03
Half Moon Cay's paid add-ons, from a $55 stingray wade to a $2,111 private grand cabana
Ordered by what we could actually confirm a current price for, not by what sounds best in a brochure.
If Half Moon Cay is one stop on a longer week, our Caribbean cruises guide helps you decide which port earns the paid day.
The island's signature animal encounter, and the cheapest of the named add-ons.
Carnival's own current listing runs 1 hour at $54.99 per person. Minimum age 6, complimentary lockers included. Holland America's own site describes the same shape of experience — a tram to Stingray Cove, then wading in with the rays. Its public listing page showed no price or duration when we checked, only a note to call and book.
That's worth knowing on its own. Carnival publishes exact prices on its own site for most Half Moon Cay add-ons. Holland America, in what we could load, generally doesn't — expect to see a real number only once you're checking out against your own booking.
- Time commitment
- 1 hour, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- Tram to Stingray Cove from the beach area.
- Suits
- Families with swimmers age 6 and up, and anyone who wants a guaranteed animal encounter without a boat trip.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $54.99 on Carnival's own site. Holland America guests should ask their excursion desk for a current figure rather than assume parity.
Why it's worth considering
It's short, cheap relative to everything else on this list, and doesn't need a confirmed swimmer. A guided wading area is a real reassurance for younger kids or nervous adults.
The catch
We couldn't confirm this is priced the same for Holland America guests. Ask before you assume Carnival's $54.99 is what you'll pay.
Verify before you book
- Current price directly with your line if you're not sailing Carnival
- Whether swimming ability is required, versus just wading
- Departure times against your ship's schedule that day
The trail ride ends in the ocean, not at a fence line, and that's the actual sell.
Carnival's own current listing runs 45 minutes. Price: $136.99 per person. Minimum age 10, minimum height 54 inches, maximum weight 225 lbs. It includes water and complimentary lockers at Pegasus Ranch, the on-island stable.
Holland America's own copy describes the same activity — guiding your horse into the surf for what it calls a saddleback swim — without a public price or duration on the page we could load.
The weight and height limits are real constraints, not fine print. Check them against everyone in your group before you book.
- Time commitment
- 45 minutes, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- Guided from Pegasus Ranch, on-island.
- Suits
- Riders and non-riders alike who meet the height and weight limits — no riding experience is described as required.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $136.99 on Carnival's own site. We couldn't confirm Holland America's current figure for the same activity.
Why it's worth considering
An ocean swim with a horse is a genuinely unusual thing to do on a cruise port day. It's a fixed, guided format, not something you could improvise on your own.
The catch
The 225 lb maximum and 54-inch height minimum rule some travelers out entirely. Carnival's own listing states both plainly — don't assume they're flexible on the day.
Verify before you book
- Weight and height limits against everyone who wants to ride
- Current price if you're sailing Holland America, not Carnival
- Whether swimwear or a change of clothes is expected afterward
Carnival's name for its guided jet-ski excursion, and the one add-on here with an outside requirement most people won't expect.
Carnival's own current listing runs 45 minutes at $125.99 per person. Minimum age 18. A valid driver's license is required, and the listing is specific: the physical card has to be presented to the operator on the island, not just claimed.
Maximum weight is 250 lbs. Life vests are mandatory. The listing flags it as physically demanding — not recommended for pregnant guests, or anyone with back, neck or heart conditions.
A separate secondary source names roughly the same price for what it calls a “Jet Ski Adventure” — likely the same product under a different informal name, though we're not certain the two write-ups describe an identical listing.
- Time commitment
- 45 minutes, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- Guided group departure from the watersports area.
- Suits
- Adults 18 and up who have a physical driver's license with them on the island.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $125.99 on Carnival's own site.
Why it's worth considering
It's the closest thing to real speed on the water this island sells. The guided format means you don't need prior jet-ski experience to book it.
The catch
Forgetting your physical license at the ship means you don't ride — a phone photo of it won't do. The 250 lb weight limit and health exclusions are worth reading closely before you book for someone else.
Verify before you book
- That your physical driver's license is actually packed for the day, not left in a safe at home
- Weight limit against everyone who wants to ride
- Any health conditions on Carnival's own exclusion list before booking
A guided paddle, not a rental — the distinction actually matters here.
Carnival's own current listing runs 1 hour at $59.99 per person. Minimum age 6. It's a guided trip into the Bone Fish Lagoon, across what Carnival describes as 1,400-plus acres of protected mangrove habitat, with a shallow-water stop to see and hold starfish, sea cucumbers and conch.
