Top tips for Half Moon Cay

This stunning island for Carnival, Cunard and Holland America customers forms a crescent shape in the Bahamas.

Read our top tips below to get the most out of your day on the island.

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Some of the best activities on the island are free. Half Moon Cay has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, perfect for lounging and swimming. It's also a great island for hiking - with 95% of the land undeveloped, it's a tropical paradise waiting to be explored.
The island is an important bird sanctuary and if you take a hike, you'll see some rare species, such as the Bahama mockingbirds and gray catbirds.
There's a post office on the island if you want to send a very unique postcard.
The beach is rocky in some places, so bring water shoes with you.

The bars on the beach have a better vibe than the one close to the tender. The drink sizes seem to be larger too.
Drinks packages from the ships cannot be used on the island.
With one main food outlet, we advise getting your lunch early as the cues can get long around lunchtime.
If you have an excursion around midday, make sure you head to the barbecue at 11:30 when it opens. Don't expect there to be many options once your finished later in the afternoon.

Half Moon Cay doesn't have WiFi or signal, so don't rely on phones to find the rest of your party.
You'll need to bring your own towels from the ship as there aren't any available on the island.
The cabanas and villas sell out very quickly, so check as soon as you book the cruise if you would like one. They are pricey, but if you have a large group sharing, they're not too much per person.
If you're renting a cabana or villa, you can upgrade to butler service. They will stay with you from your cabin to the island and help you out during the day with anything you need. They serve you a private lunch and unlimited drinks too, so the cost of the butler is a cheap way to drink if there's a few of you sharing.
The closest, best beach spots get taken quickly, so depart early or be prepared to walk further down the beach.
If you don't have any shade, rent a clamshell as the midday sun can be fierce.
The cheapest way to get shade is to hire a beach umbrella. These come with handy towel hooks.
Half Moon Cay is a large island, with 9 miles of beach. If you're exploring, make sure you leave enough time to get back to the ship.
The tram goes across the island and is free, so it's a great way to travel.
Take US dollars for the straw market, everything else can be paid for with your cruise card.