30 Things to Do in Half Moon Cay?

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, is a port of call for many cruises because of its abundance of attractions. The nicest aspect about this location is that your cruise fare already covers your meals and some beverages, so you may invest as much or as little as you wish.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, owned by Carnival Corporation and also known as Little San Salvador Island, is located 100 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas. Almost two miles of white sand beaches, horse riding, and environmentalist adventures make utopia an ideal stop for cruise travelers looking to while away the hours.

While both Carnival and Holland America use the island, you won’t see both lines at once. In case your cruise ship docks in Half Moon Cay, here are 30 things to do in half moon cay.

1.  Lounge on the Beach

A day of sunning on the beachfront is made all the more enjoyable by the soft white sand. There are beachfront seats accessible at no cost, however, umbrellas will cost you just a few bucks. At the dive shop on the beach, you may use your cruise card to rent an umbrella.

During the day, there are waiters stationed all along the beach to make sure you have something to drink. However, if you’re visiting Carnival Cruise Line, you’ll be disappointed to learn that your beverage bundle won’t be valid.

2. Go Snorkeling 

Diving is one of the primary things that usually come to thoughts when individuals consider the beautiful, sunny islands of the Bahamas. Expect the water at Half Moon Cay to be pleasant for a day of swimming and marine life watching, and you won’t be disappointed. 

Even though fish may be seen everywhere throughout Half Moon Cay, the greatest area to do so is adjacent to the private oasis hut, which can be found by walking down to the kiddie splash zone and heading out.

3. Saddle Up With Horseback Riding 

Half Moon Cay is also a great place to go horseback riding. This guided trip will show you the most beautiful parts of the island. Ride your horse to the island’s tallest altitude and return to the stable. 

After a quick gear change, you may cool down in the calm waters of the Bahamas. Due to the many riding times, you may take a dip in the water or go on an island tour before or after your equestrian excursion.

4. Rent a Clamshell

Renting a clamshell sunshade is an excellent idea if you plan on spending time at the beach yet need some protection from the sun. Two chaise loungers may be yours for only $30. Since they are the least expensive option for shade on the shore, clamshells are always in high demand.

5. Relax in a Cabana

Cabanas on Half Moon Cay are brightly colored beach shacks that may be rented by the day. There are several amenities available, such as food, drinks, a set of chairs, a fridge, a cooling system, an external shower with a sprinkling feature, and the use of drifting matting and snorkeling equipment.

The standard rate for a cabana is for four people, but you may pay more to have as many as six people in there. There are fifteen cabanas on Half Moon Cay.

6. Chill in a Beach Villa

Renting a two-story villa on Half Moon Cay is a wonderful alternative to lounging in a cabana. It has been there for nearly ten years, and it has quickly become the second-best way to enjoy a day on the beach. 

The villa has an indoor hot tub, snorkel equipment, a fully functional toilet, a ceiling fan, an upper terrace with refreshments, and a refrigerator. What’s included in the villa plan is contingent on the cruise company you choose; for example, Holland America’s villa package has more luxuries than Carnival’s.

7. The Private Oasis at Half Moon Cay

You may book this space for a day and spend it surrounded by your best mates while being served gourmet food and drinks. There’s a bartender to serve you drinks, a chef to prepare meals, a lifeguard to keep an eye out for, two full toilets with restrooms, plus chaise lounges, daybeds, and a huge hot tub.

A gated dock ensures your safety from nosy onlookers. A staff member will ask you to leave if they determine you are not a member. This is the most luxurious way to unwind on the island, but the price tag may be covered if you’re traveling with a group of 12 members. If you pay extra, you may have up to twenty-four individuals in the oasis.

8. Settle into a Kayak

Kayaking is a fun and healthy way to spend time on the water, soak up some sun, and get some workouts. While kayaking isn’t exactly unheard of, neither is the opportunity to do it on a Bahamian island. Paddling around BoneFish Lagoon is a great way to get some exercise and burn off some of the carbohydrates you consumed on the trip.

9. Board a Glass-Bottom Boat

This is a fantastic alternative to snorkeling for those who would rather not have their faces wet while taking in the sights of the underwater world. View marine life including stingrays, nurse sharks, conch, and sea urchins up and personal aboard a glass-bottom boat. 

There are also several living corals in this region. Throughout the trip, the host will talk about the traditions and culture of the Bahamas as well as the local vegetation and wildlife.

