Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) is the berthing terminal for cruise liners stopping by for a visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Grand Turk is the official capital of the archipelago, located 30 miles from the Bahamas and 575 miles from Florida's shores. Most of the ships that dock at this terminal are on Caribbean cruises after picking up passengers from Miami and other seaports on the U. S. East coast.
The first sight upon arrival is the 3,000-foot long pier, with the recreational facilities and welcome center just beyond. However, the ship covers most of the distance, so passengers need only walk about 400 feet after disembarking. The weather is always mildly warm, and visitors can expect year-round sunshine.
At most ports of call for cruise ships, including those in the Caribbean, tourists have to exit the terminal and seek out the usual attractions. It has to be a quick visit to cover everything from duty-free shops to beaches, bars, restaurants and historical sites before it's time for the ship to move on to the next island. GTCC, however, is a wee bit different because it combines the port with resort-style facilities all in the same place.
GTCC offers everything tourists need, including a beach, swimming pool with air-conditioned cabanas, a shopping complex with duty-free goods, huge restaurants and more. They even have the FlowRider, a water park with artificial waves that surfers can ride. The kicker is that access to most facilities is free for visitors since it is part of the shore excursion organized by the cruise company.
The center also houses the world's biggest Margaritaville. The restaurant and bar dispense food and drinks along with a healthy dose of holiday good cheer. There's even a retail store at the restaurant that peddles Jimmy Buffett memorabilia.
Shopaholics will likely be more interested in the giant shopping complex. It has a 10,000-square-foot duty-free shop, along with dozens of other shops selling classy jewelry, clothes and designer-branded goods. The complex also has a few restaurants, along with souvenir and gift shops that offer local art works and handicrafts.
Apart from FlowRider and the duty-free shops, the most popular attraction for visitors is Governor's Beach with its sugar white sand. Air-conditioned shuttles take people from GTCC to the beach and back. A lot of people simply snooze on a free beach chair and soak in the sun. Some may find it exhilarating to rent snorkeling gear and explore the magical world and coral reefs beneath the turquoise water's sparkling surface.
South Beach on the way from the pier to the center is a nice place for people who want to spend some quiet down time on the beach. There's a lot more on the island awaiting discovery, assuming passengers are able to tear themselves from the varied pleasures of the Grand Turk Cruise Center. Gibb's Cay, offering soft white sands and tame stingrays, is just a quick boat ride away. Cockburn Town with its splendid old colonial homes is another must-visit attraction.
The first sight upon arrival is the 3,000-foot long pier, with the recreational facilities and welcome center just beyond. However, the ship covers most of the distance, so passengers need only walk about 400 feet after disembarking. The weather is always mildly warm, and visitors can expect year-round sunshine.
At most ports of call for cruise ships, including those in the Caribbean, tourists have to exit the terminal and seek out the usual attractions. It has to be a quick visit to cover everything from duty-free shops to beaches, bars, restaurants and historical sites before it's time for the ship to move on to the next island. GTCC, however, is a wee bit different because it combines the port with resort-style facilities all in the same place.
GTCC offers everything tourists need, including a beach, swimming pool with air-conditioned cabanas, a shopping complex with duty-free goods, huge restaurants and more. They even have the FlowRider, a water park with artificial waves that surfers can ride. The kicker is that access to most facilities is free for visitors since it is part of the shore excursion organized by the cruise company.
The center also houses the world's biggest Margaritaville. The restaurant and bar dispense food and drinks along with a healthy dose of holiday good cheer. There's even a retail store at the restaurant that peddles Jimmy Buffett memorabilia.
Shopaholics will likely be more interested in the giant shopping complex. It has a 10,000-square-foot duty-free shop, along with dozens of other shops selling classy jewelry, clothes and designer-branded goods. The complex also has a few restaurants, along with souvenir and gift shops that offer local art works and handicrafts.
Apart from FlowRider and the duty-free shops, the most popular attraction for visitors is Governor's Beach with its sugar white sand. Air-conditioned shuttles take people from GTCC to the beach and back. A lot of people simply snooze on a free beach chair and soak in the sun. Some may find it exhilarating to rent snorkeling gear and explore the magical world and coral reefs beneath the turquoise water's sparkling surface.
South Beach on the way from the pier to the center is a nice place for people who want to spend some quiet down time on the beach. There's a lot more on the island awaiting discovery, assuming passengers are able to tear themselves from the varied pleasures of the Grand Turk Cruise Center. Gibb's Cay, offering soft white sands and tame stingrays, is just a quick boat ride away. Cockburn Town with its splendid old colonial homes is another must-visit attraction.
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