the popular Grand Turk cruise port complex, easily visible as you approach the island. Leave your worries at home and enjoy the amazing beach and water of Grand Turk! You don’t have to stress about getting back to the boat because well it is right there. You only need to give yourself a few minutes to pack up your beach items and head back on board.
What would a list of shore excursions in Grand Turk be without mentioning the local cuisine? This Turks and Caicos excursion takes you on a tour of the island that includes local historical sites, plus a restaurant stop where you learn about the seasonings and flavors of this island nation. One unique feature of Royal Caribbean cruise ships is the Flowrider — a never-ending “wave” that you can surf or boogie board. At the Grand Turk port there is a land-based Flowrider that you can ride for a fee (sorry, it’s not free!).
To book a diving excursion, you must present a valid C-Card and must have logged a dive within the last two years. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment