Cruises That Go To Grand Turk

Spend A Day At The Beach

When you get to Grand Turk, the first beach youll see is Cruise Center Beach, right at the pier. However, there are many other beaches where you can spend the day!

Governors Beach

On the west side of the island between the cruise port and Cockburn Town is Governors 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.

Cockburn Town Beach

This beach is home to many surrounding restaurants, hotels, and shopping. Cockburn beach spans far and sections into smaller beaches due to seawalls. Mainly, the waters are calm, but when the tide is high, you may catch some waves.

Pillory Beach

Pillory Beach is one of the quieter beaches located north of Cockburn Town. Away from the crowds at the other beaches, this is a place to come if youre seeking solitude or somewhere quiet to read a book. If Christopher Columbus did first land at Grand Turk, this would have been the beach where he arrived.

Splash in the Water!

If you find yourself in Grand Turk for the day, take advantage of all of the water excursions available! If youre a diver, youll want to go diving in Grand Turk. Plenty of charters are available.

You can rent kayaks, stand-up paddles, and boats for a day out on the water. Looking for an adrenaline rush? You can rent jet skis and go kiteboarding.

Try a Land Tour

Head Over to Gibbs Cay

Saddle Up!

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Food And Drinks / Entertainment

Food is an important feature of most peoples port day itinerary. Grab common American and Mexican cuisines at the Margaritaville that includes burgers, sandwiches, grilled chicken, salads, and drinks. When at the SunRay beach/Cruise Center Beach, you can head over to Jacks Shack and get some of their famous grilled burgers.

For a beautiful meal with a view of the ocean, head on over to the southernmost end of the Old Cockburn Town to the Bird Cage Restaurant and enjoy Jamaican cuisines like the popular conch cuisines, which mostly include fried conch fritters and conch salads.

Other restaurants like the Sandbar restaurant and Salt Raker Inn offer seafood and continental cuisines. So, if you are hungry, just grab a cool pina colada, cold beer or a strawberry margarita and enjoy delicious barbeque chicken on the beach.

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Grand Turk Dock Repaired

Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald announced on his Facebook page that Grand Turk, while still showing effects of the devastating hurricane, is ready to receive cruise passengers again.

After being through the eye of the hurricane and after receiving some serious damage across the island, Im so happy to say that this week Mardi Gras will return to Grand Turk,Heald said.

The flagship of Carnival Cruise Line, is scheduled to visit Grand Turk on Thursday, October 13, 2022, as part of a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage that departed Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 8.

will not be the first vessel to return to the island, however. Carnival Sunrise is scheduled to call on Grand Turk on Tuesday, October 11, as part of a 5-night roundtrip Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami. Carnival Freedom will also visit the beautiful island alongside on Thursday during that ships 5-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

In addition to the three visits coming up this week, other Carnival cruise ships also frequent Grand Turk, including Carnival Legend, Carnival Spirit, and Carnival Magic.

The island also has calls scheduled from Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Infinity and Holland America Lines Nieuw Statendam before the end of the month, with additional visits from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and other cruise lines later this year.

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Itineraries Changed On Six Ships

The updated itineraries have Carnivalâs newest ship, , dropping Grand Turk and instead sailing on its seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary on September 11 and 25 and October 9 and 23 to San Juan, Amber Cove and Nassau.

will return in September with four- and five-night sailings from Miami that drop Key West. The four-night sailings will call at Half Moon Cay, Carnival Corporations private Bahamas island, and Nassau. The five-night sailings will stop in Bimini and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

will sail from Galveston to Freeport, Half Moon Cay and Nassau in the Bahamas on its eight-night sailing embarking September 25. A planned stop in Key West has been dropped.

An adjusted itinerary for Carnival Horizon from Miami calls at Bimini, Amber Cove and Half Moon Cay, on six-night sailings on September 12 and 26. The seven-night itinerary from New Orleans has been adjusted to visit Bimini, Freeport and Nassau on sailings on September 5 and 19.

From Galveston, will do Western Caribbean itineraries embarking September 4 and 18 and October 12, 16 and 20, that will call at Mahogany Bay , Belize and Cozumel. The original itineraries included Montego Bay and Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is closed to cruise ships this year.

Other itineraries remain as scheduled at this time. Cruise Critic will update this article with more information as it becomes available.

Southern Caribbean Voyager Princess Cruises

On this 10-day voyage across the Southern Caribbean, youll stop at six ports, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This Princess Cruises cruise will hit Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Grand Turk of Turks and Caicos before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Crown Princess will be the cruise ship hosting you and 3,000 other guests and 1,200 crew members. There are 10 eat-and-drink options, including a steakhouse, Italian cuisine, grilled food, a buffet, a wine bar and a cafe. Trying to stay active? Hit up one of their sports courts . Tap into your creative side by visiting the photography studio or the art gallery, or spend a little extra at an auction or one of the onboard stores.

