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Best Things to Do in Grand Turk: Complete Guide

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If you’re wondering what to do in Grand Turk, we have the answers! Nearly one million cruise passengers arrive at the Grand Turk Cruise Center every year, and it’s no wonder why.

Grand Turk Cruise Port is mainly visited by Carnival Cruise Line ships, so you’ll find Princess, Holland America but even Celebrity ships are there, too. A day at Grand Turk can be part of Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. 

Best Things to Do In Grand Turk 

Grand Turk is one of those laid-back islands where wild donkeys and horses roam along the beach and in town.

Tropical beaches, a rich history, and all sorts of activities for cruisers are only a few reasons why cruisers Grand Turk.

Since your cruise ship is stopping in Grand Turk for only a day, you better make the most of it!  

Continue reading to discover the ten best things to do in Grand Turk and what makes this place so unique.

A Little History of Grand Turk

Grand Turk, an island in the Turks and Caicos, is a British Overseas Territory located in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean, between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.  

Grand Turk is only one of many islands in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. It’s been the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands since 1766.

Grand Turk cruise port is the only one in the Turks and Caicos. The island is home to Cockburn Town, the capital city and government center of Turks and Caicos.

Grand Turk is a very small island with less than 5,000 residents. It’s common to see slow-moving donkeys and wild horses roam just about everywhere.

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Grand Turk Guide and Info

• Where is Grand Turk? Grand Turk is only 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Located at the southern end of the Turks and Caicos Islands between the Bahamas and Hispaniola Island (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), about 575 miles southeast of Miami.
• What is Grand Turk famous for? The world’s best coral cliff wall dive. Possibly the first landfall for Christopher Columbus on his journey to find the New World. Plus, John Glenn held his first press conference in Grand Turk a couple of days after his space capsule splashed down offshore.
• Currency: The US dollar is the official currency of the Turks & Caicos.
• Language: English is the official language, but you’ll also hear Creole and Spanish.
• Time Zone: Grand Turk is on Eastern Standard Time, the same as Miami or New York. Daylight Savings kicks in from March to November.
• What’s the weather? Sunny and warm almost year-round. Except for the end of the hurricane season, September and October, there’s not much rain. Summer temps can quickly get into the 90s, while winter months are a balmy 80 degrees on average.
• Best time to cruise to Grand Turk:  Almost any season is beautiful in Grand Turk. If you’re an avid diver, it is best to avoid the late summer/fall hurricane season.
• What travel documents do I need? A current US passport is the recommended document, but it is not required if your cruise begins and ends in the United States. If you are traveling without a US passport, you will need to present two official government-issued IDs.
• Please check with the US Department of State for the proper travel requirements.   Non-US citizens should check with their embassy for appropriate documents.
• How do I get from the Grand Turk cruise port to town? Cockburn Town is located three miles from the port. You can walk there, but you won’t find any sidewalks along the way, and the weather can get scorching. The best suggestion is to take a shore excursion or hire a taxi.
• Best way to get around: There is a car rental office at the Cruise Center, but driving is on the left as a British territory. Bike tours, as well as motor coach tours, are offered.
• What’s suitable for kids? The Cruise Center has family-friendly kid activities, from playing on the beach to the only land-based Flow Rider ($). There aren’t any zip-lines or bungee jumps (yet!), but there is a swim with the stingrays’ tour and kayaking and for older kids.
• Outer Space History: Brush up on your NASA and space exploration history before you walk over to the John Glenn Exhibit, “Splashdown Grand Turk,” near the Cruise Center. Just offshore is the place where John Glenn, the first American to orbit the world, and his space capsule, Friendship 7 splashed down in 1962.

Money, Money, Money

• At the Cruise Center:   Visitors can use traveler’s checks and major credit cards at the Grand Turk Cruise Center.
• Cash for shopping : is king when it comes to handicraft markets, so if you’re looking for locally made souvenirs in and around Cockburn Town, bring some green.
• ATM machines: There is an ATM near the Cruise Center.
• Credit cards:   Most restaurants and stores will take credit cards and Traveler’s Checks if you’re heading into town.
• Tipping: It’s polite to tip 15% at restaurants. Some restaurants add an automatic 10% service fee to the bill, so know what you’re paying. Tipping your taxi driver for good service is standard procedure.

Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Grand Turk?

There is only one place to dock on all of Grand Turk. Your cruise ship will dock at the popular Grand Turk cruise port complex, easily visible as you approach the island.  

The dock is located at the southern end of Grand Turk, just to help you get your bearings.

This port is technically a pier, located south of Cockburn Town and next to a stunning beach spanning nearly 780,000 square feet. You’ll see locales and tourists sunbathing, swimming, and relaxing as you walk off the ship.  

Carnival Corporation’s Grand Turk Cruise Center consists of 18 acres of shopping, beaches and endless recreational activities located right where your ship docks.

With only a few hours to spend in Grand Turk, you could easily spend a relaxing day at the enormous Grand Turk Cruise Center.

Or you can choose from a variety of shore excursions, many of which will take you on a full tour of Grand Turk.

What to Do in Grand Turk

Relax at the grand turk cruise center .

The Cruise Center Complex is just one of the best things you can do in Grand Turk. This complex is a large open-air area with tons of excursion booths, gift shops, and restaurants.

One of the largest Margaritaville restaurants in the Caribbean is right next door, featuring a swim-up bar and free loungers for your use.  

One of the main attractions at the Cruise Center Complex is an immense lagoon-like swimming pool. This pool also features a FlowRider, where people can test their surfing skills on artificial waves.  

The center also has a John Glenn Splashdown memorial to commemorate his mission and landing site. A picturesque humpback whale is also nearby to celebrate the year-round sea life found at Grand Turk.

Don’t forget to hit up all of the boutique stores to shop for souvenirs and gifts for you and your loved ones. There’s a rental car service is at the center complex, but be sure to make reservations before your visit.

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. Planning excursions can be overwhelming, so try to research before visiting.  

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Visit the Grand Turk Lighthouse

If you’re going to Grand Turk for a day, you have to visit the lighthouse. This lighthouse, completed in 1852, is the only lighthouse in all Turks and Caicos Islands. Although this is no longer an active lighthouse, for only $3 per person, it’s a perfect spot for tourists and locales to spend the day and catch some sights.  

The grounds around the white, french-style lighthouse are stunning. You can admire the old light-keepers house and a scenic coastal path that leads along the top of the marine limestone cliffs of the coastline. You may even see some donkeys on the grounds!

Although you cannot bike or walk to the lighthouse, you can use a rental car, taxi, or ATV. Be sure to check any island tours you’ve reserved, as the lighthouse may be part of the excursion.  

Stop By the Turks and Caicos National Museum

The Turks and Caicos National Museum offers tours year-round, a perfect spot for the history buff. Located in the capital, Cockburn Town, the museum opened in 1991.  

Enjoy an array of exhibits, including the Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest European shipwreck excavated in the western hemisphere. You’ll also see an exhibit dedicated to the first inhabitants of Grand Turk, the Tainos. You’ll see how they lived and what they contributed to the island to make it what it is today.

See the Salt Salinas

Grand Turk was only one of three islands in the Turks and Caicos that produced salt. Turks and Caicos had one of the world’s first and largest salt industries.  

Ultimately, production declined on the island; however, you can still see what used to be magnificent salt flats. Take a ride into Cockburn Town and view the dividing lines and salt ruins from the shore. You can also take an ATV trip to a more underdeveloped area called Hawkes Nest Salina. There you’ll see tons of natural white crystal sea salt.

Spend a Day at the Beach

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

Governor’s Beach

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.  

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 you’re 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 you’re a diver, you’ll 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.

Don’t forget about trying a whale watching tour as well.   Note: whales are only in these waters from January through late March – early April. Thank you to Salt Cay Divers for the whale watching information. 

Try a Land Tour

Besides seeing the island from the water, there are plenty of tours to see the island from land. Explore the capital on a segway tour with guided audio. There are also open-air trucks available to cruise around and learn about the town.  

You can also rent ATVs to explore the more underdeveloped eastern side of the island, where many roads are unpaved, including Hawkes Nest Salina. Horseback riding is also a lot of fun to do along the shore of the beautiful beaches.

Head Over to Gibbs Cay

Gibbs Cay is a small island about a mile off of Grand Turk. This island is a short trip away and accessible by jet ski or boat.  

