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On the left side (north) of the Cruise Center, the traveler will find a very large Margaritaville bar, restaurant, with a huge pool and its signature retail shop - the Trading Post. Next to Margaritaville, you will find the Flow Rider surfing attraction that is exclusively offered as a shore excursion through the cruise lines. It is also on the North side that the most popular beach in Grand Turk is located - palm tree lined, with beach chairs on the white sugar powdered sand by the crystal clear turquoise water. 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.
Dining and Restaurants
The center also has a John Glenn Splashdown memorial to commemorate his mission and landing site. A picturesque humpback whale is also nearby to celebrate the year-round sea life found at Grand Turk. With only a few hours to spend in Grand Turk, you could easily spend a relaxing day at the enormous Grand Turk Cruise Center. Grand Turk is only one of many islands in the Turks and Caicos archipelago.
Cruise Center Beach
The Grand Turk cruise port lacks a designated indoor waiting area, but there’s free seating at the beach and around the pool. Since ships dock just a couple hundred feet from the cruise center, and immigration and customs are handled by the cruise line, there’s no need to wait around for paperwork and security checks. The duty-free shop is also a main attraction here, as are the FlowRider wave pool and the beached whale statue that is located a little bit farther down the beach.
What to Do in Lisbon, Portugal on a Cruise Day
It’s a destination where history and culture come to life, making it a must-visit spot during your island adventure. 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. The beach is located on the right as you walk down the cruise ship pier towards the cruise center. Snorkeling isn’t great here, but rock and coral patches can be found off the coast both to the north and south of the main pier and are home to small amounts of fish.
Besides a gorgeous setting right on the beach, Jack’s Shack is famous for their conch fritters, jerk chicken and rum punch. 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 Cruise Center has an astounding 45,000 square feet of shopping including Diamonds International, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Tanzanite International, and Colombian Emeralds.
If you are brave enough, you can even zip line above the water on the last part of the course. 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. Most of the western to southernmost parts of the island are found under this reserve including the cruise port and Cockburn town. The cruise port is in Zone A, and downtown is in Zone B. The trip costs $5 per person one way.
Wheelchair and Accessibility at Grand Turk Cruise Port
The cruise port has direct access to 2 cruise center beaches and a Grsand Turk Margaritaville with music, cocktails, dining, and cabanas. There are also plenty of little shops you can check out at the cruise center and they even have a Starbucks. The pier where cruise ships dock in Grand Turk is next to a stunning beach, inviting passengers to spend the day basking in the sun, swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying water activities. 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. Cruise ships dock at the Grand Turk cruise port, perfectly situated on the island’s southwestern coastline, right next to the breathtaking white sandy beach.
Visit Historic Cockburn Town
The museum has other shipwrecks too like the treasure hunting Spanish ship, a slavery ship, and Tainos artifacts. Standing 60 feet tall and the first of its kind, it was built in 1852. 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. Cork Burn town (pronounced as co-burn) is the capital of the islands, and it’s where all the administrative tasks of this British territory, take place. According to the official government site, there are approximately 3,720 residents on the island, and it is the second-largest populated island in the Turks and Caicos.
Which Cruise Lines Visit Grand Turk
Go on a catamaran boat ride and visit deserted islands and interact with the beautiful marine life. They will take you along the great coral reef to enjoy the vast marine life available off the coast of Grand Turk. If you love snorkeling this boat rides will take you to great snorkeling spots where you can snorkel to your heart’s content.
If you need diving or snorkeling gear, the Boho Dive Resort rents out such gear. 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. If you are looking for a bit of excitement and have always wanted to surf but never had the chance to, or was afraid of the ocean’s mighty waves, try the FlowRider.
Popular Carnival Cruise Port Sees Profits and Ship Visits Drop - Cruise Hive
Popular Carnival Cruise Port Sees Profits and Ship Visits Drop.
Posted: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Like most cruise ports in the Caribbean, Grand Turk features a dedicated port area that’s enclosed and offers a number of amenities to cruise passengers. Grand Turk island is the site of the world’s third-largest coral reef structure. This idyllic beach is worth a visit if you want to get away from the cruise ship crowds. Pillory is less than a 15-minute taxi ride from the Cruise Center. There used to be a resort here (Bohio Dive Resort), that is currently being renovated. 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.
At the cruise center, you will find a big beautiful swimming pool. Book a poolside cabana and enjoy private time away from the crowds and a dedicated waiter. Here you can swim and hang out with other shipmates, enjoying the tropical magic that is Grand Turk. The cruise port is designed to be a little center of luxury for your port day. There are amenities such as restaurants, spas, and if you love shopping, there are gift shops and local jewelry stores on the port.
A highlight is a replica of a traditional Caicos sloop used for fishing and transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Grand Turk Wall is a popular destination for cruise shore excursions because it offers a unique and exciting opportunity to experience the underwater world. Your cruise ship will have a long list of excursions to enjoy when you visit the Grand Turk cruise port. Among them may be 4X4 Safari Adventures, Ziplining, horseback beach rides, dune buggy safari, Segway Adventures, and SNUBA. The Turks and Caicos National Museum in Cockburn Town is located just a 10-minute drive from the Grand Turk cruise port and will offer you the islands’ history and culture. This captivating museum offers intriguing insights into the history of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
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. This small island is mostly known for white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. If you decide to leave the Cruise Center, there are a few different ways to explore this little island. The beautiful Cruise Center Beach fronts the complex, and is one of the nicest cruise port beaches in the region.
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. 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.
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