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The cruise ships dock at a pier that is located south of Cockburn Town. The terminal is named Grand Turk Cruise Center and is a beachfront facility spanning over 780,000 square feet. Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville at Grand Turk is the largest in all the Caribbean. The famous, Jimmy Buffet’s dining establishment is the main restaurant at the cruise center. It is located right next to the giant swimming pool and FlowRider. Grand Turk aims for a slow and methodical return of cruise ships to the islands.
Diving the Grand Turk Wall
The east side beach is accessed by roads coming from the lighthouse. If you are undecided on whether to stay on the beach the whole day or ongoing on some light water activity like snorkeling, then head over to pillory beach, which has the best snorkeling spots. If you happen to visit this beautiful island during the winter months of January to April, you can go on a humpback whale excursion. Where you will witness and if lucky get to snorkel with these majestic creatures as they migrate from the cold Atlantic Ocean waters to the warmer Caribbean waters for mating and childbearing. 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.
Try Conch Fritters at Jack’s Shack
There you’ll find poolside dining with a bird’s-eye view of the ocean. While in Grand Turk, you need to taste all the local flavors it has to offer. Then you’ll reach another stable where you’ll don a life preserver and your horse will be refitted with a water-suitable saddle. Grand Turk was only one of three islands in the Turks and Caicos that produced salt. Turks and Caicos had one of the world’s first and largest salt industries.
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And for those wanting a little more space and not as many people, this area is ideal. Head as far down the path as you can go and you’ll find a large group of loungers (near the whale sculpture) with hardly any other people — even on busy days in port. By far the most unique thing about Grand Turk is that the ship is unbelievably close to shore.
Visit Historic Cockburn Town
If you want to explore the island on your Grand Turk vacation, visit the numerous historical sites like Her Majesty’s prison, the Light House or the Turks and Caicos museum. If you are the active type book shore excursions and enjoy great diving and snorkeling spots, or just lay on Governor’s beach, the most beautiful beach on the island. While the port facility offers a stunning beach right when you walk off the pier, there are other beaches available to explore at this island destination. Here are our choices for Turks and Caicos shore excursions that include a beach.
Wrapping Up Your Visit to Grand Turk
But the port area features a full-fledged Starbucks (painted a very noticeable pink). That’s in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, about 200 miles away. If the beach is the biggest draw at Grand Turk, then the pool in the port area is a close second.
The Best Turks and Caicos Beach Excursions
Or you can choose from a variety of shore excursions, many of which will take you on a full tour of Grand Turk. Carnival Corporation’s Grand Turk Cruise Center consists of 18 acres of shopping, beaches and endless recreational activities located right where your ship docks. And if that is not enough, head over to the cruise port and visit the splash landing center. Here you will get to learn about the Friendship 7 space program, created in honor of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth who splash landed in Grand Turk. Grand Turk is a haven for divers, located along the third-largest barrier reefs; the island has some great diving spots off the west coast on the Columbus Landfall National Park.
Cruise ship blasts black cloud of soot into the ocean - The Independent
Cruise ship blasts black cloud of soot into the ocean.
Posted: Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
However, its popularity can mean it gets crowded, especially close to the ship. If you instead head to the left as you enter the port, you’ll wind through the buildings until you reach Margaritaville Grand Turk. This spot features the famous restaurant, but also a massive pool with thumping music in a party atmosphere. Near this spot at the back of the port is also where you’ll find the port exit to grab a taxi to explore the rest of Grand Turk. Head to the right and you’ll pass through some shops before getting to an outdoor restaurant/bar (Beach Whale) and a more “beachy” area where you can relax.
Grand Turk is known for its soft, white sand beaches and clear blue waters. Many cruise passengers make Grand Turk a beach and pool day for good reason. This location has a number of easily accessible beach options, including a beach as you step off the cruise ship. Enjoy some poolside relaxation in a private air-conditioned Cabana. Spend the day enjoying the Grand Turk Cruise Centre from the comfort of your own private Cabana. Upon arrival at the cruise terminal you’ll take the short walk from the ship to the Margaritaville Restaurant to check-in and receive your key.
Expect to see a big crowd since it’s one of the most popular areas on the island for shopping. Before you leave Grand Turk, you have to walk away with a gift or souvenir. Jack’s Shack is one of the most popular restaurants on the island because of its proximity to the cruise center port and its authentic Jamaican dishes. You can also rent ATVs to explore the more underdeveloped eastern side of the island, where many roads are unpaved, including Hawkes Nest Salina. Horseback riding is also a lot of fun to do along the shore of the beautiful beaches.
There’s a small convenience store right next to the beach rental booth. If you just can’t live without your Starbucks, then Grand Turk is the spot for you. While many cruise ships offer Starbucks beverages on board, finding them in port is usually another story.
Enjoy an array of exhibits, including the Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest European shipwreck excavated in the western hemisphere. You’ll also see an exhibit dedicated to the first inhabitants of Grand Turk, the Tainos. You’ll see how they lived and what they contributed to the island to make it what it is today. One of the main attractions at the Cruise Center Complex is an immense lagoon-like swimming pool. This pool also features a FlowRider, where people can test their surfing skills on artificial waves.
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. There is no charge to use the swimming pool and loungers, but it is “first come-first serve” and a popular attraction for cruisers.
Lionfish and Snapper are also popular seafood choices on the island along with Mahi Mahi and Lobster. Grand Turk has some of the best and freshest seafood you could imagine with plenty of restaurants. This island is a short trip away and accessible by jet ski or boat. 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. Here are our eight favorite Turks and Caicos excursions -- and why you might want to try them, too.
Take a ride into Cockburn Town and view the dividing lines and salt ruins from the shore. You can also take an ATV trip to a more underdeveloped area called Hawkes Nest Salina. The beach located to the left as you get off the ship can get crowded and loud. A quieter (yet rockier) stretch of sand can be found just a few minutes’ walk south of the pier.
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