Princess Cruises Adds Half Moon Cay to Caribbean Itineraries

Princess Cruises is adding RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay to select Caribbean itineraries beginning in November 2026, giving passengers another Carnival Corporation private destination beyond Princess Cays and bringing a new cruise brand into a destination that, for decades, was closely associated with Holland America Line.

Half Moon Cay was originally developed by Holland America on Little San Salvador in the Bahamas, and for years the experience remained largely the same, with ships anchoring offshore and passengers tendering into the developed portion of the island. Carnival Corporation, which owns Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, recently completed a major expansion that included developing a previously unused section of the island, adding new guest facilities and constructing a pier capable of accommodating two ships at the same time, including Carnival’s largest vessels.

Carnival Cruise Line began using the newly developed area in 2026, and now Princess is being added to the destination as well.

Upcoming Princess itineraries currently show Half Moon Cay calls involving Enchanted Princess, Caribbean Princess, Sun Princess, Coral Princess, Regal Princess and Sky Princess, with the first visits beginning in November 2026. Princess has also added an official RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay destination page to their website, making it clear that this is becoming part of the cruise line’s Caribbean program rather than simply being used as an occasional substitute port.

Princess Cays is not being replaced, so Princess will now have access to both destinations when building Caribbean itineraries, giving the cruise line more flexibility and frequent passengers a little more variety.

The interesting part is that not every Princess passenger may have the same experience at Half Moon Cay. Princess says some ships will use the new pier, allowing passengers to walk directly ashore, while others will continue to anchor offshore and use water shuttles much like visitors have traditionally done.

That could also determine which portion of the destination passengers use. Ships using the pier would arrive at the newly developed side of RelaxAway, while tendering ships may continue using the original Half Moon Cay area long associated with Holland America.

There’s more good news here!  Princess has confirmed that Princess Plus and Princess Premier benefits will extend to RelaxAway, including eligible beverage-package benefits, but those benefits will only be valid on the side of the destination where your ship arrives.

That means a passenger who docks at the new pier may be able to use Plus or Premier benefits on that side of the island, but those benefits will not follow if they travel over to the other section. The same would apply to passengers who tender into the traditional side, making this one of those details worth knowing before heading ashore.

Complimentary lunch, beach chairs and umbrellas will also be available, while passengers with an active Princess Wi-Fi plan will have internet access ashore.

The addition of Half Moon Cay gives Princess another private-destination option while also helping Carnival Corporation make greater use of the major investment it has made in expanding the island. For passengers, though, the more important point is that seeing RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay on an itinerary doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story, because one Princess ship may dock at the new pier while another may still tender into the traditional side.

That difference could affect how quickly you get ashore, which facilities you use and even where your Princess Plus or Premier beverage package is accepted, so it will be worth checking the details of your specific sailing before you go.

Princess Cruises Half Moon Cay FAQ