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The best snorkeling location is in front of the Beach Rental Hut, with a few cannons and anchors submerged there. Grand Turk Island is the easternmost of the 30+ Turks and Caicos Islands and cays. The island is a British Overseas Territory (part of the UK/dependency) with total area 18 km2 (7 mi2) and population around 4,000. Approx 120 km (75 mi) to the west-northwest of Grand Turk is Providenciales (Provo Island).
Popular Sights to See in Grand Turk
The distance from the docking pier to the terminal is approx 120 m (390 ft). Located one mile away, governor’s beach has the whitest sandy beaches and clear blue waters in Grand Turk. Although it is normally secluded and very private, if there are more than one cruise ships docked, you might want to arrive early to get a nice area under the shelter of trees. This beautiful sleepy island has gorgeous white sandy beaches with sparkling blue waters and is packed with historical and cultural beauty. Carnival Cruise Line must have noticed this too when they decided to turn the island into a cruise port in 2006.
Caicos National Museum
Up the beach to the north, additional loungers can be found fronting Jack's Shack restaurant. As to be expected, this beach can get quite crowded in the vicinity of the Cruise Center when a ship is present. However, there’s always more space further up the beach to the north. JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT) is located just over a mile from Grand Turk Cruise Center. It’s a tiny airport with a single runway and a small building with a café, a departure lounge and a couple of check-in counters. Unfortunately, almost all of the merchandise available is mass-produced and re-branded items from Asia, or generic jewelry and Caribbean gifts.
Significant Historical Occurrences on the Island
The Grand Turk Lighthouse is on the opposite side of the Grand Turk Cruise Center and takes about 20 minutes to get to by Golf Cart. When there, while you cannot go inside the Lighthouse, you can roma the grounds, take photos, and check out a shipwreck. If you want the freedom to explore the island by yourself, you can use a site like Viator to rent a Golf Cart. All trams return to port at least one hour before ship departure and we guarantee to get you back on time.
Complimentary beach lounger use is also offered near the Cruise Center for cruise guests. Be advised that some beach hawkers attempt to rent their own chairs out. Read on for our breakdown of Grand Turk’s cruise port including address information, cruise line terminals, services and more. Also, be sure to check out Cruise Critic's ranked cruise deals from Grand Turk cruise port and see what tips, tricks and secret advice our Cruise Critic members have to say about cruises from Grand Turk.
Shore Excursions
A wide range of water sports and activities are available right off the ship, like diving, parasailing, and floating obstacle courses. The island offers many options for guests to take an organized tour or explore independently. The Grand Turk Cruise Center encompasses 14 acres and features a two-berth pier, port complex, bars, a pool, retail, a shore excursion hub, on-site attractions, and gorgeous white-sand beaches.
It is located right next to the giant swimming pool and FlowRider. To enjoy more of the island, head to the northern direction from cruise center beach and enjoy beaches in a less populated area. To get to the best beach on the island, you will need to take a taxi to Governor’s beach. In front of the complex is the cruise center beach known as the SunRay Beach.
There are quite a few restaurants and grocery stores in the Cockburn Town area. For guests in need of a little island pampering, a beach side massage is sure to melt away any tension one may have. If you’re interested in finding an authentic Turks and Caicos gift, see Shopping in the Turks and Caicos for ideas.
The cruise port's UK locode is TCGDT (Turks and Caicos Grand Turk). In 2006, CCL-Carnival Cruise Lines financed (USD 50 million) the construction of "Grand Turk Cruise Center" (dock and terminal) that currently has capacity to handle 3 liners simultaneously. Among the most-booked cruise shore excursions are bus tours (to historical sites), horseback riding, ATVs, water sports activities, fishing boat excursions. After snorkeling, you’ll head to a secluded beach away from the crowds for some genuine island time. The best part of this Turks and Caicos excursion is that you can find it on a variety of cruise ships, including on Silver Moon and Silver Ray during Silversea’s seasonal sailings in the area.
The east side beach is accessed by roads coming from the lighthouse. The boat rides are good for exploring the coral reefs and the cays nearby, book a boat excursion with your cruise line or a local tourism company to enjoy this fun adventure. The north creek doesn’t offer much, but you might see some stingrays, barracudas, and turtles in the water.
The cabanas can go fast depending on how many ships are in port (remember, two ships can dock there, adding up to a combined 10,000 visitors a day. Located in the lovely Guinep House, built during the colonial era, the museum is small in size, yet full of fascinating exhibits. 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.
Productive meeting with Carnival and TCIG - Turks and Caicos Sun
Productive meeting with Carnival and TCIG.
Posted: Mon, 25 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It is a large complex of approximately 30 acres and features the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean. 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. When we say that the beaches in Turks and Caicos are all stunning, we mean it. A Bajari Beach excursion really takes the cake, though, offering an option for private cabanas or lounge chairs, plus most cruise lines’ excursions include at least some food and beverages.
Remember to relax and have fun when the cruise ship calls in Grand Turk. Also, take a look at major cruise homeports and destinations with ports tips from Cruise Hive. To start with, if you have kids and just want to stay near the ship, you can visit the Cruise Center beach right in front of the cruise center or adjacent to the pier. There are plenty of lounge chairs on this beach, and it has beautiful clear sparkling waters to enjoy your day in. Go on a catamaran boat ride and visit deserted islands and interact with the beautiful marine life.
As it approaches its 20th anniversary, it continues to attract more than a million cruise guests annually. But what sets this destination apart and makes it so appealing to cruise passengers? The Grand Turk Cruise Center has been at the epicenter of Tourism for the ‘Beautiful by Nature’ island of Grand Turk, since its opening date in 2006. It is located on the southern end of the island, where it nestles on 18 acres of landscaped grounds and a breath-taking beach front. Your guide will take you past local attractions including the Ridge Trail, Grand Turk lighthouse, and the North Creek Bird watching area. If you’re looking for a non-water excursion on Grand Turk, you can see another side of the island on an ATV tour.
The island is small and easily explored in just a few hours both independently and with a cruise line-operated shore excursion. With so much to do on-site, some passengers choose to spend their entire time on the island right at Grand Turk’s cruise port. Aside from a massive pool, there’s a pretty beach with free and paid loungers. Snorkeling equipment and cabanas with waiter service can be rented for a fee. Sondra Barker is an established travel writer, photographer, and culinary enthusiast. She resides in Newport Beach, California one of the most beautiful beach towns in the country.
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