Thursday, April 18, 2024

22 Things to Do in Grand Turk During a Cruise Vacation

cruise to grand turk

Although parts of the town’s waterfront have been damaged by hurricanes, some of the old colonial buildings still stand. Take a look at all of these beach accessories here for your visit to Grand Turk. Head on over there and grab a bite while being entertained to enchanting reggae tunes. Tainos were the indigenous natives of the island believed to have inhabited it between 700AD and the 15th century. They became extinct due to slavery and diseases in the 1500s and actually left the island uninhabited for over a century.

Late stays and overnights

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. 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 Cruise Ports

Immigration and Customs personnel are present on site, and you may be selected for a secondary inspection. To obtain a stamp in your passport, you must notify your cruise agent during clearance, or visit the Immigration Department located in Cockburn Town. The cruise center is also home to the only Starbucks coffee shop in the Turks and Caicos, which opened in late 2019. Between January and April, Humpback whales migrate close to Grand Turk island as they move to the warm Caribbean waters to mate and give birth. Cruisers could easily spend the whole day in Margaritaville enjoying the laid-back, Caribbean vibes. Be sure to try the nachos, burgers, jerk salmon and conch fritters, and swim up to the bar for a signature Margarita.

Carnival cruise ship catches fire in Grand Turk - AOL

Carnival cruise ship catches fire in Grand Turk.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:02:23 GMT [source]

Rest Your Head

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. 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.

Grand Turk Cruise Port Wi-Fi

On the west side of the island between the cruise port and Cockburn Town is Governor’s Beach. Most guests agree that this beach is the best beach on Grand Turk because of its beautiful landscape and shallow waters, perfect for swimming. If you didn’t reserve your shore excursions ahead of time, there are tons of vendor booths within the complex for you to choose your tour.

cruise to grand turk

THE 25 BEST Cruises from Miami to Grand Turk (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

THE 25 BEST Cruises from Miami to Grand Turk (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:03:24 GMT [source]

A good spot to start your visit is the Turks & Caicos National Museum. There are excursions offered to other beaches from the cruise line. You can also catch a cab to other beaches around the island, which will be less crowded. Some of the more commonly purchased items by tourists on vacation Grand Turk include salt, soaps, model sailboats, straw products, conch shells, and rum. 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.

Rental Requirements

Right from the cruise center, an island tram will take you to north creek, where you will do a short trail through the wetlands and finally get to the kayaking spot. If you are up for an active excursion, book paddle boarding, and kayaking excursions and explore the clear waters of the peaceful north creek. The kayaks have a clear bottom that lets you view the action under the water. Get an aerial view of the island by going on a zip lining adventure. When you take the island excursion and arrive at the lighthouse which is on the other end of the island opposite the cruise center, you will see the zip line course. If you are brave enough, you can even zip line above the water on the last part of the course.

Grand Turk Shore Excursions

Start by visiting the cruise port; grab a bite from Margaritaville, then head on over to sunray beach for a day of sun and splashing. Others include the white sands and east side beaches which are located on the underdeveloped southern side of the Grand Turk. The east side beach is accessed by roads coming from the lighthouse. Located north of Cockburn Town this serene beach offers a quiet atmosphere for interacting with the marine life in their habitat. Don’t worry about being under the harsh sun all day long; some parts of the beach are lined with trees that offer you natural shade.

Best Turks and Caicos Excursions on a Cruise

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. Once you have learned to use the Segway, you can tour through the historic district and explore the Bermudian-style architecture along with the historic churches. 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.

The cruise port is located in the southernmost part of the island. It is a large complex of approximately 30 acres and features the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean. 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. In February and March, this is also a popular spot for whale watching. Grand Turk offers an abundance of activities for guests of all ages, so choosing what to do may be difficult if you’ve never visited this beautiful island before.

On a cruise to Grand Turk, you can explore the oldest excavated European shipwreck – the Molasses Reef Wreck, from 1515. Discovered in West Caicos, it is on display at the Turks and Caicos National Museum in Cockburn Town. The museum is inside Guinep House, one of the island's oldest buildings. Other fascinating shipwrecks are on display, including a Spanish vessel. Humpback whales pass through the Turks and Caicos Islands from January to March each year. The city on Grand Turk is called Cockburn Town and if you want a feel for the “real” Grand Turk, it’s a neat place to visit, albeit a bit spread out.

To get to the best beach on the island, you will need to take a taxi to Governor’s beach. If you don’t want to wander away from the cruise ship, or plan on making a lot of trips to and from the ship, then just relax at the cruise port center. Carnival spent $50 Million, creating a cruise port for its cruisers.

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. 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. This beautiful sleepy island has gorgeous white sandy beaches with sparkling blue waters and is packed with historical and cultural beauty.

Here you’ll find taxis waiting, and rental car pickups take place here as well. The museum is about a 12-minute taxi ride north of the Cruise Center. Located a 1-mile boat ride away from Grand Turk island, the best way to visit stingrays in Gibbs Cay is through a tour.

Because the island of Grand Turk is so small, an eBike is an ideal way to enjoy the sunshine and fresh ocean air as you see the sights. Golf carts are an easy way and fun way to get around Grand Turk Island. Venture outside of the Cruise Center gates for the most golf cart rental options. The Grand Turk Cruise Center is easily walkable on foot and wheel chair accessible. If you decide to explore beyond the center, it is not recommended that you explore Grand Turk island on foot.

No matter which direction you head, you’ll always be within a few steps of the beach that runs the entire length of the cruise port. And the ship overlooks the entire area making for a one-of-a-kind scene. Just know that some areas of the water have a rockier bottom (more details in the tips section below).

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