Find a Cruise: Search Cruises for 2024
Table Of Content
The east side beach is accessed by roads coming from the lighthouse. Something in common with Carnival Cruise Line destination ports is the horse ride excursion. Enjoy a tour of the island all the way into the shallow waters of the ocean on a horse’s back. The horses are handpicked for you from the ranch according to your preferences, fear, and comfort riding on horses. 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.
Significant Historical Occurrences on the Island
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. While Grand Turk is generally as safe as any other tourist destination, it’s always best to use common sense when traveling.
Salt Salinas Ponds & Flamingos
The area north of the pier (to the left as you enter) features a sandier bottom that’s more forgiving on your feet. The area south of the pier sees smaller crowds, but you’ll also want some water shoes if you venture out into the water. There are also rentals available for everything from snorkel gear to clamshell chairs to give you a little shade.
See Humpback Whales Up Close on a Boat Tour
Here it’s rocky in places and has a bit more seagrass than the Cruise Center Beach, but you’ll encounter far fewer people and beachcombing and snorkeling is much better. You’ll be able to visit all of the main sights, including the Turks and Caicos National Museum, the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the local shops, and a number of Grand Turk beaches. Grand Turk’s cruise port is one of the best cruise ports for wheelchair users. It has a step-free pier and port exit, as well as ramps and adapted bathrooms. Most cruisers use a Grand Turk port day as a beach day, and there are plenty of picture-perfect beaches to choose from on this Island.
How far away is downtown from the Grand Turk cruise port?
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.
Gastro Outbreak Hits Luxury Cruise Ship
If you find yourself in Grand Turk for the day, take advantage of all of the water excursions available! Ultimately, production declined on the island; however, you can still see what used to be magnificent salt flats. 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 Cruise Center Complex is just one of the best things you can do in Grand Turk. This complex is a large open-air area with tons of excursion booths, gift shops, and restaurants.
Cruise News Update: Passenger Fees, Ports, and Changes - Cruise Hive
Cruise News Update: Passenger Fees, Ports, and Changes.
Posted: Sat, 30 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Some of the more commonly purchased items by tourists on vacation Grand Turk include salt, soaps, model sailboats, straw products, conch shells, and rum. However, US citizens do not need to have visas in order to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands as a tourist for a short duration of time. A great beach for snorkeling would be the Boaby Rockpoint, located on the southern side of the Grand Turk, the beach is rocky, but on calm days can be great for snorkeling. A little further from Governor’s beach lies another rarely visited beach called English Point.
Snorkel or Dive at the Grand Turk Wall
The cruise center is also home to the only Starbucks coffee shop in the Turks and Caicos, which opened in late 2019. If you are tired of the beach scene and just want an adrenaline-packed escape to a tropical forest, then this excursion is for you. ATV’s are fun and what better way to see the whole island, which isn’t that big than to blaze through it at high speeds on challenging nature trails. Once you are at the port head over to the Margaritaville, it’s just one and a half minutes from the pier.
We’re making waves from the Caribbean to the Med, the Adriatic to the Red, and everywhere in between across 4 continents. Join us on an unparalleled journey of relaxation and indulgence, and discover the things — and the people — that make each destination so special. Get a delicious taste of the modern romance of sailing that only a Virgin brand could pull off. There’s nothing more liberating than having the freedom of charting your own course.
Private destinations play an important role in cruise line itineraries, and one of the most sought-after Eastern Caribbean cruise stops is the Grand Turk cruise port. For example, non-locales are only allowed to leave with no more than three conch shells. Be sure to follow the rules and protocols to help protect the natural ecosystem and island of Grand Turk. 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. Of course there’s good ol’ Margaritaville back at the Cruise Center.
Although small in size (Grand Turk covers an area of 18 km2 /6.9 sq miles), it is the largest island in the Turks Islands, the smaller of the two archipelagos that make up the Turks and Caicos Islands. Though Grand Turk is part of Eastern Caribbean itineraries, it is interesting to note that Turks and Caicos is not a part of the Caribbean at all. Each island is surrounded on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean, and though it's only about 30 miles south of the Bahamas, it's not a part of that chain of islands, either. Renting scooters, a golf cart or a car and exploring Grand Turk on your own is our recommendation for those who want to get the most out of their brief stay.
That’s in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, about 200 miles away. The cruise port is in Zone A, and downtown is in Zone B. The trip costs $5 per person one way. Without a doubt the biggest draw at Grand Turk is the beach that sits right at the cruise ship. It’s beautiful, wide, and runs a nice distance so there is a spot for everyone and it’s free. However, its popularity can mean it gets crowded, especially close to the ship. 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.
Be sure to try the nachos, burgers, jerk salmon and conch fritters, and swim up to the bar for a signature Margarita. 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. Grand Turk is the largest of the Turks Islands that make up Turks and Caicos. The island is small, measuring only 6.9 square miles, however it has both historic and natural wonders that cruise passengers will enjoy exploring.
Quite a few different activities are offered through the cruise lines, yet choosing what to do may be difficult for those unfamiliar with Grand Turk. The taxi stand is located to the left as you exit the airport terminal. Cockburn Town, the capital of Turks & Caicos, is also just a 10-minute drive away and home to the Turks & Caicos National Museum and the H.M. Although parts of the town’s waterfront have been damaged by hurricanes, some of the old colonial buildings still stand. 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.
This beach is located near the historical town, and several tours combine sightseeing in Cockburn Town and snorkeling at the beach, the perfect combination of history and relaxation. 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. 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. This port area features everything that a cruise passenger could want to enjoy the day, from a pool to a beautiful beach to easy access to the rest of the island.
Many streets on the island are one-way and parking can be limited, so renting a car may not be your best option for getting around. The water temperature near Grand Turk island ranges anywhere from 3-6 degrees lower than the high temperature on land. Also nearby is a statue of a breaching humpback whale, highlighting the excellent whale watching at Grand Turk during the winter months. A little-known fact is the island of Grand Turk played a part in the 1962 Mercury Space Mission. John Glenn’s first step on dry land after returning to Earth was on Grand Turk, and a U.S.
Comments
Post a Comment