As the one cruise port within the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Grand Turk Cruise Heart is taken into account the gateway to this Caribbean paradise. The large port and sophisticated supply guests a wide selection of facilities and leisure choices straight on the port.
This complete information will cowl all the things you want to know concerning the port, from location particulars to amenities and close by points of interest. We’ll assist you realize what to anticipate, and the best way to get probably the most out of your go to.
Whether or not you wish to lounge on the seaside or dive into the island’s distinctive historical past and tradition, it’s time to plan your go to and put together to find the appeal of the Turks and Caicos Islands!
Grand Turk Cruise Port Location and Tackle
Grand Turk Cruise Heart, often known as Grand Turk Cruise Resort, is an enormous cruise port and leisure complicated conveniently positioned on the southern finish of Grand Turk, probably the most populous island within the Turks and Caicos Islands and the house of the territory’s capital metropolis, Cockburn City.
The devoted cruise port and surrounding amenities have been opened in 2006, following a major funding from the Turks and Caicos Tourism Board and Carnival Cruise Line.
The port and its amenities could be discovered on the following handle: Grand Turk Cruise Heart, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands
Grand Turk Terminals and Piers
Regardless of the huge array of facilities, the Grand Turk Cruise Resort’s precise port facet solely includes a single pier. This pier stretches from the center of the complicated and leads in direction of a big indoor cruise terminal.
The pier stretches 1,033 ft, permitting it to behave as a two-berth for full-sized cruise ships. When cruise ship passengers disembark, they’re led alongside the pier to the terminal, which options all the fundamental terminal amenities you’ll anticipate from a serious cruise port.
After exiting the terminal constructing, passengers are welcomed to a 13-acre complicated that provides a variety of leisure choices, eating places, retailers, and extra.
Which Cruise Traces Use Grand Turk Port?
Because the Grand Turk Cruise Port revolves round a single pier, particular person cruise strains will not be given a particular berth. As a substitute, cruise ships are directed to whichever of the 2 berths is offered. All cruise passengers are then directed to the identical terminal constructing, which can’t be bypassed, because the pier leads straight into it.
You possibly can check out the official port schedule of when cruise ships will go to proper right here.
The following cruise strains commonly host itineraries that go to the Grand Turk Cruise Heart:
- Carnival Cruises
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Costa Cruises
- Holland America Cruise Line
- Marella Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- Silversea
- Virgin Voyages
- Windstar Cruises
As talked about, Carnival Cruise Line invested closely in setting up the complicated to retain its outstanding presence. As a part of the funding settlement, its ships have precedence entry to the pier, and the corporate even maintains 75% of all seaport taxes the port collects from different cruise strains.
Terminal Amenities and Providers
The terminal constructing provides all the fundamental companies you’ll anticipate of a Caribbean cruise terminal. It has quite a few loos, an air-conditioned inside, foreign money trade cubicles, a vacationer info counter, and assist desks for every main cruise line working out of the port.
Sadly, the terminal constructing doesn’t supply free public Wi-FI; nevertheless, Wi-Fi is offered in some eating places and cafés throughout the complicated on the opposite facet of the terminal constructing. The truth is, the Grand Turk Cruise Heart is house to the one Starbucks in the entire Turks and Caicos Islands, and it offers free Wi-Fi to paying clients.
The terminal constructing and the pier resulting in it are each extremely accessible. The only-floor constructing is totally wheelchair accessible, and there are even wheelchair-friendly loos. In the event you want mobility help, it’s also possible to talk your wants along with your cruise line, and they’ll make the suitable preparations.
The Grand Turk Cruise Heart Facilities
At just below 400 ft past the pier, guests will stroll by the doorway to the principle attraction of the Grand Turk Cruise Heart – the big leisure and leisure complicated.
All the complicated price $50 million, which is a gigantic sum for such a small British Abroad Territory. The results of this funding is a beachfront multi-purpose facility surrounded by fantastically landscaped grounds.
Learn Additionally: St. Thomas Cruise Port – Piers, Overview and What to Do
The truth that some cruise passengers really feel they don’t want to depart the Grand Turk Cruise Heart to get pleasure from their time on the island is a testomony to how a lot it has to supply. The next are simply a few of the facilities open to guests:
Freeform Swimming Pool
Simply past the terminal constructing, friends can swim without cost in one of many largest swimming swimming pools within the Caribbean. The pool additionally options complimentary chaise lounge chairs, or guests will pay further to hire a personal poolside cabana for the day.
