Two Holland America ships in the bay (Photo by Syue, license by CC BY-ND 2.0) Tips for VisitingĪ little planning can help make the most of your day. Given the assembly-line process and the quantities of food they are cooking, it is surprisingly good. The lunch is standard barbecue fare: hamburgers, hot dogs, sides. We tend to eat meals later, particularly on cruises, however, this private island stop is one where you’ll want to eat a very early lunch. (In one experience, by 12:00 they were out of ketchup, by 12:15 they were out of mustard, and by 12:30 they were out of all food). On nearly every visit to the island, they’ve run out of the food. Our recommendation is to get there early. Instead, the operation is moved to the island, where the Tropics Restaurant serves a BBQ lunch from about 11:30am-1:00pm. Don’t be surprised that all the restaurants close down on the ship. When the cruise ships visit Half Moon Cay, most of the operations back on the boat shut down. If you don’t do anything else, strongly consider getting a clamshell cabana for the day. While there are some trees and other places to get out of the sun, they can be difficult to find and usually occupied. We’ve rented a clamshell on our last few visits to the island. These crescent-shaped fabric shells can be adjusted to provide sun protection throughout the day. The most economical and easiest rentals at Half Moon Beach are the clamshells. The clamshell sunshade rental (Photo by Aimee, license by CC BY 2.0) Clamshell Sunshade Rental If this isn’t exclusive enough, the Private Oasis also features ultra-upgrade packages. Snacks, alcoholic beverages, and a barbecue lunch are also included. Featuring over 1,600 square feet of exclusivity for groups of 12 (additional guests possible with an add-on package), you have private water entrance, an eight-person hot tub, a private deck, privacy fencing, tables, loungers, private changing rooms, private showers, butler services, a private chef and a personal lifeguard. If you want luxury and private and you have money to burn, the Private Oasis is for you. When booking clamshells, cabanas, and villas, pay special attention to the warnings if you are looking for a relaxing experience. While once fairly tranquil, in October 2017, a new sound system was added to the “I Wish I Could Stay Here Forever” bar, which can be extremely loud. If you’re interested, don’t forget to bring your passports ashore. This isn’t an “official” Bahamian passport stamp, but it is still pretty cool. Guests craving a passport stamp from the Bahamas can get a souvenir stamp at the post office. The Bahamian Church (Photo by Jared, license by CC BY 2.0) The Post Office Note: A driver’s license is required to operate the Aqua Trax, so don’t forget to bring it. Due to reef and rock formations, there are some places in the lagoon you can’t go. Guests can rent an Aqua Trax (aka, a jet ski) to cruise around in the saltwater lagoon. This tram is entirely unnecessary unless you or a member of your party are mobility challenged. The driver/guide provides a brief narration and you’ll see the lagoon. The tram essentially connects the Fort San Salvador (i.e., the buildings located at the tender pier) with the Tropics Restaurant (see below for more on the Tropics Restaurant). Half Moon Cay Shore Excursions The Calypso Island Tram And the weather and water temperatures are not as warm as you might expect for “the Caribbean.” It’s safe to say we didn’t enjoy our first few trips here.
The weather is notoriously unpredictable. It is located east of Andros and southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas, putting it roughly at the same latitude as Marathon, Florida. This island is smack in the midst of the Bermuda Triangle.
Perhaps the reason for our displeasure has to do with the weather. We once wrote a Half Moon Cay review and described this island like a caged pen to wallow around in – a sanitized travel experience. Instead of a real port of call, you get the ship on a beach. Instead of going to a real city and having a real experience, you’re brought here where you are fully captive to the cruise ship company. We viewed it as a throw away experience on most Bahamas cruises. Over the years, we’ve taken several cruises to the Bahamas, which have brought us to this private island.
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