Furthermore, across each of the seven ports, including Fort Lauderdale, youll have 157 excursions available, with the most being on St. Thomas. From sightseeing and exploring tropical cities to semi-underwater submarine expeditions and snorkeling, youre sure to find something suitable for you and your party on one of the best Turks and Caicos cruises.

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Enjoy Water Adventures On Turks And Caicos Shore Excursions

Turks and Caicos is a lovely collection of islands located in the eastern Caribbean. The largest island of the Turks archipelago is Grand Turk, which is also the capital of Turks and Caicos. Grand Turk has a beautiful island landscape with a mostly flat terrain and wide, sandy beaches, making it one of the top Caribbean cruise ports. When it comes to Turks and Caicos shore excursions, though, its all about the water.

The reef around Turks and Caicos is famous for its excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. If getting wet isnt at the top of your to-do list, there are other ways to explore the water while on a cruise to Turks and Caicos as well.

But first, lets discuss those terrific snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities you can take advantage of.

If youre a certified diver, you can do a two-tank dive that takes you to some of the best dive spots around the island. The two tanks will give you ample time to explore beneath the surface and see the gorgeous coral reefs and abundance of sea creatures and mammals. Theres even a good chance youll see stingrays and sea turtles.

If youre not dive certified, but want to try some snorkeling, head to Gibbs Cay. Its home to a reef teeming with a variety of fish and coral species, though most people go to see the stingrays that are typically seen in the area.

Whether you choose to spend your time under the sea or above it, youll have a fun and memorable time on one of our Turks and Caicos cruise excursions.

Grand Turk Turks And Caicos Islands

To see discounted cruises that visit or depart from this port, use the Find a Bargain box on the left.

Turquoise waters and white-sand shorefronts welcome you to Grand Turk, the largest island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Beach excursions abound, allowing you escape to a secluded resort, indulge on a lobster lunch, challenge the waves on a paddleboard and sip beer in a lounger as palm trees sway overhead. The snorkeling here is outstanding, whether youâre swimming among nurse sharks, barracudas, Nassau groupers and other fish at Coral Gardens Reef, or exploring the âAmazing Wall,â a collection of coral shelves that attracts manta rays and sea turtles. For additional marine life encounters, wade into shallow waters for a guided interaction with stingrays, keep your camera poised during a winter whale-watching expedition or cast your reel off a catamaran on a private fishing cruise. After visiting the islandâs lighthouse, built in 1852, take a stroll on the nearby coastal path that meanders along limestone cliffs.

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Turks & Caicos Cruise Future Is Bright

According to the Turks & Caicos Premier, the future of cruising is bright for the islands. Carnival Corporation, the worlds largest cruise operator, and Royal Caribbean both sending ships to Grand Turk this year will be a massive boost for the local economy, which has been virtually shut down since March of last year.

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According to the Carnival Cruise Line website, the cruise line plans to start sailing to Grand Turk again from September 2021. The newest addition to the fleet will sail to the island on a 7-day voyage, while Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Pride also have Grand Turk in their itineraries in September. Royal Caribbean has the island listed in its shore excursions, but not yet in any cruises.

Grand Turk is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean for Carnival and the company is investing anywhere between 16 to 18 million US dollars in the downtown area to build a larger dock area to accommodate larger ships to Grand Turk.

I can report to you that over the last four weeks weve had three meetings with Carnival and we have another virtual meeting and those negotiations are going well and we expect between now and the end of the summer certainly not later than October that Carnival will be back in Grand Turk.

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Snorkeling And Scuba Diving

Grand Turk is a haven for divers, located along the third-largest barrier reefs the island has some great diving spots off the west coast on the Columbus Landfall National Park.

The coral walls which range from 30 feet to more than 7000 feet deep are just a hundred yards out on the water. Explore the colorful burst of marine life in some of the best diving spots in the world.

Most diving and snorkel equipment shops are located at Cockburn Town, and if you head out for more secluded beaches like the pillory beach on the west coast, visitors can rent out water gear at the Boho Dive resort.

Since some of the best snorkeling and diving areas are off the coast and it is difficult to swim out there, take a snorkel boat ride to access the best sites. Book a snorkel and dive excursion with your cruise to enjoy this fun excursion. Some of the best scuba dive excursions are only a ten-minute boat ride away from the cruise ships dock.

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Explore Grand Turk On Your Own

Renting scooters, a golf cart or a car and exploring Grand Turk on your own is our recommendation for those who want to get the most out of their brief stay.

Grand Turk is a small island and doesn’t have any crime-ridden areas , so simply explore. Navigation is a breeze, and its almost impossible to get lost.

