Cruise ship calls at hurricane-damaged Grand Turk could resume as early as this week
Cruise ships could be back in Grand Turk as early as Tuesday — three weeks to the day after the island's only cruise pier was damaged by Hurricane Fiona.
In an email to TPG on Monday, Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson Matt Lupoli said the line's 2,984-passenger Carnival Sunrise was scheduled to visit the island on Tuesday and that, as of late in the day, the call remained a go.
The line has canceled nearly a dozen cruise calls at Grand Turk over the past four weeks due to at first the approach of Hurricane Fiona and then the lasting damage caused by its passage over the island.
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Carnival operates the Grand Turk Cruise Center — home to Grand Turk's cruise ship dock — and sends by far the most ships to the island on an annual basis.
The cancellations to Grand Turk calls in recent weeks have affected the itineraries of Carnival Sunrise as well as Carnival's 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend and 2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom.
Also canceling all calls in Grand Turk over the past four weeks was Celebrity Cruises. The line's 2,170-passenger Celebrity Infinity, which operates regular sailings to the island, hasn't visited it since Sept. 7.
Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival cruise ships and itineraries
The last cruise ship to visit Grand Turk was the 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy on Sept. 16.
Grand Turk is the capital of Turks and Caicos, a grouping of 40 low-lying coral islands southeast of the Bahamas that draws more than 1 million cruisers a year.
The dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center suffered damage on Sept. 20 as Hurricane Fiona slammed into Turks and Caicos as a powerful Category 3 storm, with the eye of the storm passing near Grand Turk. Videos of the 200-foot-long pier posted on social media sites after the storm showed pieces of its infrastructure broken off and washed up on a nearby shore.
The cruise ship pier at the Grand Turk Cruise Center is the only one in Turks and Caicos. At the southern end of Grand Turk, the 13-acre center is home to a pool, a spa, shops, and restaurants and bars including the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean. As many as three cruise ships can dock at the center in a day.
About 1.1 million people arrived in Turks and Caicos by cruise ship in 2019, the last normal year for cruising before COVID-19 caused cruising to shut down. In a typical year, cruisers account for nearly 70% of all visitors to the destination.
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There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
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- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
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Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.60,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees