What to do on a Cruise Ship stop in Grand Turk – Part 4
The Music Lover’s Excursion
The ship’s anchor has dropped. It’s Port Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands! You danced to the retro sounds in the cruise disco last night and sang your socks off at the Cruise Karaoke every night so far. But what is that catchy Caribbean sound you hear coming from shore?
Numerous cruise lines visit the Southern Caribbean including Carnival, Holland America, Oceania, and Silversea, most departing from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, but the port they all arrive at in the Turks and Caicos Islands is Grand Turk. And once the ship has arrived and the anchor has been dropped, cruise passengers have the option to disembark. This is the fourth in a series of articles to give tips to cruise ship travellers who have a limited amount of time ashore on Grand Turk Island.
Click here to read: What to do on a Cruise Ship stop in Grand Turk – Part 1: The Romantic Shore Excursion
Click here to read: What to do on a Cruise Ship stop in Grand Turk – Part 2: The Sportsman Shore Excursion
Click here to read: What to do on a Cruise Ship stop in Grand Turk – Part 3: The Food Enthusiast Excursion
A History of Music
Welcome to the Turks and Caicos Islands where music is everywhere. As soon as you step onto the islands, you’ll probably hear a melody and feel the rhythm. Island music styles and sounds can be traced back to African ancestral roots. Vocals are accompanied by ripsaw, where metal saws are bent and scraped to produce musical tones, and other percussion sounds made by goat skin drums, acoustic guitars, and maracas. There are many local bands which are great examples of this sound.
Music is integral to Turks and Caicos culture and continues to be created and performed throughout the islands. Home to several prolific musicians, Grand Turk offers several dining spots where live music is a regular happening. There are opportunities to hear some great local music, but many occur at night when the sun goes down. You’ll want to make sure you check on ship departure times to avoid arriving back to the gangway only to discover you’re now staying in the islands rather than sailing on to new destinations!
A Warm Island Vibe
One local band delivers traditional island vibes that most music lovers would definitely want to tune into. Called #1 rake and scrape band in the Turks and Caicos Islands, “High Tide” features vocalist and guitarist Mitch Rolling, Kell and Tyro Talbot on congo drums and tambourine and Lindsey Butterfield on saw. Like many islanders, Rollings has several life passions. He’s a diving enthusiast who runs Blue Water Divers, the oldest dive operation on Grand Turk. As well as calypso and reggae, his band plays rake and scrape, a unique sound created by bending a metal saw and scraping it with an object like a screwdriver. If your ship schedule allows, see the band at the Salt Raker Inn on Duke Street on Friday nights or the Osprey Beach Hotel on Sunday evenings. Both places are about a 10-15 minute walk from the cruise terminal.
Local Eateries
Grand Turk features several spots where you can refresh with a delicious meal as well as sit back, relax and listen to live music. Reggae, calypso, traditional, R & B, you’ll find a variety of easy listening musical sounds. One option is Turks Head Inne, a quaint establishment located off Duke Street. Another possibility is Bohio Beach Bar located at Bohio Dive Resort which overlooks the sparkling blue Turks and Caicos waters and soft sandy beach. It’s a longer walk, so you might want to grab a taxi to save time. Or make your way to Margaritaville Grand Turk one of the largest members of the restaurant chain owned by Jimmy Buffett, the well known singer and proponent of the laidback “Margaritaville lifestyle.” It’s only minutes away from the cruise terminal and features a bar and restaurant setting designed around a beautiful large pool.
Relaxing rhythms or rousing renditions; it’s only minutes away and a great way to spend your time in Grand Turk. Pull up a chair, cast your eyes out over the azure waters and enjoy the Caribbean beats that will satisfy any musical taste.
Captivating music, unique instruments and talented musicians; it’s all guaranteed to satisfy any music lover’s Turks and Caicos experience.
Photo courtesy of Digital Hand Print.
