Carnival’s RelaxAway Half Moon Cay reopens with upgrades

RelaxAway, Half – Carnival has rolled out a major redevelopment of Half Moon Cay, renaming it RelaxAway, and turning the northern end of the Bahamian island into a Carnival-only beach resort area. The new setup adds a first-ever dock, thousands of loungers and umbrellas, tram r

On June 1. Carnival unveiled a major redevelopment of Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas. and with it a new name: RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay. The change is more than cosmetic. The island’s northern end—previously shared—has been transformed into an all-new beach resort area designed exclusively for passengers arriving on Carnival ships.

The centerpiece remains the same: a spectacular two-mile-long crescent beach, with its signature soft sand. Along that stretch. the new RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay Carnival side now features thousands of loungers and umbrellas facing the water. waterside eateries and bars. and a wide menu of water toys. On the day the Carnival resort area opened. the scale was immediately visible—there’s enough space along the same long beach for both the Carnival and Holland America developments to operate side by side.

The upgrade also reaches beyond the northern end. The previously existing development at the southern end is being “a bit of a makeover. ” with that work set to be finished later this year. Going forward. that southern area—until June. regularly visited by both Carnival and Holland America ships—will mostly be for passengers arriving on Holland America ships. In effect. the island is being run like two separate private island destinations. each tied to a cruise line. along the same crescent beach.

RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay is located in The Bahamas. about 100 miles southeast of Nassau. the most visited cruise port in The Bahamas. and 277 miles southeast of Miami. Officially known as Little San Salvador Island. it has been owned by Carnival Corporation—parent company of both Carnival and Holland America—since 1996. Carnival paid $6 million for the island. which is about 2. 400 acres and remains the largest private island owned by a cruise company in The Bahamas. Even after Carnival’s recent resort expansion. only a small portion of the island’s footprint is developed—less than 100 acres. Most of the property has been preserved as a nature area and bird sanctuary.

Which ships go, and how often, is a big part of why this redesign matters. Nearly every Carnival and Holland America ship that operates in The Bahamas and the Caribbean stops at RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay on at least some sailings in the region. For the coming year. the island will be part of 22 of Carnival’s 29 vessels and six of Holland America’s 11 vessels. Holland America’s itinerary includes a stop at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay on every Caribbean sailing.

For Carnival. visits are especially common on Bahamas sailings out of Miami and Port Canaveral. Florida. but they also appear on itineraries out of Baltimore. Maryland; Galveston. Texas; Jacksonville and Tampa in Florida; New York City; Mobile. Alabama; New Orleans; and Norfolk. Virginia. Carnival ships visit year-round. while Holland America ships mostly come from the fall through spring. with spring through fall spent in Europe and Alaska.

Getting around the island depends on which side you arrive from. Carnival’s development at the northern end added a large dock that can accommodate up to two ships at a time—the first-ever dock at the island. From there. Carnival passengers can walk directly to a new Arrival Plaza. where a tram system—also new—takes them around.

That tram system runs on two loops: the Green Line and the Yellow line. Both start at the Arrival Plaza and head southward along the beach areas within the Carnival development. The Green Line makes three stops—stops 2. 3 and 4—serving the closer areas of the beach. while the Yellow Line offers direct service to two further-away stops—stops 5 and 6. In total. those five stops provide access to eateries. bars. cabanas. and other guest venues and services on the Carnival side. so guests don’t have to rely on walking for everything.

There’s also a tram that takes passengers directly to a hub for shore excursions. For the Holland America side, the experience is different. Passengers arriving on a Holland America ship land two miles to the south of Carnival’s Arrival Plaza at the previously developed portion of the beach. There is no dock there, so ships anchor off the island and guests tender by water shuttle to land. Once ashore. they can walk to the beach and venues on that side or use open-air shuttles that connect various areas.

On rare days when Carnival sends three ships to RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay in a single day. the two largest Carnival ships will dock at the northern end at the new Carnival arrival area. while the third and smallest ship anchors off the southern part of the beach typically reserved for Holland America ships. On those days, the anchoring Carnival ship uses the beach facilities, eateries and bars located at that southern area.

