Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay
Holland America's official destination page describes the private-island landing, beach, and activities.
Cruise planning
Research Half Moon Cay cruise calls before you travel.
Use the timetable to see upcoming cruise ship calls, busy-day signals, ship counts, and port context alongside the guide, map, weather, and readiness tools.
Schedule note
Port schedules can change because of weather, berth availability, itinerary updates, and operational decisions. Verify important times with your cruise line or the port authority before travel.
At a glance
Port profile
Country, code, and on-shore essentials.
Country
Bahamas
Port code
BSHMC
Coordinates
24.571, -75.914
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Your port day at a glance
Plan your time ashore in Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay is a private-island beach call with facilities and activities concentrated near the ship-managed landing.
Before going ashore
Before going ashore, confirm the berth or tender point, local time, all-aboard deadline, and the meeting location for any independently booked transport or tour.
Arrival
Usually tenders
Town access
Walkable
Can you explore independently?
Walk from the tender landing or use island transport for designated areas; there is no independent town visit. The main beach, horseback riding, snorkeling, cabanas, and nature activities are the principal options.
VoyagePro planning verdict
This port works best when you confirm the exact arrival point, choose one coherent plan, and protect the return to the ship with a comfortable time buffer.
Best for
- •Travelers who confirm the exact arrival point
- •A focused local plan
- •One well-timed longer outing
Needs extra planning when
- •Your transfer or pickup point has not been confirmed
- •Your itinerary depends on several tightly timed stops
- •Your plan assumes every attraction can be reached on foot
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
Step off the ship with a plan
Arrival, terminals and getting into town
Confirm the actual berth first—local access can change substantially between terminals.
Where your ship arrives
Ships normally anchor offshore and tender passengers to Half Moon Cay.
Getting into town
Walk from the tender landing or use island transport for designated areas; there is no independent town visit.
Port shuttle
Use the island tram or booked activity transfer when provided and monitor the tender return schedule.
Taxi and local transport
Use the island tram or booked activity transfer when provided and monitor the tender return schedule.
Airport and hotel transfers
Airport transfers are separate from a port-day visit; confirm the current route and timing with the airline, airport, and ship.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
What official and local sources say
Local details from reviewed sources
A concise summary of useful details found in port, municipal, transport, terminal, and tourism material.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
Build a realistic day
Choose a plan by time in port
Start with the usable time you have ashore, then leave a comfortable return margin.
Quick call
2–3 hours
Keep the day close to the port and choose one or two reliable nearby stops.
Half day
4–6 hours
The main beach, horseback riding, snorkeling, cabanas, and nature activities are the principal options. Walk from the tender landing or use island transport for designated areas; there is no independent town visit.
Long call
7+ hours
The main beach, horseback riding, snorkeling, cabanas, and nature activities are the principal options. Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
Plan for comfort
Accessibility and mobility
Mobility overview
Tender boarding and sand are major barriers; ask the ship about transfer assistance and beach mobility equipment.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
Avoid the rushed version of this port
Common planning mistakes
1
Not checking the arrival point
2
Assuming everything is walkable
3
Leaving no return margin
Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
Answers from reviewed guide sources
Half Moon Cay port questions
These answers use the reviewed operational fields above; check the linked source when a detail affects a booking or transfer.
Will the ship dock or tender?
Ships normally anchor offshore and tender passengers to Half Moon Cay.
How do I get from the ship into town?
Walk from the tender landing or use island transport for designated areas; there is no independent town visit.
Should I plan a shuttle, taxi, or transfer?
Use the island tram or booked activity transfer when provided and monitor the tender return schedule.
Can I explore independently?
Walk from the tender landing or use island transport for designated areas; there is no independent town visit. The main beach, horseback riding, snorkeling, cabanas, and nature activities are the principal options.
What should I know about airport or hotel transfers?
Airport transfers are separate from a port-day visit; confirm the current route and timing with the airline, airport, and ship.
Source summary1 source
This section draws on information from Holland America Line - Half Moon Cay.
Guide review and sources
Operational details can change by berth, weather, and ship call. Confirm important arrangements before travel.
Reviewed Jul 17, 2026
1 source
View source list
Build a route you can actually use
Practical places around Half Moon Cay
Choose a few places that fit your time ashore, then check access and transport before setting out.
Transport starting point
Walk from the tender landing or use island transport for designated areas; there is no independent town visit.
Arrival location reference
Half Moon Cay cruise destination reference· Cruise destination area
Coastal landmark
Little San Salvador Island
A mapped coastal landmark to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay.
Read more
A mapped coastal landmark to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Plan local transport from the assigned terminal or landing rather than assuming this stop is walkable.
Local transport may be needed from the arrival point
Beach
main beach
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Local landmark
horseback riding
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Local landmark
cabanas
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Half Moon Cay. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Source summary2 sources
Reviewed 2026-07-25. Location placement, transport, and attraction information retain separate sources so each can be checked and updated independently.
Live port-day planner
Plan my port day in Half Moon Cay
Choose an upcoming call and ship to turn the published schedule into a practical planning window.
Choose a call date
Choose your ship
Your selected call
Carnival Mardi Gras
Arrival
8:00am
Departure
5:00pm
Scheduled window
9h
2 ships that day
Up to 8,725 passenger capacity
Planning return buffer
Count back from the published departure time.
Planning checkpoint: 3:30pm
This is a personal planning checkpoint, not the ship's official all-aboard time. Always follow the time and instructions issued onboard.
Guide match for this window
A longer outing may fit, but protect the return journey from weather, traffic, queues, and tender delays.
Schedule source summary
Dates, ships, and times come from the currently published cruise-call records. Schedules can change, and passenger totals represent available ship-capacity data rather than a forecast of people going ashore.
Destination guide
About Half Moon Cay
The Half Moon Caye is a natural monument situated at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The crescent-shaped caye is a protected marine reserve that was established as a World Heritage Site in 1996. The pristine caye has breath-taking walk-in snorkelling from the beach, idyllic sandy beaches and magnificent wildlife both in the sea and within the littoral forest.
Keep exploring
Nearby port guides
Stay connectedPartner recommendation
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Use a GigSky travel eSIM for maps, messaging, and travel updates ashore. Choose a plan that covers the countries you will visit.
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Explore ashore
Shore excursions in Half Moon Cay
Explore tour options for your port day. Check the meeting point and return time against your ship’s schedule before booking.
Excursion listings are not connected for this port yet.
This does not mean Shore Excursions Group has no tours here. You can check their current options directly.
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Photo credits
Place photos are resized for display and cropped where needed.
- Little San Salvador Island from the air — Pmsyyz · CC BY 4.0