Gibbs Cay may have the best snorkeling in all of Grand Turk, unlike some shore beaches. Here you might see plenty of colorful reef fish, sea fans, corals, turtles, stingrays, and maybe even a small shark!

With snorkel and flippers, you can make your way out about 300’ to the edge of a coral reef or just wade into the water and watch for the throng of graceful stingrays as they come in for a scheduled feeding.

If a slow horseback ride along a white sandy beach is on your to-do list, Grand Turk might just be the perfect place to try it. Available as a ship’s shore excursion,  it’s necessary to sign up at the beginning of your cruise to avoid a sold-out disappointment.

After a short van ride to the stable, guests are given a safety briefing before mounting their steed. First is a short ride through some scrub brush and pathways. 

Then you’ll reach another stable where you’ll don a life preserver and your horse will be refitted with a water-suitable saddle. Then off you and your group will go, into the ocean. 

A few minutes in one direction and the leader gives the signal for the horses to head for home. Almost in unison, the horses turn in the ocean and set their sights on a quick return trip to their home. 

Hold on, because the herd really wants to get moving. It’s a wonderful experience, both in the water and on land.

Where to Dine in Grand Turk

Grand Turk has some of the best and freshest seafood you could imagine with plenty of restaurants.  

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.  

While in Grand Turk, you need to taste all the local flavors it has to offer. The most common seafood on the island is Conch. Considered a delicacy, Conch is served both raw and cooked.

One of the most popular Conch dishes for tourists is Conch fritters. Breaded, spiced, and fried, this dish is usually paired with an equally delicious dipping sauce.  

Lionfish and Snapper are also popular seafood choices on the island along with Mahi Mahi and Lobster.

The local spices of Grand Turk have a kick, so don’t be surprised if you get some heat with your dinner! Plantain chips and jerk chicken are popular selections accompanied with peas and rice. 

Here are a few places to grab lunch, a cold brew and maybe stay for the entire afternoon!

Jack’s Shack has become the afternoon escape from the hub-bub and tackiness of Margaritaville at the Cruise Center. Located just a short walk from the cruise dock, Jack’s Shack is only 540 yards north of the Cruise Center.

Chef Leroy cooks up a mean jerk chicken on the grill, plus local conch dishes and fried fish. You can even print out a coupon from their website to get a free shot of locally-produced rum.

If a quieter luncheon is more your taste, hop into a taxi to the Osprey Beach Hotel  and the Bird Cage Restaurant. There you’ll find poolside dining with a bird’s-eye view of the ocean. Free wifi, too.

Of course there’s good ol’ Margaritaville back at the Cruise Center. Great for those less adventurous or prefer to stay close to the cruise port.

It’s basically the same menu at all of Jimmy Buffet’s restaurants, but if you plan to go back and forth to the ship all day, it’s convenient.

INSIDER TIP:

If you plan to use WiFi at Margaritaville, you should know that it’s very slow. However, I found that fastest connection is near the router on the second level. Just bring your lunch upstairs.

Where to Shop in Grand Turk

The Grand Turk Cruise Center is a great stop when you arrive or right before you leave because it is right at your ship’s dock. Expect to see a big crowd since it’s one of the most popular areas on the island for shopping. Before you leave Grand Turk, you have to walk away with a gift or souvenir.  

The Grand Turk Cruise Center will have jewelry, t-shirts, alcohol, and more. You’ll also be able to stop at the only Starbucks in all of Turks and Caicos for a one-of-a-kind Starbucks Grand Turk souvenir mug.  

You can also find a lot of gifts on Front Street in Cockburn Town. There are a few permanent shops, but when tourism is at its high point, you’ll see many vendors pop up a tent to sell their handmade items.  

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.  

Shells are also a popular souvenir from the island. However, there are specific rules that tourists need to follow. For example, non-locales are only allowed to leave with no more than three conch shells. Be sure to follow the rules and protocols to help protect the natural ecosystem and island of Grand Turk.  

Wrapping Up Your Visit to Grand Turk 

With beautiful weather nearly year-round (the exception of course being the unpredictable height of hurricane season-August and September), cruise passengers have come to love their brief visit to this modest, little island. 

Grand Turk is an incredible island with tons of activities and places to explore. You’ll taste the local flavors, relax on some of the best beaches, see extraordinary sea life, learn the fascinating history and culture of the island, and much more.

