Half Moon Cay Turns 30: New Beach Club & What’s New

If you’ve sailed Holland America in the Caribbean, there’s a good chance you’ve already spent a day at Half Moon Cay. It’s on nearly every HAL Caribbean itinerary, and for a lot of us it’s the day we look forward to most. That long stretch of white sand, the beautiful turquoise water, and the fact that it never feels like a theme park are a big part of why it’s consistently rated the line’s top Caribbean port by its own guests.

Now the island, officially called RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay (yes, I’m still getting used to that name), is getting ready to turn 30. Holland America is using the 2026 to 2027 Caribbean season to kick off a yearlong celebration leading up to the big anniversary in 2027. That celebration comes with plenty of upgrades, including a brand new Beach Club that I’ve already booked for my first visit of the season.

Here’s a look back, what’s new, what the new Beach Club is all about, and what I’ll be checking out when I’m there.

30 Years of Half Moon Cay

The island wasn’t always called Half Moon Cay. It was originally Little San Salvador, sitting between Eleuthera and Cat Island, roughly 100 miles southeast of Nassau. Norwegian Cruise Line owned it first, but sold it to Holland America in 1996 for about $6 million. HAL then put more than $16 million into generators, water and sewage treatment, a tender marina and everything else it took to turn an empty island into a beach destination.

The new name came from the crescent shaped beach and from the Half Moon, the ship sailed by explorer Henry Hudson, which is the same ship you see in Holland America’s logo. Half Moon Cay officially opened as a port of call on December 12, 1997.

One of the things I’ve always loved is how little of the island is actually developed. Holland America built on only about 50 of the island’s roughly 2,400 acres and left the rest as habitat for wildlife. You get a gorgeous beach, easy food and drinks, and enough to do without the crowds and constant upsell you’ll find at some newer private destinations.

Over the years the island has racked up plenty of awards, including a top rated private island nod in Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice awards and Best Private Island in the 2016 Porthole Readers’ Choice Awards. For the 20th anniversary, HAL added Lobster Shack, new watersports gear like Sunfish sailboats and Hobie cats, refreshed cabanas and villas, more beach bars and 14 more horses for the always popular horseback ride. Four pickleball courts followed in December 2025.

What’s New on RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay for 2026 to 2027

When I was there in April on Koningsdam, construction was everywhere. New loungers and refreshed cabanas were already in service, a new bar was open, another was pretty close, and farther down the beach a whole new area was going up that looked a lot like the teased Beach Club. Turns out it was.

The island’s also grown a bit, with a newly developed section on the far side used mostly by sister line Carnival. Holland America guests still tender into the original side of the island, the Half Moon Cay we all know and love, and that’s where this year’s refresh is focused.

Nieuw Amsterdam made the season’s first call on October 17th, and I’ve been tracking the upgrades since they were first revealed. Here’s the rundown:

• The Beach Club: A new premium, all inclusive area with its own beach, waiter service and drinks. More on this below, because it’s the one I’m most curious about.
• New food pavilion: A complimentary island style barbecue menu served only on Half Moon Cay. You don’t need to buy anything to enjoy lunch ashore.
• Refreshed bars and eateries: The existing bars and food spots are being renovated.
• Upgraded cabanas: The island’s private cabanas are getting a refresh.
• More places to relax: Additional daybeds, refreshed clamshells, upgraded canopy loungers for two and more beach chairs. If you’ve ever hunted for a chair at noon, you’ll appreciate this one.
• Four pickleball courts: These opened last season in the sports area, alongside volleyball, basketball and soccer. Holland America is the official cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association, and every ship in the fleet has courts up top, so it makes sense to bring the game ashore.
• More island extras: An adults only pool experience, steel drums on the beach, sunscreen and drink service right to your chair, plus rum tastings and a Caribbean teatime.

The Beach Club: What You Get for $150

The Beach Club is what a lot of us HAL cruisers are talking the most about. It’s a dedicated, open air beachfront area designed in Holland America’s blue, orange and cream colors, with a covered pavilion and its own stretch of sand on the original side of the island.

Here’s what’s included with a Beach Club day pass:

• Priority tendering from the ship to the island, so you’re among the first ashore
• Dedicated beachfront lounge seating or a table, your choice
• Dedicated waiter service wherever you’re sitting
• All inclusive food and drinks, including alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, island inspired dishes and tropical cocktails served right on the beach
• Beach accessories for getting out on the water
• Pickleball and a few surprises sprinkled throughout the day (I’ll tell you what they are once I’ve seen them!)

The price is $150 per person. Passes are limited and sold first come, first served, and once a day sells out there’s no waitlist. Passes are currently available for November sailings.

Here’s the part that’s important when making a reservation: you won’t find the Beach Club under Shore Excursions. It’s listed under Dining. Log in to Manage My Cruise on the Holland America website or open the Navigator app, go to Dining, and you’ll see “Half Moon Cay Beach Club” listed right alongside the specialty restaurants.

Is it worth it?

Since your food and drinks are covered, you’re not keeping track of a bar tab all afternoon. If you’d normally enjoy a few cocktails on the beach, rent a clamshell or daybed, and maybe grab lunch at Lobster Shack, you can get close to $150 per person pretty quickly anyway.

Priority tendering is a nice perk too. Being among the first ashore means more beach time, and on a Caribbean cruise who’s going to complain about that?

Of course, you don’t need the Beach Club to have a fantastic day here. Half Moon Cay is already one of the best beach days in the Caribbean, and plenty of cruisers will be perfectly happy with a beach chair, the complimentary barbecue and a cold drink in hand. The Beach Club is just a way to take it up a notch.

I’ve reserved the Beach Club for my first visit on November 9th aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, and I’ll be reporting on the whole experience in my daily reports from the ship. I’ll cover the tender process, the seating, what’s on the menu, the drink selection, the service is, and more.

Other Popular Ways to Spend Your Day

One of the things I love about Half Moon Cay is that, unlike MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, standard beach chairs are free. Just find a spot on the sand and settle in. If you want a little more shade or space, there are options like clamshells and daybeds for an added cost.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular upgrades listed for my November 9 sailing. Prices can vary by sailing, so check your own booking.

Tips for Your Half Moon Cay Day

• It’s a tender port. Ships anchor offshore and you ride a tender in. On most Holland America ships you’ll grab a tender ticket and wait for your group to be called. Later in the morning it usually switches to open boarding, so if you’re in no rush, going a little later can mean almost no wait.
• Weather can cancel the call. Wind and swells occasionally make tendering unsafe. If the call is cancelled, prepaid excursions and the Beach Club will be refunded to your onboard account.
• Watch the last tender time. It’s printed in the daily program and posted at the tender pier, and it’s often early in the afternoon.
• Drink packages don’t count ashore. Plan on paying for drinks unless you’re in the Beach Club.
• Bring a little cash. Bars and the main shops take your cruise card, but some of the smaller vendors only take cash, and there’s no ATM on the island.
• Accessibility: If you use a wheelchair or scooter, ask Guest Services about tendering and beach access before the day, since conditions vary.
• Book early. Beach Club passes, cabanas and daybeds are all limited, and the Beach Club has no waitlist.

Follow Along This Season

I’m going to be spending a lot of time on Half Moon Cay over the next few months as I kick off my Caribbean cruise season. Here’s where you’ll find me:

• November 9, 2026: Nieuw Amsterdam
• November 29, 2026: Nieuw Amsterdam
• December 11, 2026: Rotterdam
• December 13, 2026: Rotterdam
• January 4, 2027: Volendam

If you’re sailing on any of those dates, say hi!

Half Moon Cay FAQ