What to Do in Half Moon Cay on a Cruise: Activities, Food & Extras

Last Updated: November 12, 2026

By Brian Dohrn | Dohrn Travels | What to Do in Half Moon Cay on a Cruise

Deciding what to do in Half Moon Cay on a cruise comes down to how you want to spend your beach day. You can swim, relax on the white sand, and enjoy the included barbecue lunch, or add an excursion or villa upgrade.

On my visit to Half Moon Cay with Holland America, we browsed the shops, ate barbecue, stopped at the pirate-ship-shaped bar for drinks, and enjoyed the clear water, all without booking an excursion.

This guide combines my firsthand experience with activities and amenities from Holland America to help you choose what to do, understand what’s included, and decide which extras fit your day.

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Port Day at a Glance

Spend your day at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay swimming in the clear water, relaxing on the white-sand beach, and enjoying the included barbecue lunch. You don’t need to book an excursion to enjoy this stop. If you want more activity, consider stingray snorkeling, kayaking through the lagoon, or horseback riding.

Here’s what’s included and where you’ll pay extra:

Included with your fare: Beach access, standard beach loungers, beach towels, sport courts, and the barbecue lunch.
Paid activities: Guided snorkeling, the Stingray Adventure, lagoon kayaking, glass-bottom boat tours, and horseback riding.
Optional upgrades: Cabanas, villas, shade rentals, and the Beach Club, which includes its own lunch and drinks.

Things to Do at Half Moon Cay

White sand beach and clear turquoise water at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. — Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

At Half Moon Cay, you can spend the whole day on the beach or split your time between swimming, island activities, and exploring beyond the shoreline. Options include horseback riding and lagoon tours, while the new Beach Club adds another way to spend your beach day.

Relax and Swim at the Beach

Clear, shallow water laps against a curving white-sand beach at Half Moon Cay. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

You don’t need to book anything to enjoy the white sand and clear water at Half Moon Cay. Beach access, standard loungers, and beach towels are included with your cruise fare, making this an easy stop to enjoy without spending extra.

The water was the highlight of my visit. When I waded in, it stayed shallow for a good stretch before getting deeper. It felt cool at first, but I got used to it quickly and enjoyed spending time in the water.

Browse the Shops

Browsing the shops is an easy way to take a break from the beach at Half Moon Cay. I walked through the shops near the marina before exploring more of the island. You’ll find souvenirs, local crafts, swimsuits, and beach gear if you feel like doing a little shopping during your port day.

Play Pickleball and Beach Sports

If you want a break from swimming and lounging, head to Half Moon Cay’s sports area for pickleball, basketball, volleyball, or soccer. Holland America opened four pickleball courts in December 2025, adding another activity to enjoy during your port day.

Snorkeling and Stingrays

Snorkelers gather around a stingray at the surface in shallow water at Half Moon Cay. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

Snorkeling gives you a chance to see more of Half Moon Cay beneath the surface. On the Stingray Adventure, a tram takes you to Stingray Cove, where you can snorkel among the stingrays.

For a boat-based outing, the Snorkel by Boat excursion takes you away from the beach to snorkel. If you prefer to explore at your own pace, you can rent snorkel gear and head into the water from shore.

Eco Lagoon Kayaking and Glass-Bottom Cruise

Paddlers in yellow and blue kayaks cross clear water below a green hillside. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

Two people with snorkel gear wade into turquoise water with Holland America’s Zuiderdam offshore. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

Half Moon Cay’s protected Bone Fish Lagoon offers another way to explore the island beyond the beach. The Eco Lagoon Kayak Adventure takes you paddling through the mangroves, giving you a closer look at the lagoon’s coastal habitat.

If you’d rather stay dry, the Eco Lagoon Cruise lets you look beneath the water through a glass-bottom boat. Watch for fish, stingrays, lemon sharks, and other marine life.

Aqua Trax Adventure

For more excitement at Half Moon Cay, the Aqua Trax Adventure takes you onto the island’s saltwater lagoon on a personal watercraft. After a safety briefing, you’ll have time to get familiar with the watercraft before heading out on the water.

Horseback Riding by Land & Sea

Five riders on horseback cross turquoise water at Half Moon Cay with a cruise ship in the distance. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

Horseback Riding by Land & Sea combines exploring Half Moon Cay on horseback with a ride into the ocean. The water portion is the main draw: you stay on the horse as it swims, giving you a different way to experience the island beyond swimming or lounging on the beach.

Bike, Hike and Tram Tours

Guided tours offer a way to explore Half Moon Cay beyond the beach. The Guided Tour by Bicycle explores the island on two wheels, while the Eco-Bike & Hike combines cycling with a guided walk. If you prefer a walking tour, choose the Historic Nature Walk.

For a guided tour with less walking, the Calypso Island Tram takes you around Half Moon Cay in an open-air tram. This sightseeing excursion costs extra and is separate from the complimentary trams used for transportation around the island.