Whether you choose to hang out, eat and shop at the cruise center, venture into town or purchase a shore excursion, a port call in Grand Turk is sure to be a fun and memorable experience.

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44 comments.

Duly noted and corrected. Thank you for reading the article and taking the time to leave your comment. Much appreciated!

John Glen was the first American to orbit the earth, not the first person. Russian Yuri Gagarin was the first person to orbit the earth.

Hi Tayah, Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers to your questions. I would suggest your doing some research online to see what beaches you would like to visit. Also, check your cruise line’s shore excursions – they’ll usually include if there are lockers available to stow your belongings.

Thank you for your comment and have a wonderful time! Sherry

hello I was just wondering if id be able to go jetskiing on the island and where id be leaving my personal belongings,and will they be safe because everything I need to get back on the cruise ship will be in my bag?

Hi David, While Grand Turk is small, you will need a taxi or a tour to see the island. From the cruise dock, you can have a very nice day but to get into town or around, it’s not really walkable. I hope this helps. Thank you for your question. Sherry

Is Grand Turk small enough to visit via a walking tour or do recommend another way other than the cruise ship excurisions?

Hi Mechelle,

Sorry I can’t help with golf cart rental recommendations. Maybe you can contact the visitor’s bureau in Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos) and they can point you in the right direction. Have a great time! Sherry

Looking for golf cart rental recommendations in Grand Turk, close to the cruise port.

Hi Traci, I think you should start here and help your friend get the proper marriage license. http://turksandcaicostourism.com/weddings/marriage-license-requirements-turks-and-caicos/ From there, you can view the island’s list of wedding planners who will help you put together the port day wedding. Sounds exciting to me! Sherry

A group of us are traveling to Grand Turk on the Carnival Sunshine, docking there for a day. We are looking for a place to put on a wedding. Looking for steel drum music and a beautiful, yet simple, wedding ceremony. I’d appreciate a local contact there to help me arrange a beautiful wedding on a beach! We are looking for something not “tourist-y”. We did something similar 2 years ago for another couple on Isla Roatan in Honduras. It was simple and beautiful. Flower pots set up for an aisle, our Broker is ordained and will do the ceremony. What we wanted from the island natives is a cake, a musical option, flowers for the Bride, and a photographer. A contact for a planner would be great!

Sounds like you have a nice cruise planned. Yes, there are other activities to do beside those offered through the cruise lines. Please visit http://turksandcaicostourism.com/grand-turk/ and click on Things to Do. There are links to companies that offer things to do that you’d book on your own. Chukka Tours offers things to do there, too. Https:www.chukka.com If you want something a little more cultural there’s the Turks and Caicos Museum. They also have activities. https://www.tcmuseum.org/

Have a wonderful time! Sherry

Hi, I will be traveling to Grand turk via Carnival Vista the end of this month with 3 teenagers. I’ve heard alot about the beaches near the port. I would like to know if there are any activities for a fee available like jetskiing or speedboat at the nearby beaches instead of doing an excursions. Thanks in advance, Denise

Hi Linda, Unfortunately, the Turks and Caicos National Museum is permanently closed, due to severe hurricane damage last year. However, they are happy to report that their gift shop is open! The distance from the Cruise Center to the museum (gift shop) is about 1/2 mile. If anyone in your group likes to ride horses, I’ve done that with the ship’s shore excursion and it was a lot of fun. Sherry

Hi Sherry, I usually book my excursions through my ship ,however while in Grand Turks we would like to go to the National Museum. Can you tell me approximately how long that taxi ride would be. we will be in port from 8am – 4pm. I want to calculate an appropriate amount of time . Thank you

Hi Darryl, Thanks for reading and your comment. There are several companies that offer shore excursions and to the best of my knowledge, they all provide a fairly similar experience to that of the cruise line…many times with a smaller group. While going with the cruise line’s shore excursions does ensure a level of confidence, many if not all of the alternative shore tour companies guarantee you will get back in time for your ship’s departure. Here are a few of the shore excursion companies that I have paid for and used: Shore Excursions Group, Viator, Shore Tours. There is also CruisingExcursions.com but I have not tried them.

Sometimes, word of mouth or going online to a particular port’s page may give you ideas, too.

