Another HMC question

[cheric]

Since this is our first HAL cruise, I was wondering if chairs and umbrellas are available at the beach. I know about the cabanas and clamshells for rent, but wondered if they provide shade if you don't rent it? Also, any palm trees there to hide under for shade? On our Celebrity Cruises, at their private island, they set up lounge chairs and umbrellas for us as we get off the tenders. Also, is there a bar there and music playing? Thanks for the information.

[sail7seas]

There are hundreds and hundreds of lounge chairs. There are some pine trees along the edge of the beach but no palms. There are several terrific bars....one very large bar w/ music in the 'center' of the main area off the beach. Our favorite is further down the beach and you can sit up at the bar or on the patio at the rear where they've built over the sand.

[cheric]

Thank you very much. Further down the beach sounds good to me too. I remember when we were on Catalina Island (Celebrity's), my husband, who doesn't like the sun at all ... covered with a towel, an umbrella and was under two palm trees... while covered with sunblock. I think he would like the bar further down the beach too and I hope he can put his chair under one of those pine trees! No umbrellas?

[Ziggy7]

nope no umbrellas but if you get there early you could grab a shady spot under the trees. Remember shade moves and everyone will be looking for it, also it's only 9 dollars to rent a clam shell and it fits 3 lounge chairs in it. It also offers better coverage for those sneaky rains that happen out of the blue.

[jazzsea]

Just a little ways down island from the chapel is a bar called "I wish I could stay here forever". It is in a wonderul location. The bar is covered but the deck on the ocean side of the bar is open. The view is spectacular.

I am very fair skinned and can only handle about a half hour of sun. DH tans quickly and loves the hot sun on his (as he says) 'old bones'.

I can sit in the bar and look out over the ocean and he can sit five feet away in the sun. I can't tell you how many pictures I have of this place. It is really marvelous.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When HAL got the clamshells, they threw away the umbrellas - just as well - many of them were in bad shape.

You do have to get there early if you want shade from any of the pine trees.

We prefer to sit at the bar, have a couple of drinks. I can also watch DH swim from that location.

[sail7seas]

We love sitting on the beach and sunning for a while but I don't like to stay out in that hot sun too long. So, we do a combination of sand sitting, we have our lunch and sit at one of the covered bars for a while.


I love the bar with the new patio they added. It's comfortable and provides such beautiful view....especially if you sit at the long counter along the beach side of the bar and can look out toward the ocean and ship.

[vjb223]

Someone said there are alot of fish? could you Please tell me what area. Once we walked over to the left side of beach area and saw alot of rock? wondered about fish in that area? If someone has done the left side of where the tenders come in please let us know what you saw. It was deserted and wish we had our snorkel gear with us. Have a good day.

[Ziggy7]

Someone said there are alot of fish? could you Please tell me what area. Once we walked over to the left side of beach area and saw alot of rock? wondered about fish in that area? If someone has done the left side of where the tenders come in please let us know what you saw. It was deserted and wish we had our snorkel gear with us. Have a good day.
snorkeling by the rocks was very nice, just crowded with snorkelers as this is the desinated snorkling area on HMC. We also saw many fish right out in front of our cabana ( in the water for all you wise crackers :)), You can buy fish food at the water sports area and feed the fish, they will come by the millions hehehehe. The fish at HMC seemed happy to see people and were just as courious about us as we were them.

[RDMOREU]

You mentioned that you can 'buy fish food'. Can we use our ss card for that? Thanks for your help.

Dolores

[Ziggy7]

You mentioned that you can 'buy fish food'. Can we use our ss card for that? Thanks for your help.

Dolores
Yes, you can use your sign n sail card for anything on HMC.

[RDMOREU]

Thanks for the response!

[jazzsea]

We have a salt water aquarium at home and always take an extra can of tropical fish food with us when we know we will be at Half Moon Cay. Another good use for zip lock bags on a cruise.

[Ziggy7]

We have a salt water aquarium at home and always take an extra can of tropical fish food with us when we know we will be at Half Moon Cay. Another good use for zip lock bags on a cruise.
Great idea! Thanks!

[HeatherInFlorida]

Hey! What about all those stories of a water park being installed along the main beach. Any sign of that?

[RDMOREU]

Thanks for another great idea! Do you bring flakes or pellets? Dolores

[Marie-Claude]

I know you can rent a clamshell and a floating mat - do you need to pre-order these or can you rent them once ashore???