FlowRider Synthetic Browsing
Throughout from the pool, guests can discover one of the thrilling points of interest within the port – the Grand Turk FlowRider. FlowRider makes use of high-pressure jets to simulate good surf waves. Members can surf belly-down on bodyboards or attempt to stand up on an precise surfboard. Even watching from a distance is enjoyable, as many first-time surfers wipe out.
If you wish to attempt the FlowRider, we advocate buying tickets forward of time, as demand is excessive. Some cruise ships visiting the port mean you can purchase tickets while you’re on board.
Cruise Heart Seashore
To the quick left of the cruise terminal constructing, guests will see Cruise Heart Seashore, one of many nicest cruise port seashores on this planet. Visitors can swim within the glowing waters, stroll alongside the seaside, or calm down on one of many many seaside chairs.
Remember the fact that these seaside chairs and loungers could be difficult to get within the afternoons, however there are clamshell seaside chairs accessible for hire.
You can even hire floats and snorkeling gear from the centrally positioned Seashore Rental Hut. Those that select to snorkel can uncover precise 18th-century cannonballs, anchors, and plenty of tropical fish.
If you need a extra relaxed seaside expertise, the port’s South Seashore is on the fitting facet of the terminal. It has a extra laid-back ambiance because it doesn’t characteristic seaside chairs and isn’t maintained to the identical diploma as the principle Cruise Heart Seashore.
Eating places and Bars
The port complicated is house to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, a tiki grill referred to as Jack’s Shack Bar and Grill, and a beachside restaurant referred to as The Beached Whale Bar & Grill. Every of the three choices has a menu that options domestically impressed dishes and drinks. Margaritaville even operates a swim-up bar in the principle pool!
As talked about, there’s additionally a Starbucks throughout the Cruise Heart, so you may simply get pleasure from an iced espresso and get your caffeine repair.
Purchasing
The cruise heart additionally features a 45,000-square-foot buying heart with a big duty-free store, a number of jewelers, a Ron Jon Surf Store, quite a few present retailers, and comfort shops that promote all kinds of snacks and drinks.
Transportation Choices from Grand Turk Cruise Port
These trying to journey past the Grand Turk Cruise Heart have a number of transportation choices.
For probably the most half, cruise passengers go for taxis, which can be found straight outdoors of the Cruise Heart in a well-marked taxi line. This tends to be probably the most accessible and most reasonably priced method to get round Grand Turk, as most taxis will supply a flat price to the preferred websites on the island.
There’s additionally a automobile rental facility simply outdoors of the Cruise Heart. Superior reservations are really helpful, particularly throughout peak vacationer season within the winter months. In the event you select to hire a automobile, you have got two choices – Island Auto Rental and Island View Leases.
The primary makes a speciality of typical automobiles, whereas the second provides open-top Jeeps and golf carts. Whereas golf carts aren’t really helpful if you happen to plan on touring far, they’re authorized to function in Cockburn City and is usually a enjoyable method to get round.
Each rental choices have pickup and drop-off companies apart from the Cruise Heart, making the method pretty seamless.
Sadly, the one shuttle buses working out of the cruise port are used for excursions, so you can not take any type of public transit to navigate the island. That stated, the world may be very walkable, and there’s little or no site visitors if you happen to resolve to drive your self or take a taxi.
Getting Between Grand Turk Cruise Port and the Airport
JAGS McCartney Worldwide Airport (GDT) is simply over a mile from the Cruise Heart, so it’s pretty simple to get to. Since there isn’t a shuttle service, most individuals will take a taxi, which is each fast and reasonably priced. If you’re simply going on to or from the airport, ask for a flat fare moderately than paying the meter price. It’s all the time cheaper.
Language and Forex
Given its standing as a former British colony, the official language in Turks and Caicos is English. Regardless of the territory’s lasting connection to Britain, the U.S. Greenback (USD) is the only real official foreign money. ATMs in Grand Turk and elsewhere dispense U.S. {Dollars}.
Like different locations within the Caribbean, tipping for good service is customary, so it’s a good suggestion to maintain a number of smaller payments on you for tipping cab drivers and servers.
Close by Facilities
Whereas the Cruise Heart provides loads of facilities, there’s additionally a lot to do exactly outdoors of it:
- Snorkel at Boaby Rock Level: Situated a 23-minute stroll from the cruise port, this secluded white sandy seaside is the southernmost level of Grand Turk. When circumstances are calm, the turquoise waters supply a few of the greatest snorkeling wherever on Grand Turk. It’s because the comparatively shallow waters are house to 2 coral reefs.
- Calm down on White Sands Seashore: For cruise ship guests wanting to flee the crowds of the Cruise Heart Seashore, White Sands Seashore is positioned roughly 1.5 miles from the port. The shallow water won’t be the very best for swimming, however the seaside may be very peaceable. Plus, you may stroll to the highest of the sand bar to see the stays of Gun Hill – a light-weight British cannon fortification that was as soon as used to guard the island from invaders.
- Take an Island Tram Tour: The pickup station for the distinctive historic sightseeing excursions is simply outdoors the Cruise Heart. These informative, open-air tram excursions take roughly two hours. Having fun with a narrated journey across the whole island is among the best methods to get probably the most out of your keep if you’re restricted on time.
Issues to Do in Grand Turk
For these with extra time on their arms, the island of Grand Turk has a lot to supply. We extremely advocate going past the Cruise Heart and exploring the next:
Discover the Colonial Historical past of Cockburn City
The downtown core of Cockburn City is about 3.5 miles away, so many guests will take a cab into city. The territory’s capital metropolis provides loads of shops and eating places price visiting, and it’s stuffed with historic landmarks and colonial-era structure.
Each Due and Entrance Streets are house to many surviving examples of British and Bermudian-style buildings. Simply by taking an off-the-cuff stroll down these streets, you’ll see the H.M. Jail, Victoria Library, and St. Mary’s Church. All three retain a historic appeal that can make you’re feeling like you have got traveled again in time.
There are additionally many cannons and bronze anchors scattered all through this a part of town, and a number of other statues are additionally housed in the principle sq. outdoors of the Authorities Places of work.
Go to Turks and Caicos Nationwide Museum
This small museum is easy however worthwhile. Crammed with artifacts from European shipwrecks, the historic salt trade, and the island’s native inhabitants, the museum has reveals masking the complete storied historical past of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
You possibly can even find out about a historic occasion that linked the island to the area race—when the Friendship Seven area capsule and astronaut John Glenn landed off the island’s coast. The museum is positioned on the north facet of Cockburn City, so it’s a 3.7-mile taxi trip away.
View Grand Turk Lighthouse
Situated on the island’s most northern tip, the Grand Turk Lighthouse was inbuilt 1852 and is its most iconic landmark. Not solely are the views from this in style vacation spot wonderful, nevertheless it’s additionally positioned on the doorstep of a peaceable and secluded seaside. It’s effectively well worth the 6-mile journey.
Eating In and Across the Port
The Cruise Heart is house to a number of eating places, all providing diners the chance to attempt locally-inspired dishes.
You’ll wish to enterprise into Cockburn City for a extra genuine style of Grand Turk delicacies. Peaches Restaurant and Barbie’s Bar & Restaurant each supply native dishes, like conch fritters, fried lionfish, grilled mahi mahi, and coconut conch chowder.
Wandering the streets of Cockburn City will lead you to many different eating places and bars. In the event you’re a beer lover, attempt a few of the craft beers from Turk’s Head Brewery. Whereas the brewery is positioned on one other island, its beers are broadly accessible in most bars and supply a refreshing style of the island.
The Cruise Heart can also be house to an indoor shopping center, so you may simply buy souvenirs with out touring far.
Entrance Road in Cockburn City additionally has a number of memento retailers that carry locally-made items. Quite than buying the mass-produced items within the present retailers within the Cruise Heart, having an opportunity to choose up a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted memento could make a visit into city well worth the cab trip.
We additionally advocate selecting up Grand Turk sea salt, which has a uniquely flaky texture and displays the island’s once-thriving salt trade.
Seasonal Climate Situations
- Spring: Heat and sunny climate with common highs round 85°F makes it a well-liked time to go to.
- Summer season: Summer season climate tends to be sizzling and humid, with occasional showers. Anticipate common highs of roughly 90°F.
- Fall: The milder temperatures of round 80°F and dryer circumstances make the autumn one of many nicer occasions to go to the tiny island.
- Winter: Winter is the preferred time to go to, which is sensible when you think about it’s principally dry and sunny throughout Grand Turk. Daytime highs additionally often sit round an pleasant 79°F.
Continuously Requested Questions (FAQs)
Is there a seaside at Grand Turk cruise port?
Sure, Cruise Heart Seashore is a stretch of sand that’s open to all cruise passengers. There’s even direct beachfront entry simply steps from the cruise terminal constructing.
Is the pool at Grand Turk cruise port free?
Sure! Entry to the swimming pool is free for all guests. Nonetheless, some personal poolside cabanas with waiter service should be rented for a payment.
Is Grand Turk a young port?
No, cruise ships dock straight on the Cruise Heart, making it simpler for passengers to come back and go from their ships.
