Rpb929 Posted May 3 #1 Share Posted May 3 Going to Grand Turk for the first time in late September. What is there to do there that you have enjoyed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted May 3 #2 Share Posted May 3 Welcome to Cruise Critic. There is beach, Margaritaville with a lovely free form pool. Shopping area. You can check it out here on th Ports of Call board for Caribbean islands. EM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Haljo1935 Posted May 4 #3 Share Posted May 4 We enjoy going around the island watching the natives. It's mostly about the beaches and the food. Going up to the lighthouse for the great view is worth doing if you have good weather. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ninjacat123 Posted May 4 #4 Share Posted May 4 (edited) Hi @Rpb929! Check out the link in my signature to my review to my January 2024 cruise. Go to page 14 for our day on Grand Turk at Jack’s Shack! 👍😁 Edited May 4 by ninjacat123 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare luv2kroooz Posted May 4 #5 Share Posted May 4 Margaritaville if there are no other ships in port with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesmiths Posted May 4 #6 Share Posted May 4 If you can get a golf cart and tour the whole island. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pe4all Posted May 4 #7 Share Posted May 4 Everyone has great suggestions. Our first few times there we did the ATV tour and horseback ride into the water and Jack's Shack - all good. Now we just hang out at the Margaritaville pool and watch the people on the flow-rider. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted May 4 #8 Share Posted May 4 I would recommend what thesmiths' said. Get away from Margaritaville. It's just a chain restaurant with a pool, nothing special. Rent a golf cart and explore the whole island. Ride up to the lighthouse and check it out. Spend some time at Governor's Beach and grab a good lunch at The Sand Bar. Check out the defunct Her Majesty's Prison, and explore Cockburn Town. Grand Turk is very laid back. If you don't want to ride around and check out the island and beaches, at least walk up to Jack's Shack where most cruisers go. While it's very crowded and overrated imho, at least the beach area at Jack's is very nice unlike by the port. Just do yourself a favor and get far away from Margaritaville. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyzcruiser Posted May 4 #9 Share Posted May 4 Snorkeling, excursions or just from the beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierpop Posted May 4 #10 Share Posted May 4 Easy access to a great beach. Move on down from margaritaville for less crowd. And leave your ammo at home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rpb929 Posted May 4 Author #11 Share Posted May 4 Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The golf cart sounds like a great idea. I would like to see more that just a restaurant, so this may be what we go with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZiffle Posted May 4 #12 Share Posted May 4 (edited) lf you really want to experience the native food, avoid Jack's and Margaritaville and eat at the Island Jerk, Bar and Restaurant. It's nothing but a yellow shack on the beach between Margaritaville and Jack's. You'll find a lot of the crew from the ship there. Edited May 4 by FredZiffle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare nydney1 Posted May 4 #13 Share Posted May 4 All great suggestions. However, Jacks is no longer Jacks for us old folks. Topher has now passed and Jack sold to his partner and returned to Canada to watch his grandchild graduate. I visited with new owner on the last trip and we talked about the old days. The improvements are all great, but it is far from the “Shack” it once was. You can’t go wrong on a visit there and we will make it a point to stop in and say hello on each trip to GT. GT is one of my favorite ports. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaDuck Posted May 4 #14 Share Posted May 4 Plenty of time between now and then to get yourself SCUBA-certified. Hands-down some of my favorite dives "from a cruise ship" were in Grand Turk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nc762shooter Posted May 4 #15 Share Posted May 4 Governor's Beach had great snorkeling you can get to right off the beach, if you have your own snorkeling equipment it makes for a budget friendly and chill day, plus way less crowded than the beach right at the port and Margaritaville. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEUB1112 Posted May 5 #16 Share Posted May 5 (edited) 7 hours ago, nydney1 said: All great suggestions. However, Jacks is no longer Jacks for us old folks. Topher has now passed and Jack sold to his partner and returned to Canada to watch his grandchild graduate. I visited with new owner on the last trip and we talked about the old days. The improvements are all great, but it is far from the “Shack” it once was. You can’t go wrong on a visit there and we will make it a point to stop in and say hello on each trip to GT. GT is one of my favorite ports. That's kinda sad, it was always our destination at Grand Turk, we loved the experience and visiting with Jack, Janet and of course watching Topher play with the folks. Edited May 5 by MEUB1112 Grammar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ninjacat123 Posted May 5 #17 Share Posted May 5 1 hour ago, MEUB1112 said: That's kinda sad, it was always our destination at Grand Turk, we loved the experience and visiting with Jack, Janet and of course watching Topher play with the folks. We had a great time this past January. Just get there early👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesmiths Posted May 5 #18 Share Posted May 5 6 hours ago, ninjacat123 said: Just get there early👍 One of the only times during the year I'm hammered by noon!🤣 Unless of course we go there 2x per year! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare nydney1 Posted May 5 #19 Share Posted May 5 Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good day. I am so excited for them that Jack’s is a staple of Grand Turk. I just remember the days when there were 10-15 people there. Our first trip our kids were playing with Jacks grandkid, our kids were 5 or 6 and are now graduating high school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ninjacat123 Posted May 5 #20 Share Posted May 5 2 hours ago, nydney1 said: Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good day. I am so excited for them that Jack’s is a staple of Grand Turk. I just remember the days when there were 10-15 people there. Our first trip our kids were playing with Jacks grandkid, our kids were 5 or 6 and are now graduating high school. My girls, 8 and 10 at the time, would play with Topher. It is a different vibe now, and my girls are 21 and 23. They’d still play with Topher, if he was there😍🌈 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare nydney1 Posted June 23 #21 Share Posted June 23 Rest in Peace Topher. Glad you had a great time. I can’t wait to get back. Life is about change and adapting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wishing on a star Posted June 26 #22 Share Posted June 26 nydney1, Glad to see an old-timer and expert here! We will be on Grand Turk in mid-late October for the first time. Planned on just making it a beach-day, and check out Jack's. If it is hot, or if we do not feel energetic enough to walk up the beach.... How long does it take to walk up there, at a moderate pace. Should we consider grabbing a taxi for such a short ride? Maybe walk back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ninjacat123 Posted June 26 #23 Share Posted June 26 @Wishing on a star we were in GT in January 2024. On the dock at 7:57 and walked down the beach to Jack’s. Arrived at 8:11. Very soft sand so be careful regarding stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wishing on a star Posted June 28 #24 Share Posted June 28 Thank you so much! 15 minutes is very doable. I often walk along the shoreline where the surf keeps the sand wet and even! You are right, that would be an issue for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ninjacat123 Posted June 28 #25 Share Posted June 28 1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said: Thank you so much! 15 minutes is very doable. I often walk along the shoreline where the surf keeps the sand wet and even! You are right, that would be an issue for me! There is a service road that you can walk along to Jack’s if the soft sand is an issue. Have a wonderful time on GT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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