Half Moon Cay Guide: Carnival and Holland America's Private Island
Half Moon Cay is the private island Carnival Corporation runs in the Bahamas for Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line, and its official name is now RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. Carnival renamed it in December 2024, and on June 1, 2026, the line announced that a new pier is open, so guests walk off the ship instead of riding a tender.
The pier is the biggest change in the island's history. It removes the tender line, and it lets Carnival's largest ships call for the first time. This guide covers the name change, the pier, what is included with your fare, what costs extra, and how I would plan the day on a Carnival or Holland America sailing.
Half Moon Cay Key Facts
| Detail | RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay |
| Owner | Carnival Corporation |
| Official name | RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay (since December 2024); the island itself is Little San Salvador |
| Location | Cat Island district, The Bahamas, roughly 100 miles southeast of Nassau |
| Size | About 2,400 acres, with roughly 50 acres developed |
| Docking | New pier announced open June 1, 2026; tenders before that |
| Lines that call | Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line |
| Included | Beach, loungers, umbrellas, tram, Papaya Pathway, beach grills |
| Extra cost | Cabanas, daybeds, shore excursions, most drinks |
Why Half Moon Cay Became RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Holland America bought the island in 1996 and opened it as Half Moon Cay in December 1997. For most of its life it was a Holland America destination that Carnival ships also visited. In December 2024, Carnival gave it the RelaxAway name. The new name signals the positioning: Celebration Key, Carnival's newer destination on Grand Bahama, is the high-energy option with big pools and slides, and RelaxAway is the quiet beach day.
You will still see Half Moon Cay on older itineraries, in reviews, and in conversation, and both names refer to the same place. If you are comparing the two Carnival islands, my Celebration Key guide covers the other one in detail.
The New Pier at Half Moon Cay
When Carnival renamed the island in 2024, it also laid out plans for a pier at the North Arrival Plaza that could handle ships up to the Excel class, the line's largest ships, which includes Mardi Gras. On June 1, 2026, Carnival announced the expansion as open. Carnival says the pier means more ships can reach the island easily, and that Excel-class ships can now visit for the first time.
For travelers, the change is practical. Tendering at this island used to mean waiting for a boat in the morning and again in the afternoon, and rough water could cancel the stop entirely. With a pier, the island is far more reliable on an itinerary, and you can walk back to the ship for lunch or a nap.
Pro Tip: Older Holland America and Carnival itineraries listed Half Moon Cay as a tender port. If you booked a sailing before mid-2026 and the cruise documents still say tender, check your cruise line app close to sailing for the current arrival details.
What Is Included at Half Moon Cay
Your cruise fare covers the beach day itself. Carnival lists loungers and umbrellas, the Papaya Pathway walking route, and the island tram as complimentary. The tram matters on an island this size, since the developed area stretches along a long crescent of beach.
Lunch is included at the beach grills. Carnival names Orchid Beach Grill and Hibiscus Beach Grill as part of the new expansion. For drinks, the expansion added Luna Tide Beach Bar, the Stay Awhile Beach Shack, and the Lil' Tiki Bar. Cocktails and other bar drinks are sold at the bars.
Whether your drink package works ashore depends on the line. Carnival and Holland America each sell their own packages, with their own terms. Read my Holland America drink package guide and my comparison of cruise line drink packages, and confirm with your line that the island bars are covered before you count on it.
Half Moon Cay Beaches and Island Areas
The island covers about 2,400 acres, but only around 50 are developed. Most of what you will use is the long, curving beach that gives the island its original name, along with the arrival plaza, the dining areas, and the walking paths behind the sand. The rest of the island is undeveloped, which is part of the appeal for people who want something quieter than a theme-park style destination.
Because the developed area is spread along one beach, you can usually find a spot by walking a few minutes past the closest lounger rows. That is the single easiest way to improve a free beach day at a busy private island.
Cabanas, Daybeds, and Paid Upgrades at Half Moon Cay
Cabanas and daybeds are the main paid upgrades, and Carnival sells them as reservations. Prices vary by ship and sailing date, and Carnival and Holland America each sell through their own systems, so I check the rate for each booking rather than quoting one number. Inventory on a private island is fixed, and the newer cabanas near the expanded areas are the ones I would expect to go first.
When I plan a Half Moon Cay day for my clients, I tell groups of four or more to price a cabana early. Split across a group, the shade, the reserved spot, and the private space usually feel worth it on an island where most of the day is spent on the beach. When you book through Jackson Jetsetting, I can check cabana availability for your date and add it to the plan at no extra cost to you.
Half Moon Cay Excursions
The island has a long list of activities that have been sold over the years, including snorkeling, kayaking and other water sports rentals, parasailing, glass-bottom boat rides, fishing, horseback riding, nature walks, and hiking trails, plus volleyball and other free lawn games. The current menu and prices are set by each cruise line, and they change, so check the shore excursion section of your Carnival or Holland America app once bookings open.
Pro Tip: Book anything involving horses, boats, or limited equipment before you sail. Private island excursions sell only through the cruise line, and there is no walk-up vendor once you are ashore.
Half Moon Cay on Carnival vs. Holland America
The island is the same for both lines, but the sailing around it is different. Carnival's sailings and onboard style are built around a larger, busier ship, and its biggest ships can now reach the island with the pier. Holland America's ships are smaller and quieter, with a different approach to dining and entertainment. My Carnival cruise cost guide, Holland America cruise cost guide, and Holland America what's included break down how the two lines price the rest of the trip.
Many of these itineraries also stop in Nassau. If yours does, you can book this on Viator for beach transfers and snorkel trips, and my Nassau cruise port guide covers the terminal.
Half Moon Cay: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Half Moon Cay called now? Its official name is RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. Carnival renamed it in December 2024, and the island itself is Little San Salvador.
Do ships dock at Half Moon Cay or tender? Carnival announced on June 1, 2026, that its new pier is open, so guests can walk off the ship. Before that, the island was a tender port.
Which cruise lines go to Half Moon Cay? Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line, both owned by Carnival Corporation.
Is food included at Half Moon Cay? Yes. Lunch at the beach grills, including Orchid Beach Grill and Hibiscus Beach Grill, is part of your cruise fare. Bar drinks cost extra unless your package covers them.
Is Half Moon Cay the same as Celebration Key? No. Celebration Key is a separate Carnival destination on Grand Bahama with large pools and slides. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is the quieter beach-focused island.
Book a Half Moon Cay Cruise With Jackson Jetsetting
My pricing is the same as booking direct with Carnival or Holland America. What you get on top of it is access to group rates and promotions that do not always show up on the cruise line's website, plus somebody to call when a flight cancels or your itinerary changes. Send me your dates, and I will find the sailings that call at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and price the cruise and the hotel the night before as one trip.