With your wide range of ages, families may want a more kid-oriented shore excursion while millennials may go for the adrenaline-inducing experiences. Your oldest in the group may want more overview tours aboard a motor coach. I hope this is helpful. Have a wonderful family reunion cruise! Sherry

Hi we will be having a family reunion cruise, on Carnival Magic December 2019. We have people from age 14 – 93 years of age. What private company would recommend for a tour of the island? Or any other recommendations?

Grand Turk is so much fun. I’d check with Cunard’s shore excursion options – it should include the horseback riding tour. While Grand Turk is up and running post-hurricanes, I don’t know 100% for sure that the stables are all repaired. I will check into it.

Thank you for your email.

Your site has given me food for thought. How can I book the horse riding on the beach. This would be fantastic. We arrive with Cunard on Sat 20th Jan and would love this as an activity to do. Are you able to send me contacts to achieve this please. Many thanks Jo

In Grand Turk, your ship will dock at the beach so there’s really not too much more to do than walk over to it. In Aruba, my favorite beach is Baby Beach, around the other side of the island. You might though, need to make arrangements to be picked up by the taxi or use an Uber or Lyft app if that’s possible.

Thanks for your email and have a wonderful trip!

Best beaches for shoreline snorkeling in Grand Turk,Aruba and domican republic we will be on Vista 12/1617. We r avid cruisers and always enjoy jumping in a cab and finding the best beach. Any suggestions??

We had a great snorkel experience there. I am not sure what will be left of the island after Irma.

Hi Gira, Lucky you! I really enjoyed Carnival Sunshine a year or so ago. Grand Turk is lovely. I’ve done horseback riding there and it was wonderful. I think 6 is the minimum age so your 8-yr old would qualify. Other things I like in Grand Turk is the history and town tour. But…the bus ride on the way to the riding stable is a mini town tour in itself so you almost get both. Try to leave a little time to wander the cruise center too or cool off in the pool at the end of the day. Margaritaville is fun…but crowded. Upstairs is less busy if you and your kids want a snack later. When you read the shore excursion reviews on Carnival’s site, be sure to check the age range for the reviewer. That’s a good clue to the demographic you’ll find on the tour. Horseback riding attracts all age groups.

Have a wonderful time! Feel free to send a note back after your cruise to let me know what excursion you chose.

Thanks! Sherry

Hi Sherry, We are taking a cruise with Carnival Sunshine on Aug 20th. Grand Turks is one of the ports we will be stopping at from 7am to 4pm . I have my 14 yrs old daughter and 8 yr old son with me and we are cruising for the 1st time. I would love to get your suggestions on how we can spend our time there. I like the horse back riding excursion as none of us have done that before. Would you suggest to book that through the cruise or once we get to the port? Anything else that would be great for us to try?

Hi Ana, Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! My recommendation would be to contact the hotels on Grand Turk as inquire if any can arrange a vow renewal ceremony. Your cruise line might also be able to arrange someone on the island…but it might be more expensive. Turks and Caicos tourism has a list of event planners and maybe someone there can point you in the best direction for Grand Turk.

Have a wonderful ceremony and celebration! Thanks for your comment. Sherry

Hi my husband and I are planning our first cruise for our 15 year Anniversary next year….per the cruise line we are looking into on our date 8/23/18 it looks like the ship will port on the island…we would like to do a Small ceremony to renew our vows on the beach…any recommendations?.

Thank you in advance for your prompt response

Hi Buffie, Good question. If you’re thinking of renting a vehicle, please note that cars drive on the left. Maybe you live in the UK so that’s not an issue. But if you’re willing, there are several car rentals companies just outside the port. Also Grand Turk has wild ponies and donkeys that can appear out of nowhere. I’ve always taken a shore excursion on Grand Turk or just hung out at the Cruise Center or walked down to Jack’s Shack. There are a lot of historical and interesting points and places on this small island that you might otherwise miss without a tour guide. Whatever you decide to do, be safe and enjoy the island. Sherry

We are docking with a group. Someone had suggested renting jeeps or something and just driving around the island and exploring, any suggestions?

