Carnival Corporation celebrated 20 years of sailing to the Grand Turk Cruise Center on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. This anniversary marks two decades of vacation memories in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Carnival Cruise Line made its first visit to the Cruise Center in 2006. Since that time, more than 14 million guests have traveled to the popular port of call on Carnival Corporation’s family of cruise lines.
“Grand Turk holds a special place in our history and in our future,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our guests love visiting this beautiful destination and we’re grateful for this partnership which has brought so many benefits to this community for the last 20 years.”
With Excel-class Carnival Celebration in port, the 20 year anniversary was celebrated with a special event at the Grand Turk Cruise Center hosted by Carnival Cruise Line. Various cruise line executives, local authorities, business partners and community leaders were on hand for the event further solidifying the partnership between the cruise line and the Cruise Center.
During the ceremony, Damian Rudich, vice president of global operations at Carnival Corporation declared April 18 as “Grand Turk Cruise Center Community Day,” a day that will feature events at the Cruise Center to thank the community and celebrate 20 years of cruise visitors. Additionally, the ceremony included the presentation of a crystal ship model to community leaders to commemorate the milestone.
“To Carnival, thank you for two decades of partnership and investment, and for working with us not only in the celebrating years, but in the planning years when wise decisions secure long-term success,” said Premier Charles Washington Misick. “And to the people of Grand Turk, thank you for your hospitality, your resilience, and your pride. This anniversary belongs to you as well, because you have lived the transformation, you have contributed to the success, and you will help shape what comes next.”
In the past 20 years, the Grand Turk Cruise Center has been instrumental in supporting local businesses economically as it has welcomed millions of guests to the beautiful island. Carnival Corporation has worked closely with the Cruise Center and the community ensuring the destination thrives and remains a welcoming port for millions more in the coming years.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are one of the Eastern Caribbean’s most sought after destinations and the Cruise Center is visited by not only Carnival Cruise Line, but also Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises, and more.