WEST INDIES: On Grand Turk, a grand new ship terminal

Los Angeles Times

April 9, 2006

Carnival Corp., the world's largest cruise conglomerate, and the Turks and Caicos Tourism Board have opened a new cruise terminal in the West Indies islands. The first ship called earlier this year, but the official opening is scheduled for May 12.

By summer, six cruise lines will have visited the new terminal, located on the southern end of seven-mile-long Grand Turk, a sleepy island with coral reefs and clear waters that draw divers and snorkelers. Optional excursions for arriving cruisers, depending on the line, will include diving, biking, hiking, kayaking, fishing and island bus tours.

Besides berths for two vessels, the $45-million project includes a 14,000- square-foot swimming pool, changing rooms and showers, private beachfront cabanas, dozens of shops and the largest restaurant in the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville chain.

The terminal's first visitor was Holland America's Noordam, sailing from New York in February on its maiden commercial voyage. More than 250,000 cruise ship passengers are expected to stop at the Grand Turk Cruise Terminal this year.

Carnival, Discovery World Cruises, Fred. Olsen, Hapag-Lloyd and Princess also will send ships in the next few months, with more lines coming later in the year and in 2007.