Youll be able to visit all of the main sights, including the Turks and Caicos National Museum, the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the local shops, and a number of Grand Turk beaches.

Simply look at our list of attractions and beaches, , reserve your rental and explore!

Visit The Turks & Caicos National Museum

Grand Turks only museum, the Turks and Caicos National Museum is housed in the Guinep House in Cockburn Town, one of the oldest stone buildings on the island. The museum chronicles the history of Grand Turk Island from about 700 AD through modern times.

Its exhibits include the prehistoric Lucayan culture, the Turks and Caicos colonial era and the slave trade. Arguably its main treasure, however, is the Molasses Reef Wreck, a Spanish ship dating from 1505 and considered the oldest shipwreck in the Americas. Excavated artifacts from the wreck on display range from crossbows and cannons to personal belongings of the crew, and the rigging and hull.

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Eastern Caribbean From Miami Carnival

Carnival Sensation is prepared to take you and your group to three different ports on this five-day roundtrip beginning in Miami, Florida. Youll hit Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Princess Cays, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas, before returning to the Sunshine State.

This Carnival cruise has 10 eat-and-drink options aboard, including 24-hour room service, a coffee bar, a deli and Guy Fieris Burger Joint. Check out the comedy club for some laughs, or escape the noise and hormones by going to the adults-only retreat or by heading over to the spa. Live-music entertainment and a casino are ready for you, too.

At each port, youll have the option to embark on a variety of excursions. Go on a clear-bottom kayaking adventure to admire the marine line just below you, or go snorkeling for a personal approach. ATV adventures arent out of the question, as you ride through the islands and explore in an energetic, fast-paced way.

Carnival Cruise Line Drops Key West Grand Turk From Upcoming Itineraries

Carnival Cruise Line notified travel agents this week that it has made changes to itineraries on several ships for September, including eliminating port calls at Key West and Grand Turk.

The cruise line told booked guests in a letter that destination requirements are continuing to evolve, necessitating the changes. Instead, Carnival has added a call at the Bahamian island of Bimini.

Carnival did not disclose the exact reasons for the itinerary change.

Key West may be off the list due to its recent efforts at limiting the majority of cruise ship traffic it sees. Pre-pandemic, Carnival was visiting Key West as many as three times a week. Last November city voters overwhelming approved three ballot initiatives to curb cruise traffic.

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Importance Of Cruise Visits

Local tour operators, retailers, and restaurants are sure to welcome the return of cruise ships to Grand Turk, as the island relies on tourism as a major source of revenue. In the first quarter of 2022, the island received more than 173,000 cruise ship visitors, numbers that were welcomed after the pandemic shutdown kept tourism away from the island.

Grand Turk only began welcoming cruise ship visits again from mid-December 2021, but the port has rapidly returned to pre-pandemic levels of visits.

Grand Turk Cruiseimage Gallery

• Encounter sea turtles and other marine life while snorkelling.
• Enjoy snorkelling with colourful tropical fish.
• Grand Turks pristine waters are ideal for water sports.
• Visit the historic St. Marys Anglican Church.
• Splash into the calm turquoise waters of Grand Turk.
• Discover your own slice of paradise in Grand Turk.
• Dive into peaceful island living in Grand Turk.
• Scenic Sapodilla Bay is located in Chalk Sound.
• Discover colourful conch shells in local shops.
• Soak up paradise at Grace Bay.

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Meet Stingrays At Gibbs Cay

Quite possibly the most popular destination on Grand Turk among people on a cruise to Turks and Caicos, Gibbs Cay is a small uninhabited island off the west coast of Grand Turk. It boasts beautiful sand beaches and shallow waters that are home to friendly stingrays. Its a super-popular place for snorkeling.

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Things To Know Before You Go

• Although Grand Turk is close to many Caribbean destinations, its actually located in the Atlantic Ocean.

• Access to the pool, beach, and stores is free of charge for cruise passengers.

• Visitors can rent a private poolside cabana for extra cost.

• The cruise center is wheelchair accessible.

• A tourist information desk is located near the tour and taxi departure point.

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Soak Up The Sun On A Grand Turk Beach

One of the things cruisers fret about most is having so much fun off the ship that they lose track of time and cant make it back on time. When you spend the day at the Cruise Center Beach, theres no chance that can happen as youre literally just steps from your ship as you lounge on the gorgeous white sand and wade into the crystal clear waters which remain very calm throughout the day thanks to the shelter offered by the cruise pier. Its a great spot to enjoy the day with family and friends.

Youre so close to the ship, you can even pop back on board for lunch and head back to the beach before its time to leave for good. Dont forget your sunscreen and towel!

Other popular beaches found on the island include English Point Beach, Pillory Beach and Norman Saunders Beach, all found on the leeward side of the island.