Thursday, April 11, 2024

Grand Turk Cruise Center Visit Turks and Caicos Islands

turks and caicos cruise port

Visitors to the cruise center have the opportunity to peruse through a 45,000 sq. Ft. of high-end jewelry stores, unique apparel and t-shirt stores, locally crafted souvenirs and gifts, and food & beverage facilities. Exploring the sights, town, and beaches of Grand Turk is one of our recommended ways of spending the day on Grand Turk. Unlike many other Caribbean vacation cruise stops, Grand Turk is a very small island, and offers a completely different atmosphere than better-known destinations. There isn’t a crowded city or waterfront, just a laid-back little town with great beaches and a little British Bermudian Colonial heritage. The island is small and easily explored in just a few hours both independently and with a cruise line-operated shore excursion.

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As to be expected, this beach can get quite crowded in the vicinity of the Cruise Center when a ship is present. However, there’s always more space further up the beach to the north. Who wouldn’t enjoy a private cabana experience complete with food and drinks?

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Here, we explore the island’s cultural significance, etiquette, and events, offering you a deeper connection with this enchanting destination. By understanding the logistics of the Grand Turk cruise port, you can navigate your visit with confidence, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience. Planning a trip to Grand Turk, especially as a cruise port destination, requires some preparation to ensure you make the most of your visit. From pristine beaches to historic landmarks and underwater adventures, there’s something for everyone.

Grand Turk Flavors, Sightseeing and Lunch

turks and caicos cruise port

It hosts the oldest excavated shipwreck ever, (the molasses reef wreck) which was discovered in West Caicos. 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. In 1962 John Glenn splash landed off the west coast shores of the Grand Turk. He did so in his Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft after being on a mission orbiting the earth. There is a replica of the spacecraft near the entrance of Grand Turk’s airport.

Water is jetted over a preformed cushioned surface to create an artificial surfing attraction. Both stand-up surfing and body-boarding are possible, and it’s fun to simply watch others’ attempts as well. There is no public transport on Grand Turk, including train service.

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The drive to the lighthouse itself is an exciting journey through the island’s streets, and the views from the cliffs around the lighthouse provide a unique perspective of Grand Turk’s beauty. This pristine beach with shallow water is lined by a thick Casuarina tree grove, ideal for shade and families but not for snorkeling. Although close to the pier, there isn't a walking path along the beach and the road is not well signed.

Cockburn Tour

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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. Once on the island, you will head over to the horse shelter north of the cruise center, where a horse will be handpicked for you, and you will start the minutes excursion. The north creek doesn’t offer much, but you might see some stingrays, barracudas, and turtles in the water. Most kayaking and paddleboarding tours end at the mouth of the inlet right below the lighthouse.

Snorkeling equipment and cabanas with waiter service can be rented for a fee. Booking a cruise is the perfect way to explore the islands, including tropical Turks and Caicos. Humpback whales pass through the Turks and Caicos Islands from January to March each year. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.

There are amenities such as restaurants, spas, and if you love shopping, there are gift shops and local jewelry stores on the port. Just a short 10-minute drive from the Grand Turk cruise terminal, you’ll find the charming Cockburn Town, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It’s a destination where history and culture come to life, making it a must-visit spot during your island adventure.

This is a port of call when you really should get off the ship to take in the stunning beaches, experience excursions and take in the local culture. 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 lack of sidewalks and spotty signage makes the island difficult (and dangerous) to walk. The water temperature near Grand Turk island ranges anywhere from 3-6 degrees lower than the high temperature on land. For guests in need of a little island pampering, a beach side massage is sure to melt away any tension one may have. There’s a memorial to John Glenn and the historic event at the Cruise Center, and the display features a statue, a replica of the Friendship Seven space capsule, and informative plaques. A little-known fact is the island of Grand Turk played a part in the 1962 Mercury Space Mission.

turks and caicos cruise port

Approx 120 km (75 mi) to the west-northwest of Grand Turk is Providenciales (Provo Island). Of all the things to do in Grand Turk, wall dives — characterized by vertical descents alongside the edge of coral reefs or other underwater terrain — might be the most dramatic. Grand Turk is home to a 7,000-foot drop a quarter mile from Duke Street beach.

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. 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.

You’ll find Margaritaville in Turks and Caicos on sailings from Galveston on Carnival Miracle and from Manhattan on Carnival Venezia. 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. You can find Caribbean cruises to book including the Carnival Cruise Line destination of Grand Turk.

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. The best times to visit Grand Turk are between May and October as that’s when the weather is nice and sunny. Grand Turk Island is the easternmost of the 30+ Turks and Caicos Islands and cays. The island is a British Overseas Territory (part of the UK/dependency) with total area 18 km2 (7 mi2) and population around 4,000.

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