10. Visit the Bacardi Pirate ship

The ship’s arrival at anchorage on the shore is the initial time you see this famous figure. You can’t pass a day on the island without stopping by Captain Morgan’s Bar, or “the pirate ship,” as the locals call it. Visit the upper deck for fantastic vistas along the coast even if you don’t plan on ordering a drink. There’s a DJ doing beach music here, too.

11.  Take a Nature Walk

More than 95% of Half Moon Cay has not been built, so visitors may take advantage of the island’s many wonderment paths and abundant species. Optionally, you may hire a tour for $19 to lead you along the first 1.5 miles of the path.

Trekking across the island is a terrific way to get your cardiovascular in while taking in the beautiful scenery. The sand trails are well-marked, and there are signs adjacent to the plants that provide more context.

12. Do the Island Bike Tour

An adrenaline-pumping option on this crescent-shaped island is a bicycle trip. You’ll get to see a bit more of the island on this trip than you would have on the standard route.

You’ll see the visitor center, a Bahamian church, Half Moon Beach, the diving horses’ stable, and a 700-acre lake on your bicycle tour. You’ll find more about the island’s innovative methods of desalinating seawater and powering homes with renewable energy.

13. Let the Kids Hit the Playground and Aqua Park

Perhaps the kids need to let off some steam. The Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park is a public pool that has many water activities and a sailboat that fires water cannons, all of which are conveniently positioned right on the main beach. In addition, water streams from a fountain, creating a refreshing mist. 

There are no admission fees to the water park. Half Moon Cay also has a dry sandbox with warships serving the same function. The parents may take a break in the more tranquil picnic area while the kids enjoy the playground’s many swings, rockers, and teetering totters.

14. Take the AquaTrax/Jet Ski Adventure

AquaTrax is the local brand of jet skis, and visitors to the island may hire them to see the stunning saline lake. You need a valid driver’s license to participate in this water activity, and some areas of the lagoon are beyond bounds.

Hitting the seas and flying through the air on a jet ski is a blast, and that’s why I like to do it out on the sea. The waters at BoneFish Lagoon are often fairly placid, making for a relaxing ride.

15. Eat at the Lobster Shack

The Island Barbecue does, in fact, provide complimentary hamburgers and Barbecue on weekdays at lunchtime. However, you may only visit the eating area between the hours of 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Beyond those hours, if you have the munchies or a need for some tasty crabs, the Lobster Shack is the place to go.

16. Go Shopping

The Straw Market is a great place to get swimwear and trinkets to take home as a reminder of your trip. The sellers in the marketplace are not associated with the ship, so be aware that you’ll need cash to make purchases. Handmade jewelry, woven reed caps, shot cups, t-shirts, and purses are just some of the uniquely Bahamian products you’ll discover here.

17. Have a BBQ Lunch 

Beach barbecues on the island serve up not just the usual fare like hot dogs and sandwiches, but also more exotic meats like ribs and jerked chicken. Delicious fruit, maize, vegetables, coleslaw, sweets, and a drink bar are also available. 

In spite of the fact that the sand may become rather hot, there are about a dozen canopies to give cover, allowing you to enjoy your lunch without the risk of burning.

18. Go Bird Watching

One of the best activities to do on the island is to go birding. Half Moon Cay is no different from the fact that the Bahamas are host to 47 avian species. The island is home to a wide variety of animals, some of which you may witness throughout your visit.

Upon arrival, you may examine a map of the island to choose the best spots for birding. The island is littered with readily available natural paths.

19. Swim in Stingray Cove

Visit Stingray Cove on Half Moon Cay to get insight into the lives of the southern stingrays that live there, including their habitats, diets, and reproductive processes. Snorkeling gear is donned, and guests go into the ocean with a supervisor to feel the rays’ wings and treat them.

20. Get married or renew your vows

Half Moon Cay is the ideal location for a fairytale wedding destination because of its picture-perfect beaches and its quaint little chapel. Browse out the services they provide, and ask them for assistance in organizing your big occasion.

21. Visit The Bahamian Church

In the event that prior arrangements are made, the chapel on the island may host marriages as well as renewals of marital vows. Cruisers have an excellent opportunity here for a wedding in a picturesque location. They do a wonderful job at making you feel unique and making your day even more memorable than it already was.

22. Go Deep Sea Fishing

In order to increase your chances of reeling in one of the greatest sought-after species of fish in the Bahamas, such as wahoo, grouper, snapper, barracuda, and mahi-mahi, join a fishing boat with a length of 28 feet, and go several miles across the wide ocean. 

You won’t be capable of cooking these fish after capturing them since it is a catch-and-release fishery; nevertheless, you will get the chance to demonstrate your abilities by hauling in a large fish. This is fishing just for recreational purposes.

23. Eco Lagoon Cruise

In the event that you do not feel comfortable kayaking through BoneFish Lagoon, you have the option of boarding a directed ship that will provide you with a comprehensive detailed breakdown of the heritage, animals, and scenic beauty that can be found within and around Half Moon Cay, beginning with the early explorers.

In addition to this, a boat with a glass bottom is employed so that visitors may view all that is under the surface of the lagoon.

24. Visit Half Moon Beach

Half Moon Beach, with its beautiful, smooth sand, is the first thing you’ll notice as your boat pulls up to the island. The farther you go toward the beach, the fewer people there will be and the more sunbeds there will be to select from.

You won’t have to deal with persistent gift sellers, allowing you to sit back and enjoy your stay without worrying about missing out on any of the sights. However, there is always someone on hand from Carnival or Holland America to assist you with any problems you may be having. This is the perfect spot to relax on the beach while at sea.

You can find lots of empty chairs if you leave the ship soon in the day, but the part of the shore nearest to the tenders will fill up quickly. The whole island has roughly 10 miles of beach, with Half Moon Beach accounting for about 2 of those miles.

25. Play Some Games

Do you feel the need to burn off some steam before relaxing on your cruise? Hoops, beach volleyball, horseshoes, and shuffleboard are all available. If you need any special equipment, the Sports Center is conveniently situated next to the Bahamian Church.

26. Parasailing

This is for thrill-seekers only, since you’ll fly up to 450 feet over the island and take in the sights from there. Not for the weak of heart, since there is some real airtime to be had. Put your smartphone or camera in a watertight case and wear it around your shoulder if you want to take pictures from above.

27. Rent a Water Bike

Get yourself a rented water bike and go for a spin on the water’s surface. The thought of huge, massive wheels comes to mind. You can hire them for an hour at a time, but after that, you’ll just end up being too tired to leave the designated region. It would be fun, though exhausting, to attempt to ride back to Florida.

28. Rent a Hobie Cat

Whether or whether they are still for sale at Half Moon Cay has been the subject of conflicting rumors. Enjoying a gorgeous sunny day while cruising about on a Hobie Cat may be a pleasure of anyone’s day. There is a water sports shop next to one of the pubs where you can hire these little catamarans.

29. Go to The Post Office

Post offices in the Bahamas provide commemorative stamps that may be used in passports, so visitors who want a valid passport from the Bahamas can purchase one there. Even though this isn’t an “official” Bahamian passport stamp, it’s still very amazing to have in your collection. 

Remember to bring your passports with you onshore if you are interested in this opportunity. You may pick up some unique and interesting mementos to take home with you in the shape of stamps at the post office.

30. Go Swimming with Horses

On Half Moon Cay, you are welcome to participate in this pastime even if you have no previous experience riding a horse. The excursion on horses will take you to the maximum height on the island as well as other parts of the island. 

After that, the trainers will give you some time to grab anything to sip while they construct a unique “saddle” for the horses to use while they are in the water. It is a padding and rope collar that was specially developed for your horse. This ought to be on everyone’s list of things to do before they die.

History of Half Moon Cay

Prior to its acquisition by Holland America Company for the price of $6 million, the island was often referred to as Little San Salvador. After then, Holland America, which is controlled by the parent business Carnival Corporation, made an investment of fifteen million dollars towards the growth and improvement of the island.

Although there are no permanent residents on Half Moon Cay, some of the crew members from the cruise company will be posted there at certain periods of the year. The island is considered to have a demographic of zero.

What Kind of Weather Can I Expect at Half Moon Cay?

Conditions that are very close to being ideal may be found on the island throughout the whole year as a result of the Caribbean Sea. The temperatures will reach their peak of approximately 88 degrees Fahrenheit from June through September, which is traditionally the warmest months of the year. 

The average overnight low temperature from December through February will be close to 64 degrees. The months of August and September will be the wettest months of the year, each with around 17 days in which there will be some rain each day.