Conch Jerry  CEO Chuck photo (2)

The Grand Turk Cruise Center, owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, partnered with Cockburn Village & Farm, Ltd., to develop Conch World, a new eco-friendly attraction in Grand Turk, which welcomed its first visitors today -- guests from the cruise ship Carnival Pride.

Four years in the making, this unique million-dollar-plus tourism attraction offers informative guided tours, as well as provides visitors the opportunity to photograph highly entertaining trained conchs Sally and Jerry.

Conch World is the only tourist facility devoted to the Queen conch located at a cruise destination and is only the second such facility in the world. Guests can also visit the Bare Naked Conch Café to savor delicious farmed conch prepared in a variety of ways and the Pink Pearl Gift Shop which sells a variety of conch-related merchandise.

Conch World CEO Chuck Hesse and Queen conch Jerry are pictured here at the new attraction. Official grand opening festivities are set for fall 2009.