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The highlight of the Grand Turk Cruise Center is the huge, lagoon-like swimming pool. Private poolside cabanas with waiter service can be rented, but be sure to reserve yours early as availability is limited. The purchase window for certain products and activities closes before to the sail end date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us on board, we'll help you find what you’re looking for. Grand Turk is known for its many activities, historical heritage, and culture. You will find the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the National Museum, and Her Majesty’s Prison.
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Once you have learned to use the Segway, you can tour through the historic district and explore the Bermudian-style architecture along with the historic churches. 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. The person capacity prison used to hold petty offenses criminals back in the day until it was shut in 1994. Visit this site for $7 per person when in the port, and learn about prison break attempts, drug trafficking route and other interesting historical facts about the island.
Grand Turk Cruise Port: Things to Do
If you decide to explore beyond the center, it is not recommended that you explore Grand Turk island on foot. The lack of sidewalks and spotty signage makes the island difficult (and dangerous) to walk. Many passengers will enjoy their entire port day at Grand Turk within the Cruise Center.
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Grand Turk Cruise Port is mainly visited by Carnival Cruise Line ships, so you’ll find Princess, Holland America but even Celebrity ships are there, too. A day at Grand Turk can be part of Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. If you’re wondering what to do in Grand Turk, we have the answers! Nearly one million cruise passengers arrive at the Grand Turk Cruise Center every year, and it’s no wonder why. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.
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The island also is among the three islands believed to have been Christopher Columbus’ landfall sites in the new world. Therefore, in order to honor this great event, if it actually happened on Grand Turk, the island has a national park called Columbus national park reserve. In 1962 John Glenn splash landed off the west coast shores of the Grand Turk.
Watersports Paddle Boards and Kayaking
The horses are handpicked for you from the ranch according to your preferences, fear, and comfort riding on horses. If you are tired of shopping common trinkets available on all gift shops in the Caribbean. Head on over to the museum and Salt House gift shops as they have more authentic and locally made souvenirs. 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.
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. However, if you want to go on your own it is an easy 20-minute taxi ride, golf cart or bicycle ride to get there. In February and March, this is also a popular spot for whale watching. Visitors to the cruise center have the opportunity to peruse through a 45,000 sq.
We’ve covered the basics -- many of which are similar to other Caribbean ports of call -- let’s check out the shore excursions you will struggle to find anywhere else aside from Turks and Caicos. Exploring the sights, town, and beaches of Grand Turk is one of our recommended ways of spending the day on Grand Turk. The beautiful Cruise Center Beach fronts the complex, and is one of the nicest cruise port beaches in the region. Rev up your sense of adventure with an ATV excursion that lets you explore the beauty of Grand Turk via rugged trails and paths.
Since some of the best snorkeling and diving areas are off the coast and it is difficult to swim out there, take a snorkel boat ride to access the best sites. Book a snorkel and dive excursion with your cruise to enjoy this fun excursion. Some of the best scuba dive excursions are only a ten-minute boat ride away from the cruise ship’s dock. In front of the complex is the cruise center beach known as the SunRay Beach. There are plenty of sun loungers on this beach, grab one and enjoy the beach for free.
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On the left side of the pier, the first section of blue chairs is free to use. There are plenty of palm trees, however if you plan to spend the day at the Cruise Center beach, you’ll want to get there early. 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. A good spot to start your visit is the Turks & Caicos National Museum.
There is a wide variety of activities that guests can partake in, from having fun in the sun at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville to an exciting ride on the FlowRider surf simulator. Guests can also enjoy Jerk chicken at Jack’s Shack, the popular spot which was destroyed by Hurricane Irma only a few years ago. Cockburn Town is full of historical significance and a wonderful place to spend a few hours for those wanting to venture further. While Grand Turk is generally as safe as any other tourist destination, it’s always best to use common sense when traveling. Once guests are past the gates, they can be approached by vendors trying to offer them everything from trinkets to boat rides.
It has been open to Carnival and its subsidiary cruise lines like Princess and Holland America ever since. The first Carnival-owned cruise ships begin returning to the Grand Turk Cruise Center for the first time since suspensions started in 2020. Snorkeling and diving tours are available, and visitors can get up close to the wall and see the incredible marine life that calls it home. One standout for Grand Turk’s Margaritaville is a swim-up bar where guests can enjoy a cool, refreshing beverage without leaving the pool.
Aside from serving as an important stop for ships traveling between Europe and the Americas, Grand Turk was used as a base by the United States Navy during World War II. Today, visitors can explore the island’s historic lighthouse and view maps and other navigational tools used by sailors in the past. If you like horses, Grand Turk offers horseback tours that include an exciting ride on the beach. After a historical guided tour through Cockburn Town, you can choose to ride your horses straight into the ocean for a cooldown you’ll both enjoy. Grand Turk island is the site of the world’s third-largest coral reef structure.
Located a 1-mile boat ride away from Grand Turk island, the best way to visit stingrays in Gibbs Cay is through a tour. They will provide information and instructions to ensure your safety. Built in the 1850s to help ships navigate the shallow reefs at the northern end of the island, this historic building is the only lighthouse on Grand Turk island. Located about 500 yards up the beach from the Cruise Center, this restaurant is a favorite of both locals and tourists. Besides a gorgeous setting right on the beach, Jack’s Shack is famous for their conch fritters, jerk chicken and rum punch. Cruisers could easily spend the whole day in Margaritaville enjoying the laid-back, Caribbean vibes.
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