Hi Chelsey, Thanks for your question. If you simply want a day at the beach, it’s walkable to get there. When you dock in Grand Turk, just look to the left of the Cruise Center. There’s a huge stretch of beach (it’s in the photo in the article). Grab your gear and head on over! As far as other beaches around the island, Governor’s Beach is gorgeous but requires either a taxi, golf cart or car rental to get there. But really, if you just walk a little bit further away from the Cruise Center complex, you’ll find the crowds beach continually thin out. Only about one-third of a mile north (to the left) of the Cruise Center is Jack’s Shack, a landmark stop for drinks and nibbles. Keep walking north and the beach widens and there are less visitors. Have a wonderful cruise and thanks for your email. Sherry

I hear the beaches are beautiful at Grand Turk. My family and I are cruising there in January. I noticed our cruise line doesn’t offer exclusive beach excursions and we really just want to spend the day at the beach. Any recommendations?

If you haven’t been snorkeling before, I wouldn’t recommend it as your first try. The water here is saltier than anywhere I’ve ever snorkeled. Take lots of water if you do try it. I was sick in about 10 minutes, and I’ve snorkeled on all the other islands with no trouble. The second time we went we did the two person kayak tour. Wasn’t a lot to see but it was a lot of fun.

Hi Kim, I totally agree! It’s a great place to spend the day. Thanks for your comment. Sherry

I love love love grand turk!!! its so laid back and relaxed!!! my favorite place to go on a cruise to!!

Hi Tracie, Yes, there are local places to shop and eat. You’re best bet is to do some research on Cockburn Town and check out the reviews. Go to: https://visittci.com – Have fun!

is there any local foods or markets/

Hi Cyndi, Thank you for your email. As I don’t know what cruise you will take, I’d suggest reading through your cruise line’s list of shore excursions and see what’s offered that would be child-friendly (yes beach days are perfect!) Also, check with the onboard child care directors…I’ll bet they have some excellent suggestions, too. Have a wonderful cruise with your granddaughter! Sherry

Need some suggestions for something to do with our 4 year old granddaughter that we are taking on a cruise in a month. Any ideas?

Great beach???

Thank you Cyndi

Hi Sue, So nice to hear from you! I was just thinking about you and Tom the other day as I was looking for our “jump” photos from Belogradchik Fortress. I still think you must have been a high school cheer leader! Please email me about your cruise in March so maybe we can meet up before you leave. sherry at cruisemaven dot com. Cheers back and hope all is going well. Sherry

Hi Sherry! So nice to see your blog! I certainly trust your advice and will be making note of your ideas for our stop here on our cruise in March! We’re trying out HAL for the first time on their new ship!

Hope you’re doing well! We’d sure love to meet up with you again sometime!

Cheers, Your cruise mates from your sea-to-sea river cruise, Sue & Tom

Grand turk is a beautiful island not much to do on the island other than touring or goin to acouple of restaurants if theyre open would not recomend more than a 2 night stay on this island after the cruiseship leaves it becomes a ghost town

Hi and thanks for your comment. Grand Turk does look like a fun to stay! Yes, there are about 5 hotels/inns on the island, so if you flew in then you could stay in Grand Turk. Sherry

Can you do a vacation here. Or is this just a day adventure…sound so exciting!

Hi Lindsay, Thanks for your kind words and excellent suggestions. I never seem to get far enough out to explore the lighthouse, but it will be on my to-do list next time. Great idea about the golf carts, too. I need to revisit asap! Thanks again.

I completely agree, lots to see in Grand Turk besides just the pool! But what about the lighthouse and the conch shell beach? Also think renting golf carts is so much more fun than taking a taxi! Just my two cents! Love your blog though! Someday we hope to be as traveled as you! 🙂

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Updated on October 17, 2023 by Sherry Laskin

Timeliness of Grand Turk excursions

By WillieD13 , June 19, 2010 in Grand Turk

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We are considering doing multiple, back to back, excursions when we reach Grand Turk, however the amount of time between a couple of them is 30 minutes or less. We are concerned that if we go out on one of the boat excursions, and it is delayed at all, we may not get back before the next excursion departs. Do these tours tend to run on time, and more importantly, get back as per the time schedule listed?

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they tell you on board that it is ok to do this, but my husband almost missed a snokeling excursion due to the bus for our horseback riding excursion was 1 hour late getting back. he literally got to the boat as they were untying the rope to leave. he made it, but said he wouldn't ever do that again. just our experience.