The beach is still the main event, and Carnival’s new seating footprint is built for that reality. During a visit to RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay on the day the new Carnival resort area opened. the beachfront areas on the northern end developed for Carnival passengers were lined with nearly 10. 000 new lounge chairs and nearly 5. 000 new umbrellas. all available at no extra charge. Extra-charge cabanas, daybeds and clam shells are also available for rent by the day.

For guests who want to extend the water time. the island offers rentals and activities including floating mats priced at $21.99 for the day. snorkel gear priced at $21.99 for the day. stand-up paddleboards priced at $39.99 per hour. single kayaks priced at $32.99 per hour. double kayaks priced at $50.99 per hour. Big Dipper noodles priced at $10.99 per day. and Hobie Catamaran sail boats priced at $49.99 per person. Beach volleyball courts are spread around the beach, usually at the top of the beach.

Beyond the shoreline, the excursion program adds structure to the day. There are more than half a dozen extra-charge excursions at RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay. and Carnival executives say more could be coming soon. Current offerings include Historic Nature Walk ($26.99 per person). Island Bike Tour ($26.99 per person). Stingray Adventure ($54.99 per person). Tropical Kayak Adventure ($59.99). Horseback Riding by Land and Sea ($136.99 per person). and Snorkel by Boat ($65.99 per person).

These aren’t just variations of “look around.” The Historic Nature Walk takes guests along nature trails throughout the over 90% of the island that remains undeveloped. to learn about local flora and fauna. The Island Bike Tour takes guests around accessible areas of the island, including stables, church and lagoon. The Stingray Adventure centers on snorkel with stingrays at Stingray Cove, where stingrays are always present. The Tropical Kayak Adventure leads into the 1,400-acre lagoon in the nature area. Horseback Riding by Land and Sea includes a horseback walk into the ocean. while Snorkel by Boat is a group ride with a stop for snorkeling in crystal-clear waters.

For travelers who want privacy. Carnival has added 22 all-new cabanas on the RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay Carnival portion of the beach. Designed for groups of up to seven people. the “RelaxAway Cabanas” are semi-private and covered. with a coffee table. a three-seat sofa. two armchairs. and two loungers in front shaded by an umbrella. Each cabana includes a safe for personal belongings and amenities that are normally extra on the island: chips and fresh fruit; water and soda; and floating mats (four per cabana). The cabanas are located near tram station 3.

Cabanas are priced per cabana, not per person, and use dynamic pricing depending on demand. On the day the writer visited, the cost was $799.99 per cabana.

Other private-space rentals include 48 all-new Luxury Daybeds. These two-person daybeds are covered with a canopy for sun protection. with two additional lounge chairs and an umbrella just in front; in theory. they allow room for four people. They are typically priced starting around $149.99 per unit. Clamshell Sunshade rentals are also available, typically priced at $64.99 per person.

Reservations can be made through Carnival’s Cruise Planner before sailing. If spots remain. cabanas and daybeds can also be reserved once on board through the onboard Carnival HUB app. the Shore Excursion Desk. or Guest Services. If availability continues. reservations are possible once on the island at the Guest Services and Shore Excursions kiosk and at rental kiosks across the island.

Food is less complicated. Two eateries along the Carnival beach front—Hibiscus Beach Grill at tram station 5 and Orchid Beach Grill at tram station 2—serve a complimentary barbecue lunch during midday hours. typically from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Both offer hamburger. cheeseburger and veggie burger stations as well as hot dogs. grilled chicken. slow-roasted pulled pork. salads. nacho bars. and sides. Drinks stations offer complimentary water. lemonade and tea. and there’s a bar for alcoholic drinks and sodas for an extra charge. Desserts include chocolate brownies, apple crumble and cookies. Similar eateries exist on the Holland America side of the island.

One detail that travelers will want to understand before they arrive: drink packages won’t carry over to the island. Whether arriving on a Carnival or Holland America ship, onboard drink package benefits won’t work on the island. The length-of-cruise drinks packages sold by both Carnival and Holland America are valid only when guests are onboard their ship.

