Turks And Caicos Grand Turk Cruise Center Guide

By Andrea Davidson


Cruise ships visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands can be found berthed at GTCC aka the Grand Turk Cruise Center. The capital of the archipelago is Grand Turk, perfectly located a bare 30 miles further ahead of the Bahamas, and just a few hundred miles off Florida's coast. Many of the ships that disgorge hundreds of passengers at GTCC are out on Caribbean cruises after picking up passengers at Miami and other U. S. East coast seaports.

The first thing passengers disembarking from a ship will see is the 3,000-foot long pier, with the welcome center and recreational facilities further ahead. Thankfully, only a short walk of less than 400 feet is required to reach the facility after getting off the ship. No need to worry about the weather, because it's sunny and pleasantly warm 350 days in a year.

At most other ports of call in the Caribbean or elsewhere, visitors have to leave the port and go looking for shops, restaurants, bars, beaches, entertainment and all the usual tourist attractions. Going from one place to another takes up a lot of the short time available before the ship moves on to the next destination. GTCC, on the other hand, is a berthing terminal and resort-style complex all rolled into one.

For the most part, visitors don't have to exit GTCC at all. Everything from the beach to the air-conditioned poolside cabanas, duty-free shops and huge restaurants are right there, within the center. There's even a water park called FlowRider where people can ride surfboards on artificial waves. The best part is that most everything in GTCC is free for passengers on shore excursions arranged by the cruise company.

The best place for food and drinks is the world's largest Margaritaville, also located within GTCC. It has a restaurant and bar that fills people with an infectious holiday atmosphere. There's also a retail store that sells all kinds of Jimmy Buffett merchandise.

In fact, shopaholics will be delighted to see the 45,000-square-foot shopping center packed to the rafters with all kinds of shops. There's a huge duty-free shop, along with other shops offering everything from high-end jewelry to designer-branded apparel and more restaurants. It also has gift and souvenir shops offering local handicrafts and art work.

Outside GTCC, the most popular attraction on Grand Turk is Governor's Beach. A shuttle picks up guests at GTCC and takes them to the beach, and then back to the center. Most people spend a few hours soaking in the sun and snoozing on the free beach chairs. Don't forget to explore the wondrous world and coral reefs beneath the turquoise water's sparkling surface. Snorkeling gear and training are provided, if needed.

Visitors seeking a nice and quiet spot can head for South Beach between the pier and cruise center. There's so much to see and do in the Grand Turk Cruise Center that it's hard to give it up and explore the rest of the island. A short boat ride is needed to reach Gibb's Cay with its wonderful soft white sand and gentle stingrays. Many tourists take a tour of the historic colonial architecture in Cockburn Town.




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