Is Grand Turk still there?

conway scott · #1 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2008, 01:00 PM

We are about to book a cruise on the Miracle out of NY in July. One of the stops is Grand Turk. I remember that a huricaine almost wiped it off the map. Has anyone been there recently? I would love an update and any pictures of the island. Thanks from Conway.........

spencercoop · #2 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2008, 01:09 PM

I am pretty sure it is still there, but I have never been there.

zydecocruiser · #3 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2008, 01:10 PM

Grand Turk reopened Oct 8, so, yes, it is still there. I have not been there recently.

http://www.grandturkcc.com/

spencercoop · #4 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2008, 01:13 PM

Oh yeah i remember Grand Turke is where the big Carnival Center is.

misguidedangel · #5 (**permalink**) November 15th, 2008, 02:05 PM

Hurricane Ike damaged the island, but a hurricane can't take out an entire island....

I was supposed to be there as our last port of call on Sept 11, but Carnival rerouted us West because of Ike...

RobandCynda · #6 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2008, 02:02 PM

We were there on October 22 - You can tell there was heavy destruction, as some of shops are still boarded up. Truthfully, the heart of the cruise center is the Margarittaville restaurant and it was as if it hadn't been touched. The beaches are beautiful We did the snorkel excursion (reef and rays) and it was awesome. Brought home 4 huge conch shells. We didn't have enough time to venture into town, but my parents took a cab in (for $5) and saw the devestation. The locals boast that the tourists support them so they will do everything they can to rebuild as quickly as possible. Shopping is not much of anything anyway, as it is a sparcely populated island. Everything is pretty much imported but a few nice little shops. email me if you would like to see some pictures. I have them all on shutterfly.com
cynda

spencercoop · #7 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misguidedangel

Hurricane Ike damaged the island, but a hurricane can't take out an entire island....

I was supposed to be there as our last port of call on Sept 11, but Carnival rerouted us West because of Ike...

I think he/she meant, is it still open for cruise ships.

misguidedangel · #8 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2008, 08:41 PM

I was trying to be cheeky!!!

I know what the poster meant...

Conch shells--I found one in Roatan for $7!!! True, it wasn't cleaned off very well, but it is a a pretty big conch shell compared to the one my niece bought in Galveston in February!!! I will buy another one when I get there again in January 2010.

spencercoop · #9 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misguidedangel

I was trying to be cheeky!!!

I know what the poster meant...

Conch shells--I found one in Roatan for $7!!! True, it wasn't cleaned off very well, but it is a a pretty big conch shell compared to the one my niece bought in Galveston in February!!! I will buy another one when I get there again in January 2010.

OK

RobandCynda · #10 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2008, 10:12 AM

OH, I didn't BUY the conch shells - they were all over Gibbs Cay - Our dive instructor told us that whatever we found, we could keep. I have never seen so many - it was awesome. Happy shelling!

misguidedangel · #11 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2008, 10:19 AM

RobandCynda-Cool, free is better than paying!!!! I was going to do the Gibbs Cay stingray and snorkle, alas, Ike had other plans for us. The Mayan ruins at Altun Ha were great, but I still wish I went to Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk.

RobandCynda · #12 (**permalink**) November 19th, 2008, 12:36 PM

That's what we did - Reef and Rays - very fun..... I have never seen so many shells. It was a blast and my 7 year old daughter loved it too. Great family excursion - Just a good excuse to book another cruise!!!