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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. In this post, I’ll share the best things to do in Grand Turk on a cruise, including shore excursions as well as inexpensive or free activities. You’ll also learn everything you need to know about visiting the Grand Turk cruise port for the day and get answers to commonly asked questions.
Construction on Second Chinese-Built Cruise Ship Well Underway
The Grand Turk cruise port, which is located on the southern tip of the island, is a destination unto itself. There’s no main building with services and a waiting room with seating. Instead, the Grand Turk Cruise Center -- as it's officially known -- is a huge indoor-outdoor complex with shops, restaurants, a massive freeform pool and a beach lined with loungers.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link. Exploring the sights, town, and beaches of Grand Turk is one of our recommended ways of spending the day on Grand Turk.
Try Conch Fritters at Jack’s Shack
The museum has other shipwrecks too like the treasure hunting Spanish ship, a slavery ship, and Tainos artifacts. Located on Front Street at Cockburn Town, the museum is hosted in one of the oldest buildings on the Island. Climb aboard a catamaran sailboat and let the trade winds carry you away to a deserted island paradise. Try SNUBA a new and easy way to experience the world’s underwater beauty. Be mindful of sand fleas at the beach early in the morning and toward the end of the day; they didn’t seem as prevalent in the day’s heat.
Princess Cruises homeports Caribbean Princess in Port Canaveral FL from late November 2024
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. If you are looking for something more private, then head on over to Governor’s beach which is about a mile north of the cruise center. It has a pristinely white sandy beach kissed by clear blue ocean waters.
After spending time relaxing on the beach, you’ll sail back to the Cruise Center and enjoy a complimentary beverage. 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 terminal's shopping complex includes numerous duty-free shops (luxury jewelry, watches, designer clothing), also locally made merchandise (gifts, souvenirs), food and drink facilities.. Port Grand Turk Island cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month.
FlowRider
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. Take a boat tour to other cays, like Gibbs Cay and snorkel/swim with the stingrays or charter a private fishing trip. The FlowRider designed in a slope like water slide structure, jets waves of water that create ocean-like waves, but on a smaller scale. Always book early for this fun adventure as it’s always a busy activity and you will be on it with probably 1 or 2 more people.

Soot spill from Carnival cruise ship in Grand Turk under investigation by Department of Environment and Coastal ... - Turks and Caicos Sun
Soot spill from Carnival cruise ship in Grand Turk under investigation by Department of Environment and Coastal ....
Posted: Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The Cruise Center has an astounding 45,000 square feet of shopping including Diamonds International, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Tanzanite International, and Colombian Emeralds. There are also locally crafted souvenirs and gifts available to purchase as well as 10,000 square feet of duty-free shopping. 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. The following map of the cruise port shows all its facilities (including all stores). On September 20, 2022, Hurricane Fiona (Sept 14-25) caused severe damages to Grand Turk's main cruise ship dock (pieces of its infrastructure broke off and washed up on the shore).
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. The best thing about all this is that unlike some cruise ports, all the beaches in Grand Turk are public and free to explore. 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.
Please check in with us at least 15 minutes before your planned departure time. We will provide maps, wristbands, and escort you to trams at the appropriate time. You can find Caribbean cruises to book including the Carnival Cruise Line destination of Grand Turk. Take a look at this tour of Grand Turk from our friends at I Like Cruise Ships.
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 beach is located on the right as you walk down the cruise ship pier towards the cruise center. As you cruise along Grand Turk, be sure to look at the small roads to the right that have direct beach access. There are no signs, so if you see a beach area that does not look busy, go check it out! Governors Beach is shortly after the cruise port exit and you could very well have the entire beach to yourself.
How to Visit Grand Turk, the Capital Island of Turks and Caicos - Travel + Leisure
How to Visit Grand Turk, the Capital Island of Turks and Caicos.
Posted: Tue, 09 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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. There are private air-conditioned pool cabanas available to rent through your cruise line. However, there are no towels provided, so be sure to bring your own from the ship.
The Grand Turk Wall, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Caribbean, is a massive underwater cliff that drops off 7,000 feet just off the coast of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is one of the deepest walls in the world and is home to a diverse range of marine life, including sharks, rays, turtles, and colorful fish. Governor’s Beach is a little past the port, but it is not accessible unless you leave the port complex, as there is a cargo dock with no trespassing signage between the two beaches. Two public restrooms in the cruise port area are attended by janitorial staff who work hard to keep the facilities clean and tidy. Carnival Cruise Line operates several ships regularly visiting Grand Turk Cruise Center, including the Carnival Venezia, Carnival Horizon, Marella Discovery, and Carnival Celebration.
Some of the best scuba dive excursions are only a ten-minute boat ride away from the cruise ship’s dock. 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. The Grand Turk Cruise Center is steps away from the cruise ship ports. There is plenty to do within the Cruise Center including a pristine beach, a swimming pool, bars, restaurants, and duty-free shopping.
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