That's a different product from just renting a kayak off the beach. A secondary source updated in June 2026 lists plain single-kayak rental at roughly $32.99 an hour and double at $50.99 — no guide, no lagoon route, just the boat.
Pick based on what you actually want: the guided version for the mangrove habitat and the wildlife stop, or the plain rental if you just want to paddle near the beach on your own schedule.
- Time commitment
- 1 hour, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- Guided departure into the Bone Fish Lagoon.
- Suits
- Families and casual paddlers who want the mangrove-and-wildlife version, not open-water exercise.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $59.99 on Carnival's own site for the guided version.
Why it's worth considering
The mangrove habitat and the wildlife stop are the actual reason to pick this over a plain rental. An hour is a low commitment against the rest of a beach day.
The catch
Confusing this with a plain kayak rental means paying nearly double for the same hour if the lagoon route isn't what you wanted. Read the listing's route description before you book either version.
Verify before you book
- Whether you want the guided lagoon route or a plain rental — they're priced and sold differently
- Current per-hour rental prices on the day, since we couldn't confirm those from a cruise line's own site
- Sun protection, since the lagoon route runs mostly in open water
The only named boat-based snorkel trip here with a published price we could confirm.
Carnival's own current listing runs 1 hour at $65.99 per person. Minimum age 10. Snorkel gear and water are included. It takes you by boat to a site off the coast, away from the shallow shore snorkeling anyone can do for free.
Holland America's own site describes essentially the same idea — a boat trip to see fish and coral — without a public price attached to the page we could load.
If you already packed your own mask and fins, the gear-included price buys the boat and the site, not the equipment.
- Time commitment
- 1 hour, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- By boat from the beach area to an offshore site.
- Suits
- Confident swimmers age 10 and up who want deeper water than the shoreline offers.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $65.99 on Carnival's own site.
Why it's worth considering
A boat gets you past the shallow shore water most free snorkeling covers. Gear is included, so it works even if you didn't pack your own.
The catch
We couldn't confirm this is priced the same for Holland America guests. If snorkeling matters more than the boat ride, compare it against just wading in off the free beach first.
Verify before you book
- Current price directly with your line if you're not sailing Carnival
- Water conditions on the day, since visibility varies
- Whether prescription or corrective snorkel masks are available to rent if anyone in your group needs one
Rental · standard tier
Beach Cabana Rental
The standard private-shade option, and the one with the clearest price disagreement we found in this research.
Carnival's own current booking page names $720.99 per cabana, listed as 5 hours with flexible arrival, for up to 4 guests included and up to 6 with a per-person surcharge. It comes with snacks (chips, dip, fresh fruit), water and soda, a refrigerator, table and chairs, two deck loungers, a fresh-water shower, and floating mats and snorkel gear.
A cruise-news write-up updated in June 2026, covering Holland America's south side specifically, cites “$799.99+” for a cabana there. We couldn't confirm whether that's the identical product priced differently by side of the island, or a separate south-side tier — don't assume the two brands charge the same rate.
Either way, this is upgraded shade and service, not your only way to sit down. Standard loungers are already free.
- Time commitment
- 5 hours, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- Walk-up from the beach area, or a short tram ride depending on placement.
- Suits
- Couples or small families who want guaranteed shade and a private base for the day.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $720.99 on Carnival's own site. Holland America's own current price wasn't published on the page we could load — a different figure is reported elsewhere.
Why it's worth considering
A fridge, table, chairs and your own shower beat competing for a shaded lounger. 5 hours covers most of a normal port day without watching the clock.
The catch
We found a real, unreconciled price gap between sources for the same-sounding product. Confirm your actual price at booking, not from any figure printed here or anywhere else.
Verify before you book
- Your actual quoted price at booking — sources disagree by roughly $80
- Which side of the island your cabana sits on, since amenities differ between north and south
- Capacity if your group is larger than 4, since the surcharge structure applies beyond that
Rental · top tier
Private Oasis
The top tier, and the only Half Moon Cay rental with a dedicated staff member attached to it.
Carnival's own current listing names $2,110.99 for 5 hours, up to 12 guests included and up to 24 maximum with a per-person surcharge. It's a private 1,620-square-foot grand cabana with changing rooms and showers, direct beachfront water access, a dedicated lifeguard and a personal cabana attendant, plus lunch and snacks, and beer, house wine, tropical cocktails, bottled water and soft drinks.