Going this Saturday... we're very excited!

[Ziggy7]

Hey! What about all those stories of a water park being installed along the main beach. Any sign of that?
We were told they would not be starting to implement those things until October this year, horses and iguanna's first :)

[Ziggy7]

I know you can rent a clamshell and a floating mat - do you need to pre-order these or can you rent them once ashore???

Going this Saturday... we're very excited!
You get those at the water sports place, there were lots of clamshells but get your mats early, they run out quickly!

[HeatherInFlorida]

We were told they would not be starting to implement those things until October this year, horses and iguanna's first :)
Ziggy, I knew it wouldn't be "up and running" until October or so, but if there's going to be a waterpark I should think they would have to have begun building it.

The fact that you saw nothing makes me hopeful that maybe I'll see nothing but sea when I'm there, too.

Personally, I don't feel a waterpark is an amenity that's needed at an already perfect port:) .

[Ziggy7]

I know you can rent a clamshell and a floating mat - do you need to pre-order these or can you rent them once ashore???

Going this Saturday... we're very excited!
Have a great cruise !

[Ziggy7]

Ziggy, I knew it wouldn't be "up and running" until October or so, but if there's going to be a waterpark I should think they would have to have begun building it.

The fact that you saw nothing makes me hopeful that maybe I'll see nothing but sea when I'm there, too.

Personally, I don't feel a waterpark is an amenity that's needed at an already perfect port:) .They mentioned that the sting ray city and water park will be on the other side of the island, possibly a tender ride to get to them, horse back riding in the surf will be at the other end of the island, they were very certin about keeping the front beach of HMC as it was. They mentioned wave-runners too but everyone booo'ed that idea.

[Tricia724]

When we did our B2B, the first time we just grabbed chairs on the beach. With the sun shift, sooner or later you get a little fried. The second week, we got a clam shell. Best $9 we spent on the cruise. We were able to stay longer and it was much more enjoyable.

You can buy a ticket for a clam shell on the ship at the shore excursion office. Then you go to the water sports hut and give them your ticket and they set it up for you. You can also just go to the water sports hut and make arrangements there. However, if there are two ships scheduled at HMC that day, it's a good idea to get your ticket onboard since both ships share the available amenities.

Get there early for best location. It's a first-come, first-choice deal.

[sail7seas]

Was your ship the only one in when you were at HMC?

[Marie-Claude]

Thanks all for the great tips - I'll make sure to buy the tickets for the clamshell and mat on board... just in case.

I wonder if there's a site with a ship schedule for HMC?? It's usually pretty easy to find for all other ports - anyone know of such a website??
MC

[Ziggy7]

I wonder if there's a site with a ship schedule for HMC?? It's usually pretty easy to find for all other ports - anyone know of such a website??
MC
No, it's a private island so the is no port roster.
Just go to HAL website and do a search for the month you will be there, it will list all the ships, look and see what days they will be on HMC, we were the only ship there both days in Aug.

[mattR]

How much dose the fish food cost?

[sail7seas]

You could take a few slices of bread from Lido and not worry about the price...it's free.

How much could a little fish food cost? Can't be very much, can it?

[RDMOREU]

I think I read on some thread that it was $1.00 on HMC>

I don't know if this is even ecologically sound; but I've heard about people taking aerosol cans of cheese spread when they go snorkeling and that the fish love it! Anyone have any thoughts/opinions about this - for the fish, not for humans, lol!!

[saltydog28]

your right it is not ecologically sound. why would these people feed the fish something that is not even good for humans. It can mess up their systems (internal) as much if not much more then our own. I would suggest that if you want to feed a fish something that is "like human food" go to the local grocery store and spend the $3 to buy a can of tuna fish and a can opener. this is why we are having so many problems with animals like the manatee. people think that they need to feed them and then whenever a boat comes near they go towards it and get hurt. PLEASE STOP FEEDING THE FISH ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT DESIGNATED. this is not saltydog28 it is their daugter the marine biologist.

[Ziggy7]

How much dose the fish food cost?
It costs $1.00 and its fish food for their designated fish feeding section :)

[saltydog28]

Hello everyone,
..............Sometimes, a family member will read over my shoulder.............
..............Sometimes, they have to stand up for what they belive in.

Take care,
Pat.