Half Moon Cay -- What's it like?

[JanAndJeremy]

Hey There!

Just curious, never been to Half Moon Cay before and I know it's a small owned by HAL...that's about all I know. Is there shopping to be done on this island or is it all just swimming, water sports, ect.?

Thanks everyone!

Jan

[Debi_D]

It is actually a beautiful little Island, they do have shopping but it is mostly things like T-shirts, post cards, etc....

It really is more for relaxing with fun in the sun and watersports. You can rent these "clam shells" to help ward off the suns rays or for about $200.00 you can rent these "Cabana's" which are things mini cabana buildings that are very nice. We rented one (Cabana) for our up and coming trip but to offset the price we are traveling with another couple so we split the expense.

They will have a huge BBQ set up with music, it is almost like a big beach party.

Debi

[sail7seas]

If Half Moon Cay isn't "Paradise" it is good enough for me :) I could spend eternity there happily.


It is the softest, whitest sandy beach anywhere with the most pristinely clean, clear water and no rocks, seaweed or mess to wade through in order to enjoy the ocean.

We love the barbeque and think HAL having developed just a fraction of the island did it just right. It's a beautiful place to spend a day.

[olderpilot]

Half Moon Cay is just another wonderful island in the Bahamas. No one lives there (except maybe the security guard). The island employees come from nearby islands every day to man the concessions stands when ships call. There are some small souvenir shops, but as S7S has mentioned it is primarily a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a beautiful beach and all it has to offer. My son-in-law did try the fishing there on a recent trip.

Bottom line - a great way to spend a day ashore on a Caribbean cruise.

Jerry

[kryos]

Half Moon Cay is just another wonderful island in the Bahamas. No one lives there (except maybe the security guard).
No one lives there?!?!?!

What a shame!

I would have thought some of the people working on the island would have homes there ... on the undeveloped part.

One of the nicest things ... at least to me ... is that quaint little Bahamian church. I thought it was set up so that the island's residents could worship. I spent some time there and found it to be so peaceful. I just assumed it was the place where the island's residents routinely worshipped.

I do hope you're wrong. That place is too beautiful for it not to have at least a handful of people who called it home.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[fsdj1097]

HAL has plans to expand their excursion options at HMC.

There will be horseback riding available.

We've sailed with HAL three times in the Caribbean, but only made one stop at HMC. You must be tendered in, and if the seas or winds are contrary, you'll just have another day at sea. Which ain't too bad, either!

[TedC]

The sand is almost as soft as talcum powder. The swaying palms offer shade. And the snorkeling is improving near the rock jetty (but stay out of the channel).

HAL has done a wonderful job with HMC. (It is what God would have done if he had money)


I hope HAL doesn't make too many more "enhancements" - this "lily" doesn't need any gilding!

[Esme]

Kyros - Olderpilot is correct. No one lives on the island except for maybe a few caretakers/security guards. All the workers come daily from nearby islands. I have no idea where the few people who do live there have accommodations, but it could be in a couple of trailers/mobile homes off the beaten track.

[sail7seas]

I think that the Bahamians who work at the island come over from Eleuthra which is quite near.

If there were homes there and a local community, then the island would be "developed" rather than just a small portion having been built up for use by HAL.

The majority of the island has been left natural as (I think) a natural bird santurary.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Half Moon Cay - a very lovely private island. The sand is so soft and fine - beautiful to walk on. The water is crystal clear - no stones or rocks to stumble on.

Just a couple of shops that sell some hand made items - here you will need a few dollars. The main store is owned by HAL and everything you buy there goes on you ship board account.

This fall there is suppose to be horse back riding and another area will have stingrays where you can get in the water with them and feed them.

:)

[Ellya]

Only the caretakers stay on the island, the workers commute via a 2 hour boat ride to another island where they live. At this time of year the island is only used once a week. The shops all take your ship's card, no need for any money except quarters if you want a locker ($1 each time you open it). The shopping is very limited and the hair braiding is very slow, plan to spend the day on the beach! Be sure to book your activities, clamshells etc early in the cruise since they often sell out.

