From taking long walks along the shoreline to basking in the beauty of our sandy white beaches and crystal clear water. Enjoy scenic views of the island while cycling to Pegasus Ranch before hiking past Bonefish Lagoon and Stingray Park. Shopping Options on Half Moon Cay Island Shops Gift Shop. Three beautifully furnished homes with accommodations for 8 to 10, a boathouse with 180' dock , a mile of oceanfront,private, white beaches and much more. The team of beauticians aboard Holland America Line offer professional massage services while on the island. On the return trip you can ride the horses through the shallow waters in a thrilling beach ride. The name was changed to reflect the spectacular crescent-shaped beach at the west end of the island which is used by cruisers. You can hire any of these watercraft from one of the three water sports centers available on the island. Little San Salvador Island (Half Moon Cay) Tourism: Tripadvisor has 812 reviews of Little San Salvador Island (Half Moon Cay) Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Little San Salvador Island (Half Moon Cay) resource. They can enjoy being sprayed with water from the pirate ship’s cannons or play on the shark, dolphin, whale and octopus-shaped water toys provided. The bar will stay open later and does serve limited snacks and drinks. This island is a tropical paradise where you and your friends can soak up the ambiance … You can even purchase clamshells that are farmed nearby and contain natural pearls. Snorkeling, boating, or fishing and more. At a cost of around $319 for up to 4 guests, it can be good value for those wanting their own peaceful chunk of paradise. 5. Half Moon Cay is no exception. So as long as you're willing to walk to the end of the beach, you can have a private beach spot all to yourself (and maybe 2 others) for as long as you want. other cruise lines also have their own private islands in the Caribbean. This is mainly due to the extensive beach with its super-soft white sand and diverse activities such as horse riding. They teach you their ways, dance culture and also braid your hair to provide a more local look. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Getting married as part of your luxury cruise to Half Moon Cay is a great way to have a memorable wedding ceremony without it costing an arm and a leg! 5 Things That Half Moon Cay Has to Offer. Out of the 2400 acres of natural beauty,... 3. Get a professional massage by a professional therapist in an air-conditioned cabana. Half Moon Cay Bahamas is a Carnival private island designated exclusively for the guests of the popular cruise line. Half Moon Cay is a splendid place to relax, explore, and engage in water activities. Prior to being owned by HAL, Little San Salvador was the private island of Norwegian Cruise Line. Experience island life in privacy with breathtaking sights. Plans have been approved by the Bahamian government for a new port and pier to be built. There are no available upgrades and enhancements available on Half Moon Cay. Half Moon Cay Holland America Facilities & Things to Do in Half Moon Cay Half Moon Cay accommodates up to 4,500 guests per day in several areas, most of which are handicapped-accessible. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Don’t be surprised that all the restaurants close down on the ship. Live ship traffic in the Port of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas is now centered in the port tracker below. Cruisers can dine free at the Food Pavilion which has open-air seating and serves a range of dishes including burgers, salads, hot dogs and fresh fruit. There are nature trails all over the island either on hard pavement or sandy trails. Also Read: Things to Do in Nassau, Bahamas While On a Cruise. When you step off the tender ship and walk towards the island’s welcome center, you will notice a beautiful white church built in Bahamian cultural style. It is a private island, owned by Holland America Line, which uses it as a port of call for the cruise ships it operates in the region. Upgrade to the Private Oasis Cabana and you’ll get your own two-storey luxury beach shack complete with iPod docking station, grill, showers and misting station. For additional assistance or to schedule a tour of Half Moon, please contact our Catering & Convention Services Team at [email protected] or +1 (800) 339-9728. It is nicer than some other private islands such as Princess Cays which has coarser sand and some rocky areas. Look forward to shopping for souvenirs, local crafts, and beachwear at the Straw Market, visit the watersports center, go horse riding on the beach or book a treatment at the Half Moon Salon. Truly one of the most beautiful settings in the entire Caribbean. Holland America Line purchased the island in December, 1996 for a price of $6 million USD. High quality Half Moon Cay gifts and merchandise. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2021. The island is built on 45 acres along the crescent-shaped beach with more than a mile in length that fronts on a protected bay leading west to Exuma Sound. There’s plenty of fun for young cruisers at Half Moon Cay. A convenience store is also located near the Welcome Center where you can purchase snacks, sunscreen and other beach essentials. This truly unique experience is one you can’t get just anywhere in the Bahamas. One thing to remember is that the BBQ is only open from 11:30 - 1:30. It is about 100 miles (160km) southeast of Nassau and 277 miles southeast of Miami. A boat will take you further offshore where you can visit the coral reef which is bursting with colorful marinelife, fish and anemones. Please call them at 1-800-933-4968 for any questions on the packages or to book your wedding. Half Moon Cay is an idyllic castaway island in the Bahamas with a white sandy beach lapped by calm cerulean blue waters. Out of the 2400 acres of natural beauty, only 2% ( about 50 acres) has been developed, leaving at least 2350 acres of indigenous flora and fauna to explore. They will then take you to an area where you can interact with these amazing marine creatures by stroking their velvety wings as they swim by. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas: What You Need to Know (2021) Bahamas Gillian Birch-Mar 2, 2021. Instead, the operation is moved to the island, where the Tropics Restaurant serves a BBQ lunch from about 11:30am-1:00pm. If that doesn’t impress you, perhaps the 8-person hot tub will! Wedding packages are all booked directly through the Carnival Weddings office. Privately owned by the Carnival Corporation, this port of call is exclusively used by cruises that include this heavenly hideaway on their itinerary. Compare swim strokes with the island’s gentle stingrays. 