While the island does offer drinks at bar locations on the Carnival side—including the new Luna Tide Beach Bar—payment is a la carte with pricing similar to onboard. Cocktail pricing is listed at $12.50. Bars can be found at tram stops 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Shopping is split between gift shops and a local market. Three new gift shops on the Carnival portion of the beach sell souvenirs and sundries at tram stops 1, 3 and 5. There’s also a small Artisan Market at the Arrivals Plaza where local Bahamians sell their wares. The gift shops accept payment only via the ship Sign & Sail card, with charges added to the final cruise bill. At the Artisan Market, guests can pay with cash or credit cards, but not via the Sign & Sail card.

Amenities around the island include restrooms and beach showers scattered throughout. well marked on maps. plus designated smoking areas. lockers. and first aid stations. Lockers are available at multiple locations and come with an extra charge. There is no beach towel station on the island; towels are in cruise cabins and should be brought ashore for the day. then brought back. since towels are not meant to stay on the island.

Beach wheelchairs with extra-thick tires are available to borrow throughout the island. Overnight stays are not part of the plan. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is a daytime-only destination. Even though cabanas have loungers that could tempt a nap. cabanas can’t be rented overnight. and the ship sails away later the same day. Only staff members spend the night.

Weather in the Bahamas is a familiar comfort—great year-round—with highs in the low 80s during winter and low 90s during summer. The rainiest months are June, August and September. Hurricane season runs June through November. with peak storm time from August through October. and the ship will not call on RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay if conditions are unsafe. Carnival also expects rain to pass quickly like in other tropical destinations. with covered eateries and bars as a place to wait it out.

The island’s rules cover the practical parts of a cruise day. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is for the most part smoke-free: guests can’t smoke at cabanas, eateries, bars, shops, or along the beachfront. Smoking is allowed only in designated smoking areas tucked away in inconspicuous spots.

Wi‑Fi is available. Passengers who purchased a Wi‑Fi package through Carnival can access internet while at RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay and also use the Carnival HUB app. This change is described as coming with the island’s redevelopment in 2026; before that, Wi‑Fi wasn’t available. Lifeguards are present at every beach area, with lifeguard stations manned when passengers are on the island.

There’s no pool. As of now. there is also no adults-only area. though Carnival executives have hinted an adults-only area might be part of a later phase of development. And Carnival says there are no plans to add a waterpark or other big theme-park-style family resort attractions; the island is designed as a quiet. relaxing beach day.

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is not all-inclusive in the full sense. Food at the eateries is free. but drinks. excursions. cabanas. and water play toys including snorkeling equipment and floating mats cost extra. Lounge chairs and umbrellas can be used without charge. Alcohol purchases are restricted to travelers aged 21 years or older.

Accessibility and guest policies also come into focus. Passengers are welcome to bring mobility scooters to the port, but there are no designated scooter charging stations. Certified service dogs may come ashore. with guests required to notify the Guest Services desk on their Carnival ship in advance and keep dogs leashed at all times. Emotional support animals aren’t permitted under cruise line policy and destination regulations.

Finally, Carnival says the new dock has changed what ships can visit. With the dock. even the biggest Carnival ships—such as the 5. 282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 5. 362-passenger Carnival Celebration—can visit RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay. Previously, that wasn’t possible. The dock is big enough for two Carnival ships to tie up at the same time.

And even though the Carnival and Holland America areas are separated by about two miles of beach from end to end. guests can walk from one side to the other. The tram service on the Carnival side does not extend all the way to the Holland America side. Weddings are also available, with arrangements handled via Carnival Weddings at 800-933-4968 or through Carnival’s wedding planning webpage.

For cruise travelers planning a day that’s supposed to feel effortless. the real shift is simple: Half Moon Cay is no longer one shared experience. With RelaxAway. Half Moon Cay. Carnival is now offering a clearly defined Carnival-only resort zone—complete with its own dock. tram routes. and facilities—while the Holland America side prepares for its own next phase later this year.

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