News
Carnival cruise port is open to others Cruise ships — Management
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 24, 2023 – The Grand Turk Cruise Port isn’t closed to other major cruise companies according to Carnival Cruise representatives. 
The revelation came in a recent town hall meeting held in Grand Turk, with residents, the Government and Carnival officials.
An attendee of the meeting told our news team.
“Contrary to what many residents believe, management advised that Carnival cruise port in Grand Turk is open to all cruise ships on days the berth is available. At any time, other ships can tender in their guests. On what terms, is questionable. No further details were provided on this agreement.”
The Turks and Caicos, as a cruising destination, differs from its neighbors like Jamaica and The Bahamas in that only one major cruise line services the country’s port, courtesy of an exclusivity clause in the Carnival Agreement.
Though Carnival Cruises brings in a significant number of visitors each year (forecast to return to pre-pandemic levels of over 1 million in 2024), residents have queried why other cruise lines aren’t also berthing at the recently extended port.
Not only would the introduction of more cruise lines increase the number of visitors to the Turks and Caicos, but it
The Government had previously indicated a willingness to attract additional Cruise Lines to the capital and was in talks with Carnival Cruise Line about the exclusivity clause on Grand Turk. Washington Misick, TCI Premier, had indicated that negotiations had begun with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
The company now has a detailed breakdown of what to do in Grand Turk on its website from local cuisine to shopping, but the write-up ends with ‘no sailings available.’
We reached out to Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, to find out exactly how those negotiations were progressing. There has been no reply.