Lunch at Half Moon Cay

[DJ95]

I know the answer is on this board somewhere, but I must be searching incorrectly. Is lunch or snacks available on the island and at what price or is it necessary to return to the ship? I saw mention of a restaurant, but no further info. Thanks for a answering another repeat question.

[cbr663]

Yes, lunch is available. HAL does a BBQ - hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, beef ribs and lots of salads, fruit and deserts. Beverages are provided also, and you can purchase soda and liquors.

[jtl513]

The barbeque is free, but drinks that are not free on the ship are also not free on the island. You may return to the ship for lunch if you prefer.

[Daisyloo]

The cruiseline does a BBQ lunch on HMC. No fee. Casual, eat in your bathing suit on picnic tables. Drinks like ice tea or fruit punch type drink are free. Ice water too.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Daisyloo

[boze9999]

They do sell drinks at the Pirate Ship - which you can take with you to the lunch patios ( a short walk).

[sail7seas]

There are a number of bars where you can get all sorts of drinks including soda/soft drinks but there is a charge for them.

 

The barbeque lunch includes ribs, chicken, hot dogs, burgers, salads, fresh fruit, potato chips, cookies, brownies.......... They start serving around 11:15 orf 11:30 and it is buffet style for salads and go to the grills to get which hot foods you want served to you.

 

[travelsuz]

One of my very favorite beaches! The lunch is great and easy. Have fun relaxing on this beautiful island!

[OCruisers]

Normally, I hate those BBQ lunches on private islands ... but actually thought the one on HMC was very decent. :)

 

LuLu

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[Krazy Kruizers]

There is no "restaurant" on HMC.

We haven't eaten on the island in years -- really don't care for HAL's BBQ. We go over for a while, have a drink, and return to the ship for lunch.

When there are 2 ships scheduled for the island, we don't bother going ashore.

If you have any kind of a Beverage Card -- it can not be used on the island. They do not have the registers where the cards can be scanned.

[bshow]

Calling it a barbecue just ain't right. Folks from the south can tell you what barbecue is. :)

 

Anyway, the lunch is good. They have grilled fish available as well, which is what I go for.

[sail7seas]

Calling it a barbecue just ain't right. Folks from the south can tell you what barbecue is. :)

 

Anyway, the lunch is good. They have grilled fish available as well, which is what I go for.

 

 

We from New England think that is what a barbeque is. :D

DH and I enjoy our lunch at HMC. Ribs are a treat I never allow myself anywhere except at HMC.

 

Yes, we've had Southern barbeque and it's yummy.

We had this conversation in another thread this week.... the different terms we use from various regions of the country. It all started when I called the sprinkles put on ice cream 'jimmies' as that is the word we use in Boston.

 

Edited January 16, 2014 by sail7seas

[Fouremco]

One of the better beach BBQ lunches, with a good variety of tasty food. Picnic shelters too, so you can sit at your table in the shade while enjoying you meal.

[Thebes]

When would be the best time to line up for lunch without hassling in long lines esp if 2 ships in port ?

[Windsailer]

I typically head over there around 11:15. No crowds then.

[sail7seas]

When would be the best time to line up for lunch without hassling in long lines esp if 2 ships in port ?

 

 

Go late after the mob has eaten. Enjoy one of the bars, stay on your lounger, take a walk and eat when the lines have thinned out.

 

You're on vacation...... if you have to wait in line a few minutes, it's not like you have to rush off to an 'appointment'. :D Relax.

 

 

 

[catl331]

First time we ate there BBQ was excellent; especially the cookies! Next time, the meat was cold, chicken still needed more cooking and we left. Last cruise stopping there, we got off, took pic of ship, walked around and ate in Lido which was quite empty! In the future: Lido!

[jayisgerman]

We were on HMC in early December and we enjoyed the lunch. I had a cheeseburger, which was actually quite good and a bit of chicken. Some coleslaw, too. DH had fish and something else I do not recall. We took a couple sodas with us from our cabana, but you can also either purchase them there or drink provided beverages that are gratis. I thought it was well done for being an island lunch set up. Lines moved pretty fast, but once we sat down the crowds got very large and it may have taken longer to get food. We enjoyed it - hope you do, too.

[RJ2002]

We have our first visit to HMC coming up in April. Was not sure what to expect for lunch, but now this thread has me looking forward to it! :D

[Typhoon1]

The food is brought from the ship. Having been to a few other private islands, HMC lunch is among the better.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Calling it a barbecue just ain't right. Folks from the south can tell you what barbecue is. :)

 

Anyway, the lunch is good. They have grilled fish available as well, which is what I go for.

 

We live in the north -- and there many BBQ cook-offs -- which are excellent. And we have fairs, etc. where many vendors vie for the best ribs.

I know what you mean.

HAL's doesn't even close to ours either!!

[edmusic]

Here's a photo of the BBQ/Salad buffet in the covered pavilion on HMC:

[Krazy Kruizers]

First time we ate there BBQ was excellent; especially the cookies! Next time, the meat was cold, chicken still needed more cooking and we left. Last cruise stopping there, we got off, took pic of ship, walked around and ate in Lido which was quite empty! In the future: Lido!

 

HAL ships pre-cook their food before it is taken to the island.

Thus the cooks are up early and are suppose to have everything pretty much cooked before it goes to the island -- but as we have found -- it doesn't happen.

And many times the island cooks and helpers do not get the grills really hot before putting the food onto the grills -- this means that food cools (in spite of the heater containers they use for transport) and never really gets reheated and/or finished cooked on the island.

Better food on the ship.

[PatsyAnne]

I wasn't thrilled with the food, but it was fine and worse things can happen to me than not eating too much. The location was beautiful.

[sail7seas]

HAL ships pre-cook their food before it is taken to the island.

 

Thus the cooks are up early and are suppose to have everything pretty much cooked before it goes to the island -- but as we have found -- it doesn't happen.

 

And many times the island cooks and helpers do not get the grills really hot before putting the food onto the grills -- this means that food cools (in spite of the heater containers they use for transport) and never really gets reheated and/or finished cooked on the island.

 

Better food on the ship.

 

 

I always feel so bad when I read how many things are disappointing to you on your HAL cruises. It's a shame they come up short for you in so many areas.

 

I often marvel when there are two ships in HMC at the same time, that one ship often provides the food for all and the other ship provides bar department. On more than one visit, we know one ship provided all food and drink on the island. The other ship pays a per person charge to the budget of the provisioning ship. That's a whole lot of food to lug ashore on the "Clipper".

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We just did it and it was very nice ..