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Grand Turk Island (Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos)

Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news

Rating:
Grand Turk Island cruise port

Region
Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda

Local Time
2024-11-13 20:41

min: 80 °F (26 °C) / max: 82 °F (28 °C) 81°F
27.4°C
Wind: 47°/ 10.5 m/s Gust: 10.8 m/sWind: 47°/ 10.5 m/s Gust: 10.8 m/sFresh breeze
10.5 m/s
Min / Max Temperature82 °F / 28 °C
80 °F / 27 °C
  Port Map

Port Grand Turk Island cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

DayShipArrivalDeparture
17 December, 2023
Sunday
Holland America Cruises cruise linems Rotterdam07:0015:00
18 December, 2023
Monday
Holland America Cruises cruise linems Nieuw Amsterdam08:0016:00
18 December, 2023
Monday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Sunrise11:0018:00
19 December, 2023
Tuesday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Magic08:0016:00
19 December, 2023
Tuesday
Holland America Cruises cruise linems Nieuw Statendam11:0017:00
20 December, 2023
Wednesday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Vista08:0016:00
20 December, 2023
Wednesday
Princess Cruises Cruises cruise lineSky Princess12:0019:00
21 December, 2023
Thursday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Mardi Gras07:0016:00
21 December, 2023
Thursday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Freedom08:0016:00
22 December, 2023
Friday
Holland America Cruises cruise linems Eurodam07:0015:00
23 December, 2023
Saturday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Venezia11:0018:00
24 December, 2023
Sunday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Magic11:0018:00
25 December, 2023
Monday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Pacifica14:0020:00
26 December, 2023
Tuesday
Holland America Cruises cruise linems Nieuw Amsterdam08:0017:00
26 December, 2023
Tuesday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Freedom08:0016:00
28 December, 2023
Thursday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Mardi Gras07:0016:00
31 December, 2023
Sunday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Freedom08:0016:00
31 December, 2023
Sunday
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Cruises cruise lineRitz-Carlton Evrima14:0022:00

Grand Turk Island is the easternmost of the 30+ Turks and Caicos Islands and cays. The island is a British Overseas Territory (part of the UK/dependency) with total area 18 km2 (7 mi2) and population around 4,000. Approx 120 km (75 mi) to the west-northwest of Grand Turk is Providenciales (Provo Island).

The cruise port's UK locode is TCGDT (Turks and Caicos Grand Turk). In 2006, CCL-Carnival Cruise Lines financed (USD 50 million) the construction of "Grand Turk Cruise Center" (dock and terminal) that currently has capacity to handle 3 liners simultaneously. Among the most-booked cruise shore excursions are bus tours (to historical sites), horseback riding, ATVs, water sports activities, fishing boat excursions.

Turks and Caicos are a British Crown Colony (self-governing status, like Bermuda) with total population around 8,000. Most are sand-fringed and flat isles, with desert-like terrain (scrub growth), have salt ponds, others have limestone cliffs.

Almost all of the Grand Turk's residents are in the waterfront capital Cockburn Town. This small settlement features traditional Indian wood-with-shutters and stucco-style buildings. Also here is the miles-long Governor's Beach. The 1840s-built Guinep Lodge houses the Turks and Caicos National Museum, displaying the Molasses Reef Wreck (Europe's oldest ship found in the New World). There are also exhibits on the salt industry, Loyalist Plantation Period, Taino Arawaks (the island's pre-Columbian inhabitants).

The UK's Turks and Caicos territory is sized approx 166 mi2 (430 km2), and the ocean territory is around 5000 mi2 (12950 km2). These islands are less than 30 mi (48 km) southeast of The Bahamas (another UK dependency) and approx 130 mi (210 km) north of Hispaniola Island's coast (occupied by Dominicana and Haiti) in the Greater Antilles.

After 21 months of hiatus due to the COVID crisis, Grand Turk received its first cruise ship on December 15, 2021 - Carnival Freedom (CCL-Carnival Cruise Lines).

On September 20, 2022, Hurricane Fiona (Sept 14-25) caused severe damages to Grand Turk's main cruise ship dock (pieces of its infrastructure broke off and washed up on the shore). The Category 3 storm caused damages for ~USD 200 million, affecting the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominicana, The Bahamas (Lucayan/Bahama Archipelago), as well as Bermuda and Eastern Canada. Hurricane Fiona's winds reached 130 mph (215 kph).

Grand Turk Island cruise terminal

Cruise ships to Grand Turk Island dock at a 3-berth pier (Grand Turk Cruise Center) located south of Cockburn Town.

The island's cruise terminal (Grand Turk Cruise Center) is a beachfront facility located in a beautifully landscaped area sized approx 75,850 m2 (784,100 ft2). The terminal's location offers a safe approach for cruise ships and berthing the whole year-round. The distance from the docking pier to the terminal is approx 120 m (390 ft).

The cruise terminal complex offers as amenities swimming (in the ocean waters or its large swimming pool), strolling along the beach, relaxing in the complimentary chaise loungers (on the beach and around the swimming pool), renting private cabanas (poolside), renting clam shell shades (for beach chairs), renting snorkeling equipment and floats. All rental services are at the Beach Rental Hut (on the beach). Beachside massages are also offered.

The best snorkeling location is in front of the Beach Rental Hut, with a few cannons and anchors submerged there.

The terminal building houses the Caribbean’s largest "Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville" bar, also a restaurant and a retail shop. A popular dining venue for local food specialties and cocktails is Jack’s Shack. 

The swimming pool is adjacent to the Margaritaville bar. Also here is the surfing simulator "Grand Turk FlowRider". The FlowRider can be booked as a shore excursion (through the cruise company). The facility operates with two high-pressure waves producing a 3-inch layer of water moving at high speed.

At the quieter South Beach is the "Beached Whale Bar & Grill". This signature dining venue's menu features items like Coconut Shrimp, Cracked Conch, Conch Fritters, Seafood Chowder, as well as daily fresh-fish specials.

The terminal's shopping complex includes numerous duty-free shops (luxury jewelry, watches, designer clothing), also locally made merchandise (gifts, souvenirs), food and drink facilities.. The list of represented store brands includes Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, Silver Emporium, Dufry, Colombian Emeralds, Effy, Goodmark, Piranha Joes, Dizzy Donkey, Del Sol, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Joelle & Jake, Indigo Pearls, Goldsmith.

The following map of the cruise port shows all its facilities (including all stores).

Grand Turk Island tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Next are listed the most popular Carnival Cruise Lines tours on Grand Turk, with USD prices per adult:

  • jeep safari ($95)
  • scuba lessons ($120)
  • kayaking ($70)
  • Conch World ($35)
  • buggy ($100)
  • Stingray Encounter ($60)
  • Flow-Rider ($40)
  • history tours (from $30)
  • horsback riding ($100)
  • Cabana rental ($130)
  • sport fishing ($from $120)
  • combo tours - biking-snorkeling ($70), catamaran-snorkeling ($90), bot-snorkeling ($70)
Booking.com