A scenic 15-minute tram ride gets you there and back, per Carnival's own description — this sits apart from the main beach crowd, not in the middle of it.
This is a group-trip or special-occasion price, not a couples splurge. Run the per-person math against your actual group size before booking.
- Time commitment
- 5 hours, per Carnival's own listing.
- Getting there
- 15-minute scenic tram from the main beach area, per Carnival's own copy.
- Suits
- Larger groups, multi-generational families, or anyone celebrating something specific.
- Which line's price
- Confirmed at $2,110.99 on Carnival's own site. We didn't find an equivalent published Holland America price.
Why it's worth considering
A dedicated attendant and lifeguard are real service, not just a bigger tent. Split 12 ways, the per-person cost lands closer to a standard cabana than the sticker price suggests.
The catch
At full price for fewer than 12 people, this is a hard number to justify. The 15-minute tram ride also means less spontaneity about switching plans mid-day.
Verify before you book
- Actual group size against the included-12 baseline before you commit to the sticker price
- What alcohol is included versus billed separately, if anyone in your group doesn't drink
- Tram schedule back to the ship against your all-aboard time
The largest rental Carnival names, and the one where we couldn't confirm today's actual price.
A 2022 write-up, last updated December 2022, describes the two-story Deluxe Beach Villa as sleeping up to 18, with a base price around $600 to $1,000 for the first 8 guests over 5 hours, a kitchenette, a private bathroom, and a five-person indoor hot tub. A separate April 2023 report cited a price increase to $1,000 for the villa tier.
Neither figure is a live 2026 listing. We couldn't load a current Carnival or Holland America page naming today's price, so treat any number here as old, not current.
This is also where Holland America's own south-side amenities live — per the lines' own March 2025 announcement, a separate beach club with waiter service, upgraded cabanas and villas, a refreshed food court and Lobster Shack, and pickleball courts, distinct from Carnival's north side.
- Time commitment
- 5 hours in the 2022–2023 reporting we found; not confirmed current.
- Getting there
- On the island's south side, per Holland America's own beach-club description.
- Suits
- Large families or groups who want a private indoor space, not just shade.
- Which line's price
- Not published on a current listing we could load from either line. Ask your excursion desk directly before assuming any figure in this guide.
Why it's worth considering
An indoor bathroom, hot tub and kitchenette are a real step up from any cabana tier. It's genuinely large enough for a multi-family group, at up to 18 people.
The catch
We're not printing a current price we can't stand behind. Whatever number you find elsewhere online is probably dated — call and confirm before you budget around it.
Verify before you book
- Current price directly with your line — we could not confirm one for 2026
- Which side of the island you'll actually be on, since this option ties to Holland America's south side
- Whether a butler-service add-on, mentioned in older reporting, is still offered
Start with what costs nothing, because it's most of the day for most people.
Both cruise lines' own sites confirm the same free baseline: beach access, loungers and hammocks, complimentary towels, and an Island BBQ lunch — jerk chicken and Caribbean sides, per Holland America's own copy. Beach umbrellas are called out as a paid rental, not included.
Beyond that, a June 2026 secondary source lists plain per-hour rentals: single kayak around $32.99, double around $50.99, paddleboard around $39.99, and a floating mat around $21.99. We couldn't confirm any of those four figures on a live cruise-line page, so hold them loosely.
One thing we went looking for and didn't find: a floating aqua park or inflatable obstacle course, the kind some other private islands sell. Nothing in either cruise line's own material names one at Half Moon Cay. Don't confuse this island with the similarly named Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park on Cat Island, an unrelated Bahamian destination.
- Time commitment
- Flexible — rentals run by the hour, not as a timed excursion.
- Getting there
- Rental stands on the beach itself, no advance booking described as required.
- Suits
- Anyone who wants a low-cost water activity without committing to a full guided excursion.
- Which line's price
- Not confirmed from either cruise line's own current site for these specific per-hour rates.
Why it's worth considering
This is the actual floor of a Half Moon Cay day — free beach, plus cheap add-ons if you want them. It's the right starting point before comparing any priced excursion against it.
The catch
We can't hand you a confirmed price for the plain rentals, only a secondary source's figures. Ask the rental stand directly rather than budgeting against a number printed anywhere online, including here.
