The best things to do in Half Moon Cay, now officially called RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, are mostly simple ones: swim and lounge on a curving white-sand beach, eat the free barbecue lunch, and add one or two paid extras such as horseback riding through the surf, a stingray encounter, kayaking in Bonefish Lagoon or a rented cabana. Below are 18 ideas for your day, plus what is free, what costs extra, how you get ashore in 2026 and a few tips that save money and time.
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Half Moon Cay sits on Little San Salvador, a mostly undeveloped island in the Bahamas between Eleuthera and Cat Island. Holland America Line opened it in 1997, and today it is shared by Carnival Corporation brands. Only a small slice of the island is developed; much of the rest is set aside as a bird sanctuary.
What’s New at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in 2026
The island has changed more in the past two years than in the two decades before. If you last visited a few years ago, these are the headline updates:
- New name. Carnival announced the RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay name in December 2024, alongside a major expansion plan. It is now part of Carnival’s “Paradise Collection” with Celebration Key and Mahogany Bay.
- A pier, at last. A new pier on the north side opened on 1 June 2026, when Carnival Sunrise became the first ship to tie up alongside. Large Excel-class ships such as Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee can now call regularly.
- More free food and bars on the north side. Carnival added Orchid Beach Grill and Hibiscus Beach Grill (buffet-style lunch), plus Luna Tide Beach Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack and Lil’ Tiki Bar, a tram linking different areas and a walking route called the Papaya Pathway.
- Holland America’s Beach Club and food pavilion. On the south side, Holland America opened a Beach Club after an inauguration on 22 October 2026. A day pass was reported at $125 per person and includes priority tendering, waiter service, beach accessories, specialty bites and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A new food pavilion outside the club serves a complimentary barbecue menu, and the cabanas, bars and beach seating (daybeds and canopy loungers for two) have been refreshed.
- Princess is arriving. Princess Cruises has begun swapping some Princess Cays calls for Half Moon Cay, for example on Sun Princess’s 22 November 2026 Eastern Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale.
Which side you use depends on your cruise line. Carnival ships generally use the new north-side pier, while Holland America guests are still tendered to the south side (the Beach Club’s “priority tendering” perk confirms tenders are still in use). Check your ship’s daily planner for the exact arrangement on your date.
18 Things to Do in Half Moon Cay
The list runs roughly from free and easy to paid excursions. Prices change by season and by cruise line, so treat any figures as a guide and confirm in your line’s app or cruise planner.
1. Spend the day on Half Moon Beach
The crescent beach that gives the island its name is the main event. The sand is fine and pale, and the water is usually calm, clear and shallow near the shore. Loungers are free on a first-come basis; walk away from the arrival area and the crowds thin noticeably.
2. Eat the free island barbecue
Lunch is included in your fare. Expect a cookout-style buffet with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, ribs, salads, fruit and desserts, usually served for around two hours in the middle of the day. Holland America guests use the Tropics Restaurant area and the new food pavilion; Carnival guests also have the new Orchid and Hibiscus beach grills.
3. Splash at the pirate-ship aqua park
The Half Moon Lagoon aqua park sits in the water off the beach, with slides and a pirate-ship structure. On land, the Waterworks play area has small slides and climbable sea creatures for younger children. Check on the day whether there is a charge for the floating park, as access rules have varied.
4. Walk the nature trail and Papaya Pathway
Trails start across from the dining pavilions, with a paved loop and a rougher path towards Pegasus Ranch. Carnival’s new Papaya Pathway adds a scenic walking route on the north side. There are misting stations along the way, but go early before the midday heat.
5. Go birdwatching
More than 40 bird species have been recorded on the island, including the Bahama mockingbird, Bahama yellowthroat and gray catbird. Bring binoculars and head for the quieter trails; most of the island beyond the resort area is protected habitat.
6. Snorkel from the beach
There is a beginner-friendly snorkel area near the Welcome Center where you may see blue tangs, sergeant majors and the occasional stingray. Gear rental has been around $20 for the day, but you can bring your own mask and fins. For better reefs, a guided snorkel-by-boat trip goes further out.
7. Swim with stingrays
At Stingray Cove you wade into shallow water to meet and feed southern stingrays with a guide. It is one of the most family-friendly paid activities, and it has typically cost in the region of $55 per person.
8. Ride horses on the trails and through the sea
The horseback excursion starts at Pegasus Ranch with an orientation, then heads along trails before the horses wade and swim in the bay with you on board. It is the island’s signature excursion and sells out early on busy days. Recent listings have been around $125 per person, with age and weight limits.
9. Kayak Bonefish Lagoon
The protected lagoon is calm and shallow, so it suits beginners. Look out for juvenile lemon sharks, stingrays, sea stars and urchins. Single kayaks have been listed at around $30 and doubles at around $46. Holland America also lists the lagoon as a lifeguarded swimming spot.
10. Ride a jet ski or the Aqua Trax course
Personal watercraft can be rented to cruise the shoreline, and the Aqua Trax Watercraft Adventure follows a buoyed course for a more structured ride. Expect a short safety briefing and a fuel and life jacket fee included in the price.
11. Sail a Hobie Cat
Holland America offers roughly hour-long sails around the bay on a Hobie Cat catamaran. It is a breezy, quiet alternative to motorised watersports and a good choice for couples.
12. Take a glass-bottom boat tour
If you want to see coral and fish without getting wet, a narrated glass-bottom boat trip is a good option for less confident swimmers, grandparents and young children.
