Saturday, June 14, 2008

Surf's Up in Grand Turk Cruise Terminal

Who knew that Carnival Cruise Lines’ President and CEO Gerry Cahill is such an awesome surfer dude? Among the first to “catch a wave” on the new Grand Turk FlowRider attraction at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, Cahill hangs ten (photo at left) with Carnival Triumph docked in the background. The FlowRider is an artificial wave created by a pair of high-pressure water jets that produce a thin, two- to three-inch layer of water moving over a pre-formed and cushioned surface at high speed. Cahill was on the island of Grand Turk for the grand opening of the FlowRider attraction, which is operated by Grand Turk’s Margaritaville restaurant and bar.

“The FlowRider is exhilarating—not to mention a lot of fun—and, when combined with Grand Turk’s excellent beaches and interesting sites and attractions, offers yet another exciting shore excursion option for cruise ship guests,” said Cahill. “Grand Turk is one of our most popular Caribbean ports of call, and the FlowRider adds a new dimension to all that this wonderful destination has to offer,” he added.

The new Grand Turk FlowRider—the only attraction of its kind at a cruise port facility—provides guests the opportunity to participate in both body boarding and stand-up board surfing. While tickets to the FlowRider are sold on board through the shore excursion desk on ships calling at Grand Turk, Carnival also expects to offer FlowRider tickets online in the near future. Prices are $24 for body boarding for a half-hour on the ride and $34 for hour-long stand-up surfing sessions. During the session, participants will have an opportunity to surf multiple times and friends and family are invited to watch at no charge. Each surfer will also receive a complimentary certificate of participation. Professional photographers will be on hand to capture both the awesome rides and gnarly wipeouts of surfers that will be available for purchase, along with a variety of other souvenir items of the FlowRider experience.

The FlowRider is just the latest addition to Grand Turk, one of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled and beautiful islands. The $60 million Grand Turk Cruise Center serves as a gateway to this magnificent destination and encompasses a state-of-the-art pier and a 13-acre complex offering an 800-foot-long private beach, swimming pool, and a variety of retail shops, including the Caribbean’s largest “Margaritaville”-themed bar and restaurant. The FlowRider attraction is currently available in conjunction with all cruise ship calls at Grand Turk, including Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Imagination, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Triumph. Additional cruise lines that call at the island include Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, the Yachts of Seabourn, and Costa Cruises, among others.

Seriously, for all you cruise dudes and divas who haven't been there, book a cruise with Grand Turk on the itinerary and you won't be sorry.

Photo Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

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