Friday, April 19, 2024

How to Visit Grand Turk, the Capital Island of Turks and Caicos

cruise to grand turk

Here are all the things to do in Grand Turk while on your cruise vacation. Follow these tips and places to visit on the Turks and Caicos island. The capital city of one of the most popular tropical vacation destinations around, Grand Turks, on the island of Turks and Caicos is everything you love about vacation.

Golf carts

If you’re in search of authentic cuisine, Margaritaville, Sandbar Restaurant, Jack’s Shack, and The Bird Cage Restaurant are perfect spots for this. Taxi services are always available on Grand Turk and can be rented from the same locations where rental cars are available, in addition to smaller locations scattered throughout the island. Rates depend on where your taxi is hailed from and the destination you are looking to travel to.

Best Grand Turk Shore Excursions

You also have direct access to an 800-foot stretch of beach with cabanas and changing rooms. Not long after you disembark the ship and walk onto the beach, you'll see hammocks encouraging you to pass out there for a while (and it's tempting). In many Caribbean ports, active excursions such as zip-lining, kayaking and hiking have replaced lazy days on the beach and the gridlock in shopping and sightseeing areas. But even though it's the capital of the island chain Turks and Caicos, Grand Turk maintains a slower pace of life. Exploring the sights, town, and beaches of Grand Turk is one of our recommended ways of spending the day on Grand Turk.

Private Beach with Open Bar and Tasting

The island certainly features their own island-style dining spots, which are typically only open for lunch. If you’re more of an adventurous, thrill seeker, the ATV Adventure Tours offered on Grand Turk will be something you don’t want to miss. The locals of Gibbs Cay are eager to meet you – they also happen to be stingrays.

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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. If you’d like something very authentic to Grand Turk, try heading to the National Museum Gift Shop. Here you’ll find books, postcards, and gifts related to the island. The Grand Turk retail outlet also hosts many items from local artisans, including handmade baskets, sailboats, and more. Jack’s Shack is one of the most popular restaurants on the island because of its proximity to the cruise center port and its authentic Jamaican dishes.

According to the official government site, there are approximately 3,720 residents on the island, and it is the second-largest populated island in the Turks and Caicos. It used to be a salt-producing town, and evidence of the salt industry from the late 1600s to early 1900s is still available in some parts of the capital Cockburn Town. 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. If you’re interested in finding an authentic Turks and Caicos gift, see Shopping in the Turks and Caicos for ideas.

cruise to grand turk

Cruise to Turks and Caicos and experience the sugar-white sand, brilliant blue waters, and the kaleidoscopic sea life that is plentiful in the Caribbean paradise. Without hyperbole, this is one of the world’s most photogenic spots. T&C, as it is sometimes called, is the ultimate fantasy-island destination—the screen saver in all its glorious reality.

Taxis

They will provide information and instructions to ensure your safety. 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.

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You’ll find Margaritaville in Turks and Caicos on sailings from Galveston on Carnival Miracle and from Manhattan on Carnival Venezia. If you’re visiting Grand Turk, there are some tips and things to know that can make your trip even better. We mentioned some of these above, but in case you missed them, we’ve included them here as well. One of the claims to fame for this area was that it was the spot where astronaut John Glenn splashed down after orbiting the earth. To be honest, given the small size of Grand Turk there isn’t a ton of variety of things to do like you might find elsewhere.

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. 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.

Horseback riding is also a lot of fun to do along the shore of the beautiful beaches. This beach is home to many surrounding restaurants, hotels, and shopping. Cockburn beach spans far and sections into smaller beaches due to seawalls.

It is important to understand the guidelines of your particular cruise line prior to sailing to ensure a seamless visit. Having your passport, valid driver’s license, or other state-issued form of ID, and any necessary forms signed will allow for this. It is also best practice to coordinate your excursions and itineraries through your cruise line directly to avoid any miscommunication. Grand Turk is known for its diversity of local, Caribbean flavors, with fish being the main event.

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 island is uninhabited and bears beautiful beaches on its west coast.

With most sailings departing from Florida, your options range from 5-day sailings all the way up to 11-day sailings from New York. The beach located to the left as you get off the ship can get crowded and loud. A quieter (yet rockier) stretch of sand can be found just a few minutes’ walk south of the pier. Grand Turk’s cruise port is one of the best cruise ports for wheelchair users. It has a step-free pier and port exit, as well as ramps and adapted bathrooms. Read on for our breakdown of Grand Turk’s cruise port including address information, cruise line terminals, services and more.

Some reports quote Glenn as saying it "must be paradise" when he spotted the 40 coral islands from space. The white sand and calm, crystal-clear waters at Cockburn Town Beach are perfect for snorkeling. 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. If you’re looking to get out of the port area, one of the popular things to do is to get out on the water. During our stop, there were excursions available that took passengers out on catamarans for snorkeling tours, often with drinks afterward while on the boat. This part of the world has some of the most beautiful water anywhere, so getting out and enjoying it is well worth the cost of the excursion.

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