As others have said, the beach is the softest sand you have ever seen, like flour. The shade clamshells make a nice reprieve from the sun, and there are only 90 available (which sounds like a lot but considering the side of the ship, really is not). Cabanas are very pricey and can be reserved ahead of time. Water toys and activities are all available singley or in packages. We did the banana boat ride ($19 each). The best part of the day for me was taking my $1 bag of fish food sold in the watersports booth and feeding the fish...very cool!

[doone]

This place is spectacular, the most beautiful spot I have ever been to.

[imsulin]

Half Moon Cay? It is the island I am going to buy when I win the Mega Millions lottery, and have the whole place to myself at least three days a week! I will only allow HAL cruisers on my island, provide free clamshells and drinks, replace the hot dogs and burgers with T-bones and shrimp, and assure you that there will never be a problem with weather for tendering. Aren't I just the nicest person? (Just wish Richard Branson were single...)

[Lois R]

:) Sounds like a little bit of heaven in The Caribbean! 7 more weeks and I will be able to experience it too!

[the2ofus]

is sailing on by because the seas are too rough to tender in!! Having once been there, it is a bitter disappointment not to visit that Paradise every chance you get.

[Tatka]

:o I hope ocean will be quite during my August 27 visit.

This http://community.webshots.com/photo/29464307/31788919owEjeeFWyV
http://community.webshots.com/photo/91892459/92005104UKLWje

looks too nice to miss. :o

[idiebabe]

If you don't rent a cabana are the clam shells hard to get? Also, is there shade by Palm Trees you can lay on a chair under? It's just me and my husband going on this cruise and would it be worth spending the money on the Cabana?

Also, any info on the Parasailing, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks.

Eileen

[doone]

Parasailing at Half Moon Cay is awesome. I highly recommend it. Half Moon Cay is the only place I'll parasail, there aren't any high buildings to bang into, that's always been my fear. Go on, give it a try, you'll love it, its beautiful.

I believe you need to rent the clam shells on Half Moon Cay also.

[MISSYLOU]

Half Moon Cay is like that private little island everyone dreams about. Son says he wishes the ship would just stay there for all 7 days, forget about the ports. It really is a beautiful paradise.

[Florida Lady]

Great in the spring and summer but too cold in December, January and February.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Having been to several such "private islands" I must say that, when cruising in the Caribbean, it's almost worth choosing HAL just to get access to Half Moon Cay. At this point, having done all the touristy things on virtually all the Caribbean islands, I have more desire to go back there than just about anywhere else in that area (never mind that it's not technically in the Caribbean). It's infinitely nicer than any of the other private islands I've been to.

I have a few photos of it here (http://shiploverny.fotki.com/zuiderdam/half_moon_cay/) from last April (2003).

[ekerr19]

Thanks for sharing the photos Doug. I must say #8 is my favorite - that is our favorite bar - hands down. None of the ships bars even come close!

[Ellya]

If you want a clamshell make arrangements on the ship the day you board. By the time you get to Half Moon, they will be sold out.

[Lois R]

Hi Doug:) thank you for those pictures! Really looking foward to seeing the Island LIVE AND IN PERSON:D

[flamingosun]

HI, Lois!
I'll be very interested to hear what you have to say after your cruise on the HAL ship.
As you know, we usually sail RCL, but I keep looking at HAL... the Zaandam sails out of the Port of Canaveral, and I wonder if it would be a nice change of pace for ous...

[Southbound]

Hi Doug. What great photos! Thanks for sharing them. HMC has to be as close to paradise as a person could wish for and the BBQ setup sure is like a beach party. Even the drinks at the beach bar somehow seem to taste better (can't imagine why;) ).

[xeena]

we are sailing on the westerdam on 12-12 and i saw the discouraging post on Dec being too cold to enjoy this island, i hope they are wrong !

[Southbound]

XEENA, We were on the Zuiderdam last year for Christmas and visited HMC. It was sunny, temp was in the mid-80s and the constant light breeze was appreciated. So, think positive:cool:

[dougnewmanatsea]

As you know, we usually sail RCL, but I keep looking at HAL...One thing I can say is that I found Half Moon Cay far, far nicer than CocoCay or Labadee, which both paled in comparison.

[nkw5]

Is it possible to do any diving at Half Moon Cay? Are there good places to snorkel?