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Beach Club

Colorful sails and kayaks rest on Half Moon Cay’s white sand beside clear, shallow water. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

The new Beach Club offers a private beach area at Half Moon Cay with lounge seating, daybeds, and dedicated staff. Introduced for the island’s 30th season, it’s a paid upgrade for spending your port day with lunch, drinks, and beach amenities bundled together.

Your day pass includes an exclusive lunch plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Menu selections include spiced tiger shrimp, jerk chicken, sushi, and a tostones bar.

Other amenities include chilled towels, sunscreen, snorkel gear, beach toys, and live music or a DJ. Guests also receive priority tender service, transportation between the tender arrival area and the club, and priority access to the pickleball courts.

It’s offered on select Caribbean sailings, so check whether yours is one of them. You can read the full list of what’s included in Holland America’s announcement.

Visited before? My Half Moon Cay island upgrades guide covers what’s changed for the 2026–2027 season, including dining, beach amenities, and pickleball.

Cabanas, Villas and Shade Rentals

Colorful two-story beach villas with covered balconies and stairs leading down to the sand at Half Moon Cay. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

View from a colorful beach villa balcony at Half Moon Cay, overlooking the white-sand beach, turquoise water, and a cruise ship offshore. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

If you want a home base on the beach, Half Moon Cay has several options ranging from an umbrella for two to a private cabana or two-story villa. Here’s how they compare:

Option	What you get
Clamshell Sunshade	Shaded spot on the sand with two chairs
Island Retreat Daybed	Reserved daybed for lounging between swims
Beach Umbrella	Umbrella for two
Private Cabana	Private luxury cabana with covered seating
Deluxe Beach Villa	Two-story villa with additional space for your group

Check your cruise planner for guest limits and package inclusions. Butler service is available through a separate upgrade package.

Where to Eat and Drink

Split lobster tails cook over an open flame as a basting brush hovers above the grill. — Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

You can enjoy lunch at Half Moon Cay without returning to the ship or paying for a restaurant. The island barbecue is included with your cruise fare, while the Lobster Shack and beach bars are additional cost.

Island BBQ and Food Pavilions

On my visit, lunch was served buffet-style with several serving lines. I had fresh fruit and barbecue with a smoky, charcoal-grilled jerk flavor that wasn’t too spicy.

For the island’s 30th season, Holland America has added a complimentary food pavilion serving an island-inspired barbecue menu, giving guests another place to eat during their beach day.

Lobster Shack

This beachside spot serves seafood chowder, lobster, and Caribbean stew if you want something beyond the included lunch. Meals here cost extra.

Beach Bars and Mobile Drink Vendors

Holland America renovated the island’s bars for the 30th season, so there’s a spot to grab a drink without going far. You’ll also see Aperol Spritz tricycles and Bacardi Beach Buggies rolling along the beach, so a cocktail comes to you.

Beach Club Dining

If you book the Beach Club, its lunch, waiter service, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included in your day pass.

If you have the Have It All package, remember it doesn’t cover drinks on Half Moon Cay. I break down where it does and doesn’t pay off in my Have It All guide.

Half Moon Cay FAQs

What’s included and what costs extra?

Your cruise fare covers beach access, standard loungers, beach towels, and the island barbecue lunch. Excursions, equipment rentals, cabanas, villas, shade rentals, and meals at the Lobster Shack cost extra. Bar drinks are purchased separately, while the Beach Club requires a day pass that includes its own lunch and drinks.

Are there shops on Half Moon Cay?

Yes. There are shops near the port area and along the beach, selling swimsuits, beach gear, gifts, souvenirs and local crafts.

When do Holland America ships visit Half Moon Cay?

Holland America generally visits during its Caribbean cruise season, from October through April. Check your sailing’s itinerary to confirm the stop, then review the available excursions and Beach Club reservations separately.

Do other cruise lines visit the island?

Yes. Carnival Cruise Line also visits Half Moon Cay. Holland America uses the island’s established south side, where you’ll find the beach, dining, and activities described in this guide.

Final Thoughts

Tender boat traveling between a Holland America cruise ship and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, photographed from a cruise ship balcony.

When deciding what to do in Half Moon Cay on a cruise, start with the kind of day you want. Swimming, beach time, and the included barbecue lunch were enough for us to enjoy our visit. If you want more activity, choose an excursion that interests you, or consider the Beach Club for a day with lunch, drinks, and extra amenities bundled together.

If this sounds like your kind of port day, browse Holland America Caribbean cruises and check that RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is on your itinerary before booking.

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Person seated in the Holland America Line main dining room on a cruise ship

Hi, I’m Brian — the person behind Dohrn Travels. I spend a lot of time exploring backroads, cruise ports, hiking trails, small towns, and places that are worth pulling over for. My goal is to share my travel experiences, helpful planning tips, and honest recommendations from places I’ve actually visited myself. When I'm not traveling, I am out fishing or hiking.