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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 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 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.

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.

GTCC also has the biggest Margaritaville in the world. It's not just a restaurant, because there's a lot more to it. The themed restaurant and bar offer a happy holiday vibe, and the retail store has all kinds of goods including 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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