HALF MOON CAY question

[sbgood]

Are there any rules about bringing one's own beach umbrella for the day at Half Moon Cay?

Have you ever seen any?

I hear the clam shells are nice for shade, but hot as h*ll because the air doesn't circulate around you. Anyone have any first hand knowledge?

[the2ofus]

If you prop up the back edge of the clamshell with your sandals or some chunks of rock you will have a nice circulation of air. I think it beats toting along a beach umbrella.

[JaniceB]

I was wondering if a chair umbrella might be good? The kind that screw onto the chair. If it rained in a port you might be able to use it for that, also.

[Pudgesmom]

I think the beach umbrella is a great idea. Try looking at the pictures of the lounges, I know there are a few on this site, to see about the arms- I'm not sure if they have any. The clamshells provide good shade, but are a little clastrophobic, and you are limited to your assigned location. with an umbrella, you'll have your pick of the beach!

Have fun!

Beth

[sbgood]

Thank you all. My umbrella comes in a little sleeve that you carry over your shoulder, nothing much to carry. I wonder if that powder-like sand will be a problem?

[sail7seas]

That would be absolutely fine and I am postive no one would have any problems at all with your using your own umbrella. I assume you are driving to the port as dragging that on an airplane might be a nuisance.

[sail7seas]

Thank you all. My umbrella comes in a little sleeve that you carry over your shoulder, nothing much to carry. I wonder if that powder-like sand will be a problem?


What kind of problem would you imagine powder like sand to be? HMC beach is glorious. I don't understand what you are imagining to be a problem.

[gbc]

Sail 7,
I believe the problem of powdery sand refers to the beach umbrella staying upright in the fine sand on HMC. As a veteran beach umbrella user, heavy wet sand provides the best stability for a beach umbrella.

[sail7seas]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon1.gif
I was wondering if a chair umbrella might be good? The kind that screw onto the chair. If it rained in a port you might be able to use it for that, also. \





I saw the reference to the 'type you screw on the arm of a chair". If that is the style they are using, no 'sand problems'.


If it is the sort that sticks into the sand, HAL provided a number of umbrellas they stuck in the sand prior to the use of the clamshells. Aside from the fact the weather/wind got to them and wore them out, they stuck into the sand just fine.

Those are pretty big things though and would be a pain/possibly dangerous to drag down the gangway's steep stairs to get onto the tender. I would think they may call that dangerous to other pax to bring aboard a tender. They are pretty big and if a tender lurched in the waves/tide, it is possible someone could be hurt if it slid or whatever.

[sbgood]

Thanks Sail...you got it right about the sand. Personally, I love powdery sand.

My little umbrella wouldn't hurt a flea, unless it takes off in the wind and pokes someone in the eye. OUCH!

[sail7seas]

Have a great cruise.


Hope you enjoy a wonderful day at HMC. Please post some comments when you return.

Bon Voyage......Blue skies and calm seas.

[artvlay]

I would highly, highly recomend the clamshells. We were there with another ship, and early (9:30) all the lounge chairs for the most part were gone. I f you have the clamshell, they hold it until 11am. Well worth the $9. I didn't notice it being claustrophobic and it wasn't warmer either. Enjoy yourselves.

[Pudgesmom]

The clamshells are Not held until 11 am. We had one reserved on a day when two ships were in port. We had to wait over an hour to get a tender, then the tender ride took 50 minutes due to one-way traffic in and out of the tender dock.

We arrived at the clamshell rental area at 10:20. We had reserved one on-line. We were with about 20-30 people all holding prereserved tickets. Only one of our group got one. It was a sort of every man for himself.

Take your own umbrella, or if two ships are in port, get there REALLy early.

Beth :(

[artvlay]

When we made our reservations, they told us that it would be held until 11am

[iluvcruzin]

I had a Clamshell when there were 2 ships in port. I picked it up around 12:00 due to the delays in tendering.

The beach umbrella idea is a good one as long it's one of the strong ones. The ones that attach to a chair - I'd skip it because if the wind is going, those things just don't last as they are like a regular umbrella and could bend.