Interesting news about Grand Turk From Seatrade Insider News:
New details emerge on Grand Turk
16/1/2006
The new Grand Turk Cruise Center, a $40m investment by Carnival Corp. & plc, will offer 21 shore excursions, a shopping village anchored by a large Dufry International store, and extensive beach and pool facilities, including cabanas with butler service, Seatrade Insider has learned.
Holland America Line’s Noordam is set to become the first ship to use the facility on Feb. 25 during its maiden voyage from New York. Some 175,000 passengers are projected in 2006, rising to 320,000 passengers in 2007, according to Giora Israel, vp strategic planning for Carnival Corp.
Designed Gee & Jenson of West Palm Beach, Fla., a division of CH2M HILL, the pier can serve two large vessels simultaneously and is engineered to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, Israel told Seatrade Insider. A separate shore excursion pier provides the launching point for water-based tours.
A long beach spreads out steps from the pier, and Carnival added a huge swimming pool with a Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant. Beach chairs are free, while clamshells and 11 cabanas with butler service are available for rental. Part of Carnival’s investment is going into improving the island’s tourism infrastructure, including renovating attractions, and adding signage and public bathrooms.
Eight tour operators helped develop the 21 excursions. They include diving, snorkeling, fishing, a semi-submersible tour and a boat excursion to Gibbs Cay to feed the sting rays. There’s also horseback riding, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking, an off-road Jeep safari, a dune buggy tour, horse-carriage rides and a beach party trolley. A hop-on/hop-off island tour allows passengers to explore at their own pace.
That is quite a project Ziggy!! Sounds like it could be a nice place to visit, though it may be very Carnavalized!
I'd imagine that CCL stands to make substantial profits cruising to a destination that they developed and run. No wonder so many HAL ships now include this in their itineraries.
I look forward to reviews from those on the Noordam etal!
That is quite a project Ziggy!! Sounds like it could be a nice place to visit, though it may be very Carnavalized!
I'd imagine that CCL stands to make substantial profits cruising to a destination that they developed and run. No wonder so many HAL ships now include this in their itineraries.
I look forward to reviews from those on the Noordam etal!
Yeah, they all seem to be doing that these days, but if it keeps the cost of cruising down LOL j/k
Thats what I'm hoping My parents are on the maiden voyage of the Noordam, but they are not beach and water people when they first visit a new place, sooooooo I will have pictures but not many if any of the beach Oh well I'll just have to go there and do it myself LOL
Set on the south side of Grand Turk, the Grand Turk Cruise Center can handle two megas ships at a time; a third must then drift (ships may not anchor) and tender passengers ashore, usually no more than a 10-minute ride.
Building at end of dock, you must walk through it to get to the center of the port area. Immigration is at the doors closest to the ship.
Center of port shopping area
Shops, not all were open yet.
Bus, cab, and carriage loading and unloading area.
More bus, cab, and carriage loading and unloading area.
Tour bus
Ship view from port shopping area/beach.
Beach with Margaritaville and shops in background.
Last Nov. there was no where to rent
snorkel gear or beach toys. Lounge chairs and blue shade cabanas were free.
Wow Ziggy, great pics, thanks!! The carriage ride sounds nice, did you see it???
Yes, I did see it but from our Balcony from the ship and didn't get any pictures of it, darn! They had white & Black carriages! The white carriage had white horses, and the black carriage had black horses.
We went snorkeling at Governors Beach, it was a ship excursion. It was wonderful!!!
Here are some pictures of Governors Beach!
Rock area is a reef
Bike & Scooter rentals
Dark area in the water is reef!
Showers
Foot Showers
Shade
Dark water is a drop off and a great
wall reef for scuba divers!
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Interesting news about Grand Turk
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Interesting news about Grand Turk
Oh well I'll just have to go there and do it myself LOL 
The carriage ride sounds nice, did you see it???
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