If You Just Have 6 Hours in Grand Turk....

[Host Caroline]

If you only have 6 hours in Grand Turk and want an "almost freebie" afternoon with no hassle....

We were at Grand Turk in 4/05 just before the Cruise Center officially opened and there was practically nothing at the Cruise Center -- in fact Margaritaville didn't even have set ups etc. on the top level. We were there two weeks ago on the Crown Princess and wow! What a difference… no sign here of Hurr. Ike's damage! :)The new Cruise Center has lots of shops (local and "well known" such as Ron Jon's Surf Shop, Margaritaville, usual jewelry etc.). The "main shop" that you pass through going from pier to cruise center has some good prices on liquor BTW - Sheridans was $3 less than we paid in St Thomas and rum was less as well.

We got off the ship about 1:15 after the first crush of people and turned right in the cruise center towards the "point" on the the island (going down the beach the opposite direction from the crowded Margaritaville beach). It is a fabulous beach for a walk, beachcombing, sunbathing. There are no chairs but by the time we came back around the point from our stroll there were quite a few people there, some snorkeling off the beach. Go around the point and the water is even more gorgeous if that's possible. This beach is laden with conch shells, many intact. Bad thing is the folks at Grand Turk don't care if you take no more than 3 off the island with you but the ship folks will confiscate 'em if they find them due they said to bacteria and insects lurking in the shells. I'm not sure what the ship guys do if you buy the shells cleaned up in the shops -- maybe they allow those since they have been "sanitized."

Anyway, by the time we got back to Margaritaville area around 3:30 the beach chairs there had cleared out some and we were able to find two chairs under a palm tree.. Went into the Margaritaville patio to the "mini bar", got two divine frozen (and strong) margaritas and then just asked a waitress if we could get an order of fries… she took $5 and was back in about 2 minutes with a take out of really hot, delicious fries… we spent the next hour just doing nothing under the palm tree with a lovely view of the two ships and beach… the Margaritaville music was just the right volume to feel like you were truly wasting away on Margaritaville… just an idea if you don't want to spend a lot, fight for a beach chair early and want to get a little exercise to walk off all the "Stuff" you've been eating on the ship! ;)

[Green4me]

Thanks Caroline, we will be in GT for the first time this june and wanted to do M'Ville as well as some snorkling. :)

[pmoniz]

Thanks for the info Caroline. We'll be there in May and we've been trying to think of how we can make the best of our time. We're all interested in doing the Dune Buggy excursion but trying to figure out which time to take so that we'll have enough time to get cleaned up and still have some relaxing time to enjoy the island. We're there from 7-3 but probably won't get off the ship until around 9. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

[Host Caroline]

What time are dune buggies? I have no idea what time the shops etc. open in the cruise center.. probably as soon as you get there! The dune buggies will pretty much take you all over the island (or they did when we did that 3 yrs ago) so you really won't need to go back to see anything else unless you want to spend time in town.. I would try to get the earliest excursion they offer and then spend time on the beach or at M'ville.. if there are no other ships in the day you are there it shouldn't be too too crowded when you get back. I dunno.. I could not "do" margaritas at 7 or even 9a.m... now lunchtime, yes...

[pmoniz]

I believe the times for the dune buggies were 7:30-9:30, 9:30-11:30 and 11:30-1:30. The first one is out too early for me. I think all we wanted to do was check out M'ville and maybe Jack's Shack that everyone here talks about. Just not sure how dirty we're going to get and how much time we'll have to go back to the ship and change and get back out again before we leave. I'll have to check to see if any other ships are in port that day.

[Host Caroline]

We didn't get dirty at all in the dune buggies! It was muggy that day so it was warm when we weren't driving but just to go to the beach or hang at Margaritaville I really don't see why you would need to go back to ship.. we work t-shirts/shorts.. unless for some reason it had been very rainy there and you got some mud on you?

[pmoniz]

Thanks for all the great info. The dune buggies sound like fun so that's a must for us. I'll have to give the info to the rest of the bunch (11 of us total) and see what time they'd like to do the excursion then the rest of the day will be relaxation on a lounge chair somewhere!! Sooo looking forward to visiting this island.