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Excursions in Grand Turk

By Fishstick , August 14, 2007 in Grand Turk

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I am sailing on the Carnival Triumph in October, and have been reading the posts about excursions. Based on all your recommendations, we've narrowed it down to (a) Aqua Boats; (b) Dunebuggy Adventure; © SeaTrek Helmet Dive; or (d) Ultimate Snorkeling. Any suggestions? We aren't sure if we should stay on land or sea.......and not sure if the snorkeling is better in Grand Turk or St. Thomas. We want to save time for Margaritaville too! :)

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I sail on 11-3-07 on the Zuierdam (sp?). I'm interested in the on/off bus. How far is the bus stop from the pier?

Did you like it? How much did it cost?

The HOHO bus is right at the pier. Saw it but didn't take it. Just a nice beach day for us.

Thank you for your help. I have been searching the threads for this info, but couldn't find out if the bus stop location was near the pier.

Someone said it is better to sign up with the ship because then the light house tour is included in the price. I'm a lighthouse buff and I'm very interested in seeing it and the rest of the island. I'm glad I can stay as long as I wish at the lighthouse.

• 4 weeks later...

We are also on the Triumph (10-13-07) and are trying to get excursion info. Looks like for us the Ultimate Snorkel in Grand Turk is going to be it. If I hear any news I'll post.

When we were in Grand Turk, we did the 11:30 Ultimate Snorkel trip. We went to 2 locations & both were good. We saw a barracuda & a couple of stingrays & lots of fish. 1 of the stops had some caves in the reefs. It was really nice. When we returned from the trip, we headed to Margaritaville for the rest of the afternoon. It was a great day!

Sorry, I can't really say about snorkeling in St Thomas. We did an island tour then was brought to Sapphire Beach. We snorkeled from the beach & it was OK, but it was nothing compared to Grank Turk.

Fishstick - when I first saw the name on the post, I thought maybe I mistyped my name. Ha ha because I have the same questions as you. We're off to Grand Turk on the Triumph sailing on 10-13-07.

We have two kids - age 11 and 14 - so adventure/thrill excursions interest them. We're leaning towards the dune buggy rides because it's something none of us have ever done and it seems to get you all over the island in a neat way -- seems like you'll be driving over sand and dunes whereas other methods seem to stick to the roads. I'm hoping that because the dune buggy excursion is 2 hours, we'll have time to go to a beach and go snorkeling, too. My husband and kids aren't fantastic swimmers, so the snorkeling interests me more than them.

And we'll have to get to Margaritaville. We have a thing for visiting Hard Rock Cafes and Rainforest Cafes and now, Margaritaville. We've been to M'villes in Vegas, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando.

I gotta book the excursions soon!

We just got off the Triumph yesterday, and we had a great time in Grand Turk. We did the Reef and Rays excursion. The snorkeling was the best we have seen in the caribbean. There was great visability, and we saw a good variety of fish. Then we went to Gibbs Cay for the stingray portion. We saw about 15 rays, and they swam all around you. I was able to hold one of the rays in my arms, she was so gentle. We did also snorkel on St. John at Cinnamon Bay. The snorkeling was good, but not as good as Grand Turk.

GuitarPlayer

When we were in Grand Turk, we did the 11:30 Ultimate Snorkel trip. We went to 2 locations & both were good. We saw a barracuda & a couple of stingrays & lots of fish. 1 of the stops had some caves in the reefs. It was really nice. When we returned from the trip, we headed to Margaritaville for the rest of the afternoon. It was a great day!   Sorry, I can't really say about snorkeling in St Thomas. We did an island tour then was brought to Sapphire Beach. We snorkeled from the beach & it was OK, but it was nothing compared to Grank Turk.

We were in GT on Sept 20. It sounds like we did the exact same things as JnK, with the same results. Snorkeling was AWESOME on that excursion. The two stops are named (If I recall correctly) Horseshoe Reef and Round Cay. Both were beautiful, and the guides were awesome. At the second stop, part of the reef was so close to the surface, that you couldn't swim over the top of it w/o risking injuring yourself and the reef. However, you could swim up right next to this reef and see many wonderful things.

