Bahamas
Half Moon Cay is a two-and-a-half-mile crescent of powder beach on Little San Salvador Island, leased by Carnival Corp and visited only by Holland America, Carnival, Princess, and Cunard ships. It also happens to be the private island you're least likely to actually set foot on.
Maybe. There is no pier — every passenger tenders ashore — and tendering needs calm seas. Winter fronts (October through February) and any sustained swell can force the captain to skip the call entirely. Weather cancellations are a known and recurring feature of this port, not a rare exception.
A new pier is under construction on the Carnival side of the island, but Holland America ships are expected to keep tendering after it opens. Until then, plan the day as a hopeful bonus, not a guaranteed stop.
Carnival Cruise Line
The Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line
The Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line
The Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line
The Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line
The Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line
The Bahamas
There is no public infrastructure on the island. On-island movement is on foot or via the cruise line's tram service between the landing, beach zones, and dining areas.
The island is run by the cruise line; everything (excursions, cabanas, drinks beyond the buffet, gift shop) bills directly to your stateroom in U.S. dollars. No need to bring cash ashore.
Private island with no town, no off-island transport, and no public access to the rest of the Bahamas from here. The cruise line's beach zone is the entire visit.
Ship anchors offshore; all guests tender ashore in lifeboats. Tender tickets distributed onboard. Waits of 30+ minutes are common when two ships are in port, and the entire call is cancelled if seas are too rough.
Standard beach cabanas around $700/day, beach villas around $1,000/day, the 12-guest Private Oasis around $2,000/day. All include shade, loungers, and a stocked fridge; villas and the Oasis add butler service. Book through the cruise line before sailing — they sell out.
Tender only. The ship anchors offshore and ferries guests in via lifeboat tenders. You collect a tender ticket in a lounge, wait for your number, then take a 10–15 minute boat ride to the small landing dock. At peak — especially when two ships are anchored — waits of 30+ minutes to board a tender are common.
Free: the beach itself, basic loungers, the BBQ lunch served on the island, the tram that runs the length of the beach, and the wading area. Paid: cabanas and beach villas, every organized excursion (horseback ride, Stingray Cove, snorkel-by-boat, kayak, water-toy rentals), and any drinks beyond the lunch buffet.
Depends what you value. Standard beach cabanas run around $700 for the day; beach villas around $1,000; the Private Oasis (sleeps up to 12, with butler) closer to $2,000. You get shade you can lock, a stocked fridge, and distance from the crowd. On a hot, sold-out day with two ships in port a lot of guests think it's the best money they spend on the trip; on a half-full sailing in shoulder season, the free loungers are fine.
Yes. After a short tram and orientation you ride along the trails to a viewpoint, then down onto the beach and into the water — bareback, with a pad and rope halter, no saddle. It's the signature excursion here and books out fast; reserve before you sail.
Casual. The cove has fish and there's a guided snorkel-by-boat trip out to Elkhorn Reef, but this is not a serious dive port — there's no scuba operation here. If reef diving is the point of your day, save it for Cozumel or Roatán.
You get a sea day instead, any pre-booked excursions and cabanas are refunded to your shipboard account, and the ship usually keeps moving on the itinerary. There's no alternate tender attempt later — once the captain calls it, the call is over for that sailing.