13. Cycle or ride the tram
Holland America guests can rent bikes and pedal to Pegasus Ranch, or try a water bike in the bay. On Carnival’s side, a free tram now connects key areas of the beach, and a narrated tram tour has been offered as a paid option.
Cabanas, Villas, the Beach Club and Private Oasis
Shade is the one thing the beach lacks, so private spaces sell out quickly, especially on sea-day-heavy itineraries. Here is how the main options compare. Prices are recent guide figures and vary by sailing.
| Option | Who it suits | What’s included | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clamshell or umbrella | Couples on a budget | Shade for two loungers | Modest daily rental |
| Cabana | Families of up to four | Shade, loungers, snacks, water and soft drinks | From around $500 |
| Two-story beach villa | Groups of up to eight | Private deck, hot tub, snacks, more space | From around $800 |
| Holland America Beach Club | Adults who want drinks and service | Priority tender, waiter service, all drinks, specialty food | About $125 per person |
| Private Oasis | Special occasions, larger groups | Secluded beach area with chef, bartender, lunch and drinks | From roughly $1,850 |
14. Book a cabana or villa
Book these as soon as your line’s shore planner opens. A cabana makes most sense for families with small children or anyone sensitive to sun. Split between four people, it can work out similar to two paid excursions each.
15. Try the new Beach Club
For Holland America guests, the Beach Club is the newest upgrade on the island. Because the day pass includes alcohol and you usually cannot use your ship’s drinks package ashore, it can be good value if you plan to have several cocktails.
16. Treat yourself at the Lobster Shack
The Lobster Shack serves grilled lobster, lobster rolls and seafood at market prices, charged to your cruise card. It is not part of the free lunch, but it is the most popular paid food stop on the island.
17. Get a massage on the beach
Massages are offered in a cooled oceanfront cabana. Prices are similar to an onboard spa treatment, and the sound of the waves is a bonus.
18. Shop the straw market and post a card
Near the arrival area you will find a straw market with Bahamian crafts and island souvenirs, plus a tiny post office where you can send a postcard with Bahamian stamps. There is also a small chapel used for weddings.
What Food and Drinks Are Included at Half Moon Cay?
Here is a quick breakdown of what is free and what costs extra on a Half Moon Cay day:
- Free: the barbecue lunch, water, lemonade and iced tea at the buffet, beach loungers, the tram on the Carnival side, the beach itself, trails and the children’s Waterworks play area.
- Extra: cocktails, beer and sodas from the island bars, the Lobster Shack, cabanas, villas, the Beach Club, watersports and guided excursions.
- Drinks packages: ship-based beverage packages have generally not been valid on the island. Carnival guests have reported that the CHEERS! package does not apply ashore, so check the latest terms before you go.
Everything is billed to your cruise card, so you do not need cash. Bring a small amount in US dollars only if you want to tip or buy from straw market vendors.
Half Moon Cay Weather: When to Visit
Half Moon Cay is warm all year. Winter (December to March) is the most comfortable, with highs in the high 70s to low 80s°F and lower humidity, although cooler fronts can bring wind and choppier seas that sometimes cancel calls. Spring brings low to mid 80s and generally settled weather. Summer pushes into the 90s with humidity and short showers. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October; that is when itinerary changes are most likely.
Holland America’s 2026-27 season includes the island on more than two dozen Caribbean itineraries between October 2026 and April 2027, so this winter is a good time to see the refreshed south side. If you are still choosing a ship, our Holland America vs Celebrity Cruises comparison may help.
Tips for Your Day at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
- Get off early. If your line tenders, the first boats are the busiest, but going ashore early still means better lounger choice and shorter lines for activities.
- Bring your own shade and reef-safe sunscreen. A compact beach umbrella or sun shelter is often allowed; check your line’s rules.
- Pack water shoes. They help in the lagoon and on rocky patches near snorkel areas.
- Book popular excursions before you sail. Horseback riding, the stingray encounter, cabanas and villas often sell out.
- Watch the last tender or all-aboard time. Lines get long late in the afternoon, so head back a little early.
- Remember the weather caveat. On tender days, high winds or swell can cancel the call. The new pier makes this less likely for ships that dock.
Comparing private islands across lines? Our guide to cruise line private islands and who owns each one sets Half Moon Cay against CocoCay, Celebration Key and others. And if you are still hunting for a sailing, see when to book and the cruise deals worth watching for 2027.
FAQs
What is free at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas?
The beach, loungers, the barbecue lunch with water, lemonade and iced tea, nature trails, the children’s Waterworks play area and, on the Carnival side, the island tram are included. Bar drinks, the Lobster Shack, cabanas and excursions cost extra.
Is there a drink package for Half Moon Cay?
Ship drinks packages have generally not applied on the island. Holland America guests can buy a Beach Club day pass, reported at about $125 per person, which includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for the day.
Do ships dock or tender at Half Moon Cay?
Since June 2026 a new pier on the north side lets ships, including Carnival’s largest, dock directly. Holland America guests are still tendered to the south side, so check your planner.
Where is Half Moon Cay?
It is on Little San Salvador, a small island in the Bahamas between Eleuthera and Cat Island, roughly 100 miles southeast of Nassau.
Are there shops at Half Moon Cay?
Yes. There is a straw market with local crafts, a few souvenir shops near the arrival area and a small post office selling Bahamian stamps and postcards.