Thank you for your help. I have been searching the threads for this info, but couldn't find out if the bus stop location was near the pier.   Someone said it is better to sign up with the ship because then the light house tour is included in the price. I'm a lighthouse buff and I'm very interested in seeing it and the rest of the island. I'm glad I can stay as long as I wish at the lighthouse.

You are not able to go inside the lighthouse, but there are plaques with historical information about it to read. There is also a beautiful view to take in. We stop there as part of the dune buggy excursion.

I think it was cheaper to take a cab to the sites verses the bus.

• 3 weeks later...

We are on the Trimuph leaving October 27 2007.

twinkletoes4445

We did the hop-on, hop-off bus back in Feb. We signed up through the ship (the Zuiderdam) and we paid $39 per person. The bus stop is right in the main complex. It seems like where you walk out, you can see Margaritaville across the way. At any rate, I have arthritis in one knee and can't walk long distances and this was no big deal for me.

The bus itself is nice...it's air-conditioned and seats quite a few people. The tour was enjoyable. We just wanted to see the area and that's exactly what we did on this tour.

Our bus went directly to the lighthouse, but we saw a bus in front of us stop at old historic area, so they must rotate this back and forth. Once we were at the lighthouse, there is a guide who will give you a brief description of the lighthouse and general island information. It's pretty interesting...at one point she said the islanders would turn off the light in the lighthouse and wait for ships to hit the reef, and then they'd grab all the loot as it floated to the shore.

The lighthouse isn't open to walk inside, but you can walk around it. There's a small gift shop, and a snack bar with picnic tables.There are a couple walking paths that take you down by the water, or another location. The guide gives you info on these. We wandered around a bit, and then waited for another bus. There were no lines, and no waiting since it seemed like the buses came around every 15 minutes or so.

The we were off to the historical town area. The price you paid for the bus also gives you a pass to tour the local prison. We did this, then wandered around the town area. There are several stall-type booths were locals sold various souvenirs and drinks. It's very quaint and very unspoiled. I didn't see any restaurants in this area, but we didn't really look around that much.

This is a really great place to get some awesome pictures. There's this one building that's turquoise and pink or maybe yellow, and it's right next to the water.

After wandering around a bit, we walked back over to the bus area and caught a bus back to the cruise ship area (they will drop you off in the same place they picked you up). The guide on the bus will continue to give you more island info as you make your way back to the port.

This was a very enjoyable excursion. We really didn't want to snorkel or have a beach day, so this worked for us. We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping a bit and then we walked back to the ship.

Have a great time! :)

• 2 months later...

Can you please tell me how much the Ultimate Snorkel Trip was? We're trying to get our budget together for our cruise. Thanks!

• 2 weeks later...

We rode the dune buggies when we were on our honeymoon cruise. I got to pick one of the excursions, and DH got to pick one - he picked dune buggies. :rolleyes:

I did not want to go at all, and this turned out to be my favorite excursion I have ever been on! You get to see so much of the island. They take you to a few beautiful stops where you can snap photos. But be careful taking pictures while you are riding in the buggy - my camera got dirt in the zoom lense and I still can't get it out!

Here is DH before the excursion:

Here is a view during the excursion:

Sorry it took so long to respond. I've been gone for a while. Back in September it was $56/pp for the Ultimate Snorkel excursion.

Jnk- I can't swim very well but would like to do the Ultimate Snorkeling excursion . Do they have life jackets if you request one? Or would you suggest another excursion? I really would like to see the variety of fish and not just the few that are near the shore in Grand Turk. Thanks

• 1 month later...

How much did you pay for the Dunne Buggy?

I can't remember the exact price because it was almost 2 years ago. But I just looked on Carnival's website and it's a two dollar sign excursion, which means it's between $50 and $99 per person. I want to say it was about $75ish...but I might be wrong.

earlethepearl

The Dune Buggy Tour is $101 a person.

If I want to just see the island when we get off the ship are there tour buses or cabs that we can get ----any suggestions for tours on our own ????

All Carnival snorkle excursions not only provide inflateable life vests, but you are required to wear one. I usually just tie it to my ankle, or wear it on my back to keep it out of the way since I'm a good swimmer.. They are inflateable so you can add or remove air depending on how bouyant you want to be. Also, if you are a guy and wear one of these without a t-shirt underneath, your nipples will be sore for a week. They are made out of very rough nylon and the friction from them will take off a few layers of skin.

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