4. If you are a lover of watersports and whatever is listed so far doesn’t fit your bill why not sail on a Hobie cat, sunfish sailboat or a windsurfing sailboat? Shopping is all part of any port of call and Half Moon Cay has some interesting local stores and retail services. You may even want to go the extra mile and mail one to yourself as a memoir of your vacation! Food and Drink on Half Moon Cay. The cay has volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoes, shuffleboard and walking trails so there’s plenty for active cruisers to enjoy. It is the image that pops up in your head when you think of a perfect white sand beach, with clear turquoise water, tropical palm trees, and endless blue sky. This experience takes place at Stingray Cove where you will be given an informative orientation about stingrays from a professional guide. as you choose to be. The island has two seasons: a wet season from May to October and a dry season through winter and spring which coincides with the main months for Caribbean cruises. The plans exceed the requirements laid down by the USCG in order to withstand even Category 5 hurricanes. This is also Belize's oldest site of wildlife protection since it was first designated as a bird sanctuary in 1924 to protect the habitat of the red-footed booby birds. Half Moon Cay offers you 9.2 acres of exquisite, white sandy beaches, towering coconut trees and crystal clear water. This privately owned 9.2 acre tropical island is a, secure and secluded hideaway undiscovered by the masses, Offering nearly a mile of oceanfront, white sand beaches, and crystal clear turquoise water, Three architecturally designed and furnished homes with expansive decks, vaulted ceilings, and mahogany plantation shutters and floors throughout a, Located on the second largest barrier reef in the world, with snorkeling and scuba diving off the beach, as well as wonderful fishing, Lush tropical foliage with over a mile of paths meandering through palm trees and exotic plants, Located in the blossoming Western Caribbean, where the people are friendly and your real estate dollar buys much, much more, Two miles from the mountainous, English-speaking island of Guanaja, with its small town and 4,000 foot paved runway, Average temperatures remain in the low 80’s, with sunshine, gentle ocean breezes, and abundant rainfall to sustain this lush paradise, One of the last Caribbean getaways, but accessible from Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Miami in a little more than four hours. Famous for its crystal clear turquoise waters, a 2-mile long white sandy beach, and a huge 101-foot-long beached pirate ship … Not all itineraries include Half Moon Cay as a port of call, so check the details before booking your cruise. There’s also a complimentary beach barbecue. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We just went on our Bahamas Cruise on the Carnival Fascination, from May 15th-20th, 2010. This is because the island bars do not have any computers. Cabanas on Half Moon Cay are particularly advantageous with luxury lounge chairs in a prime beachfront location. There’s also a playground nearby that is fully equipped for climbing and scrambling. Half Moon Cay is uninhabited. Purchase and open your clamshell and have the beautiful pearl made into a ring or pendant while you wait. Formerly known as Little San Salvador Island, this laid-back island covers 2400 acres (less than 4 square miles) and much of it has been left as a nature preserve with native vegetation for nesting birds and wildlife. It’s Officially One Year Since Cruise Lines Started Suspending Operations, Cruise Line to Homeport in the Bahamas from July, Future Plans to Develop a Port at Half Moon Cay. It is located roughly halfway between Eleuthera and Cat Island, administratively in the Cat Island District. Half Moon Caye is an island and natural monument of Belize located at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas Smile, splash and survey the island’s incredible scenery from atop horseback. The further you walk from the ship, the quieter the beach will be so if you’re looking for your own private spot, you will find it here. Developed as a luxury beach resort, it is used as a private port of call for Carnival and Holland America cruisers. All of the food on Half Moon Cay is included in the cruise price (with the exception of the sodas, alcohol and ice cream). Check out the beached pirate ship, and order up … Private beach areas Okay, so the whole island itself is private, but the beach is HUGE! Currently the shallow waters mean that visiting cruisers must use a tender (motor boat) to transfer from the cruise ship to the island. You only have half a day at Half Moon Cay so make sure to see the beach during the port visit. Half Moon was also the name of the ship belonging to 17th century explorer Henry Hudson which features on the Holland America logo, providing a nice connection between the island and the cruise company. There is a special lagoon aqua park with island-themed action fun area where kids can play in the safe shallow water. The work was due to start mid-2020 but has been delayed. This is a privately-owned island, one of the assets of Holland America Line (subsidiary company and brand of Carnival Corporation ). Half Moon Cay is uninhabited so locals from the nearby island of Eleuthera ferry across to the island when there are cruise visitors. In addition, there’s an ice cream parlor for ordering your favorite sundae and a Lobster Shack, both requiring an additional fee which is charged to your stateroom keycard. Things to do in Half Moon Cay 1. Half Moon Cay (officially Little San Salvador Island, sized 2400 acres / 9,7 km2) is located approx 10 mi / 16 km southeast of Nassau, and halfway between the Bahamian islands Cat and Eleuthera. Close to shore there are not much fish due all the visitors but you can join a boat trip to go snorkeling and diving in these clear warm waters. 15. The Caribbean is full of tropical wonders and natural beauty. Just Enjoy the Beach. It has many beautiful corals which are home to a wide variety of sea creatures. 12 talking about this. Its new name is derived from its stunning 2.5-mile long, crescent-shaped beach. It is about 100 miles (160km) southeast of Nassau, the Bahamian capital, and 277 miles southeast of Miami. Half Moon Cay is located midway between the islands of Eleuthera and Cat Island in the Bahamas. In addition to our experienced staff making sure your celebration runs flawlessly, we have a recommended vendors list which includes the area's top planners, florists, musicians and other event service needs. Truly one of the most beautiful settings in the entire Caribbean. You get the same high-quality dishes and superb choices on the island as you would expect onboard, but the island’s surroundings are particularly special! This privately owned 9.2 acre tropical island is a secure and secluded hideaway undiscovered by the masses.