Travel to The Bahamas about 100 miles southeast of Nassau and you will find yourself at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay–a private island owned by Carnival Corporation that welcomes both Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America vessels.
Carnival and Holland America are investing heavily into the 2400-acre piece of paradise to upgrade and rebrand the island, beginning with a name change from Half Moon Cay to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise LIne, stated the name change reinforced the “commitment to preserve the attributes that make the destination so appealing…”
Several new features will be introduced in 2026 including a new pier on the north side of the island. The pier will allow Carnival’s Excel-class ships to dock and visit the island for the first time. There will also be more food and drink venues as well as a tram to make getting around the island simpler.
Guests enter the island through the Fort San Salvador Welcome Center. There you will find souvenir shops and Rumrunners Bar. Near the Welcome Center you will find the locals selling Bahamian products and souvenirs at the Straw Market.
The beautiful crescent-shaped beach is 2 miles long and just a short walk from the Welcome Center. Guests can enjoy the loungers and rent umbrellas, clamshells, cabanas or villas for a place to relax in the shade. If you enjoy water sports, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay offers kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and more. There are three water sports centers–one near the Welcome Center, the second further down the beach and the third at BoneFish Lagoon.
There are multiple bars on the island besides the Rumrunner Bar in the Welcome Center. The “I Wish I Could Stay Here Forever” Bar (and popular photo spot) is near the Massage Cabana and the Bell Bar is close to the Food Pavilion. One of the more popular bars found right off the beach is Captain Morgan’s On the Rocks Island Bar which is designed like a pirate ship. Additionally, up and down the beach are Satellite beach bars and drink cars.
The main food options are the BBQ at the Food Pavilion and the Lobster Shack. The BBQ lunch is included with your cruise fare and guests can choose chicken, ribs, burgers, dogs and a variety of sides. The Lobster Shack offers the fresh catch of the day, lobster, snow crab, shrimp and oysters. Holland America offers a slightly different menu including conch and seafood chowder and a lobster roll.
There are several free things to do while on the island including the Aqua Park and a playground for children, a beginner’s snorkeling area, hammocks ties across palm trees, and a sports center where guests can play volleyball, beach soccer or basketball. There are nature trails, and since the island is a preserve and wild bird sanctuary, it is the perfect place for bird-watching.
Paid excursions are all sponsored through the cruise line and include a stingray adventure, an eco bike and hike tour, horseback riding, a guided kayak adventure, a glass-bottom boat Lagoon tour, a guided island tram Calypso tour, and more.
Cruise ships that visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay include Carnival’s Celebration, Conquest, Elation, Freedom, Glory, Paradise, Sunrise and Vista as well as Holland America’s Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam, Oosterdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam.