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Ships dock on the southwestern tip of the island, at a pier built specifically for cruise ships; the facility is owned and operated by Carnival Corp. There's a number of duty-free shops, jewelry stores, souvenir stands, bars and restaurants located in the cruise center. Grand Turk is known for its white sand beaches, and turquoise waters and for good reason.
Turks and Caicos Posts Record Air Arrivals in 2023 - Travel Agent Central
Turks and Caicos Posts Record Air Arrivals in 2023.
Posted: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Restaurants and Dining
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. The islands form a British Overseas Territory and have rapidly gained popularity as a beach destination. There are roughly 30,000 inhabitants on the islands and they welcome about 450,000 arrivals by air and 650,000 cruise ship passengers each year. The archipelago consists of two island groups, the Turks islands and the Caicos islands, of which Grand Turk and Providenciales are the two main islands. Daylight savings time is observed and they are in the Eastern Time Zone.
Things to Do in Grand Turk During a Cruise Vacation
What makes this little island so popular are the friendly brown stingrays that approach when a vessel comes to the island. They love to interact with people, and you will get a chance to snorkel or even swim with them. 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. You will learn everything on this historical event at the Friendship 7 space program exhibition located at the cruise center. It was built in 2012 to commemorate 50 years since the splashdown.
Bottom Line on Turks and Caicos Cruises
From beach bonfires to private cabanas and floaty pool parties — all in a resort-like experience where you can actually let your salty hair down. Explore a new world-class cruise terminal packed with shops, restaurants, and entertainment — plus direct access to Puerto Plata’s historic center. Uniting the energy of Miami with nautical nods to the history of sailing, we’re infusing our own terminal with the same incredible ethos as our ships. You can find Caribbean cruises to book including the Carnival Cruise Line destination of Grand Turk.
Shore Excursions
Situated on the island of Grand Turk, Cockburn Town is both historic and intimate. This little piece of paradise is home to the western hemisphere's oldest shipwreck, the Molasses Reef Wreck. Once you've toured the town, take a moment to explore some of the sailing, snorkeling, and diving options available for visitors. Go on a catamaran boat ride and visit deserted islands and interact with the beautiful marine life.
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. Today, Turks and Caicos' diving and snorkeling sites — along with its white-sand beaches — are attracting a whole new generation of travelers. All cruise ships sailing to the Turks and Caicos stop only at the island of Grand Turk. It’s not feasible for cruise ship guests to visit any other main island in the country due to time constraints. The best opportunities for independent exploration and touring are on ships that stay in port the longest.
It is important to note that guests signing up for this experience must be in good physical shape, and health. Booking a cruise is the perfect way to explore the islands, including tropical Turks and Caicos. 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.
More about Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Points of Interest
The Turks and Caicos have a few fresh water reserves at ground level. Therefore, most water comes from either wells or cisterns that have collected rainwater. Cistern water is almost always safe to drink, but unless well water is purified, it could be contaminated or have unpleasant taste.
The Best Turks and Caicos Beach Excursions
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. When on land, you'll have access to 45 shore excursions across all ports. On Grand Turk, take to the waters on a catamaran, go snorkeling, and explore beaches. You can also go horseback riding/swimming or segway through Grand Turk.
Christopher Columbus is believed to have been one of history's earliest travelers to Grand Turk. He was followed by another explorer, John Glenn, a few centuries later, as he splashed down nearby on his first space mission. Likewise, seashells tend to not be local, and are of Pacific origin. The beautiful Cruise Center Beach fronts the complex, and is one of the nicest cruise port beaches in the region. You can choose to be at an all-inclusive, a resort suite condo, or a private villa or inn.
In North and South Caicos there are limited entry facilities, while all of the other islands have domestic airports. However, East and West Caicos are uninhabited and they do not have an airport. For about 700 years, the Taíno and Lucayan tribes were the sole residents on the islands (particularly settling on Grand Turk and the Middle Caicos).
Very little pre-planning is necessary for cruise ship arrivals. All visa and entry matters are handled by the cruise lines, so landing is simple. 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. If you want to see the island and have a few thrills while simultaneously having time left over to lounge on the beach, a dune buggy excursion might just be your answer. You’ll see the Grand Turk Lighthouse, with its stunning overlook, plus there’s the Cliffhanger Lookout. From January to March, you might even see passing humpback whales.
Some of the best scuba dive excursions are only a ten-minute boat ride away from the cruise ship’s dock. Be ready to dive in for some underwater adventures when your ship docks in Turks and Caicos. Local scuba diving operators offer boat dives that include wall dives and stunning reefs. While you may sometimes find scuba diving excursions offered by your cruise ship, they are just as likely to only be offered through an independent tour operator.
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