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Princess Cay vs HAL Half Moon Cay


vgottlieb

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Unfortunately, considering I have been to Princess Cay 3x and will be back again over Christmas and just once to Half Moon Cay, there is absolutely no comparsion between the two.

Half Moon Cay has a nicer beach, nicer facilities and was about 1/2 as crowded (when on the Zuiderdam vs. Grand Class ships).

Princess Cay is ok. Half Moon Cay is Fantastic.

 

Chris

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Maybe my expectations of Princess Cays was too high since I visited Half Moon Cay first, but HMC is by far the best for all the reason listed above. If you are into snorkling, then the area to the right (over the bridge) when you go to Princess was real nice, but you will need shoes and very carefully watch your step until you get deep enough to begin to snorkle. The area to the left on Princess Cays is better for swimming, but is very crowded and the actual swim area small.

HMC is just a better swimming and beach island with a better and more comfortable layout. Not to mention the food. On PC it seemed the food was cooked on board or somewhere else and placed on warmers (it may have been cooked on the island, but it tasted like warm overs). On HMC they open up the grills and start cooking on the island (I saw theem cooking and on PC I did not). And believe me the burgers and hot dogs were much better tasting on HMC and the cookies and brownies tasted better as well.

HMC is a 10 and PC would be about a 5 or 6 at best.

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I agree that HMC is much better than Princess Cays - however, I found the tender back from HMC the ride from "hell." We were stuck in the tender for a long time (I have no idea why) - got to be very sweltering inside - very much like a sauna. It was very uncomfortable to say the least. The Princess tender was a much better experience.

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I love Princess Cays. HMC might be "better"...but Princess Cays is exactly what a beach is supposed to be. The only complaint I have is that the bathrooms are disgusting. All of the toilets were clogged in the ladies room.

 

To us, Princess Cays is the most stress-free stop. We don't have to worry about booking an excursion or trying to see a million things in one day. The beach is the only attraction and we like that. No feeling that we might be missing something.

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I think HMC is #1, but Princess Cay is also very nice.

 

But... if you have to know, that on HMC cabanas are actually little homes, and on Princess they are clamshells..

 

Both islands are fun, and both are MUCH better than Stirrup Cay of NCL, much better.

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Anybody have pictures?

I am glad to hear Princess Cay is nicer then NCL's Stirrup Cay because I did not enjoy that one at all. RCI's Labadee was by far the most beautiful of the private islands I have been to so far.

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Anybody have pictures?

I am glad to hear Princess Cay is nicer then NCL's Stirrup Cay because I did not enjoy that one at all. RCI's Labadee was by far the most beautiful of the private islands I have been to so far.

 

If I did this right you can view my pictures of both private beaches at this site:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/555267316gzoits

I have a lot more of Half Moon Cay because frankly it was my first cruise and I got trigger happy with the camera. Although after looking through my Princess pictures I didn't take as many pictures as I wish I did.

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Hi, we have not been to any of these private islands and are going to the Princess Cays one. By the sounds of things, it might be just as well not to have anything else to compare it to. As long as there is sand and water we will be fine...

 

But I do have a question for those who have been. For lunch do they serve anything but meat? Would they have any kind of fish or chicken or is it just hamburgers and hotdogs? Any veggie dogs?

 

Thanks!

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There is Chicken, some salads and definately fruit served at Princess Cay. Noit sure about Veggie Burgers. The last time I was there I went back and ate on the ship. Not very crowded and much better food choices.

 

Chris

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I love Princess Cays. HMC might be "better"...but Princess Cays is exactly what a beach is supposed to be. The only complaint I have is that the bathrooms are disgusting. All of the toilets were clogged in the ladies room.

 

 

I wouldn't stay on board at PC... it is nice. But - I've got to chuckle at the statement that PC is "exactly what a beach is supposed to be"... the "beach" or the toilets?

 

The "beach" at Princess Cay is wholly man made (site delivered, excavated sand [nicely done mind you]) hence the immediate transition to rock upon entry into the water at the ankle deep mark. :D

 

The water at PC is beautiful Bahamian blue though and relaxing to be sure.

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For those of you that have been to both of these private islands. I have only been to Half Moon Cay. Is Princess Cay just as nice? Any other information would be nice.

 

Princess Cays Photo Link. Click on an individual picture to enlarge.

 

http://www.princessshutter.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=61

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