Verify before you book
- Actual rental prices once you're at the stand
- Umbrella availability and cost, since it's paid, per Holland America's own site
- Whether an aqua park exists on your specific sailing's side of the island — we found no confirmation either way
04
Worth paying for vs. the free beach that covers you either way
There's no independent economy to weigh here. No town, no local operators, nothing to book around the cruise line. Every dollar spent on Half Moon Cay goes to whichever brand brought you, full stop.
So the real question isn't ship vs. independent
It's which of the cruise line's own paid add-ons actually buy you something the included beach day doesn't.
The included baseline is real
Beach access, loungers, hammocks, towels and the Island BBQ lunch are already in your fare, confirmed on both cruise lines' own sites. Umbrellas are a paid rental, not included.
Carnival prices its own add-ons in the open; Holland America mostly doesn't
Every dollar figure in this guide with a confirmed current price came from Carnival's own booking pages. The Holland America listing pages we could load for the same activities generally showed no public price — expect to see a number only once you're checking out against your actual booking.
Don't assume the two brands charge the same rate for what looks like the same product. We found one real, unreconciled example on the standard cabana.
The dock-or-tender split changes more than the walk to shore
Carnival's new pier put its side of the island on a faster, simpler arrival. Holland America's own announcement said its ships would keep tendering. That's worth factoring into how much buffer time you build around any paid add-on's start time.
How each option compares in Half Moon Cay
| Paid add-on | Worth booking when… | Skip it — the free beach covers you when… |
|---|
| Stingray Adventure | You want a guaranteed animal encounter, and $54.99 fits your budget | Free shallow-water swimming off the beach is enough contact with the water for you |
|---|
| Horseback Riding by Land & Sea | An ocean swim with a horse is specifically the thing you came for | You meet the height or weight limits, but a $136.99 45-minute booking isn't a priority |
|---|
| Aqua Trax Watercraft Adventure | You want real speed on the water and have a physical driver's license with you | You'd rather spend $125.99 on two other add-ons instead |
|---|
| Tropical Kayak Adventure (guided) | You want the mangrove lagoon and the wildlife stop, not just a paddle | A plain hourly kayak rental near the beach is all you're after |
|---|
| Snorkeling by Boat | You want deeper water than the free shoreline offers, gear included | Free shallow snorkeling off the beach already suits you |
|---|
| Beach Cabana Rental | Guaranteed shade, a fridge and your own shower matter more than saving $720.99 | A free lounger and towel already cover what you need for the day |
|---|
| Private Oasis | Your group is close to 12 people and wants a dedicated attendant and lifeguard | You're a couple or small family — the per-person math doesn't work below that |
|---|
| Deluxe Beach Villa | You need an indoor bathroom, hot tub and kitchenette for a large group, once you confirm a current price | You can't get a live 2026 price quoted — we couldn't either |
|---|
Short answer
Start with what's free — the beach, the loungers and the BBQ cover a full day for most people. Add the Stingray Adventure or the guided kayak trip if you want one paid activity, and the cabana or Private Oasis only if guaranteed shade and service are worth more to you than the sticker price. Confirm your own line's current pricing before you book anything — Carnival publishes it, Holland America mostly doesn't.
06
Half Moon Cay logistics: dock, tender and currency
How you actually get ashore, and it depends which line brought you
A new pier opened on the island's north side on June 1, 2026, with Carnival Sunrise the first ship to dock there. It lets Carnival's largest Excel-class ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee — call here for the first time, docking directly instead of anchoring offshore.
Holland America and Carnival's own joint announcement, from March 2025, said Holland America ships would keep accessing the island by tender, to a separate beach club on the south side. A June 2026 report from a cruise-news site, filed after the pier's opening, corroborates that split and puts the Holland America tender ride at roughly 20 minutes.
Neither cruise line's own current port page states this plainly as of our research date. Confirm your specific ship's arrangement directly rather than assume either method.
Who calls here
Carnival Cruise Line is the dominant caller, with around 22 ships across its fleet visiting from various US homeports, per trade-press reporting on the island's own enhancement announcement. Holland America Line calls regularly too — it's held the lease since 1996.
Princess Cruises is new to the island: six named ships — Enchanted Princess, Caribbean Princess, Sun Princess, Coral Princess, Regal Princess and Sky Princess — are scheduled to start calling in November 2026, replacing some Princess Cays stops on select itineraries, per cruise-press coverage of Princess's own itinerary updates. Some of those ships reportedly dock, others tender, and it varies by vessel.
We found no source, official or otherwise, confirming Seabourn has ever called at Half Moon Cay.
Currency and payment
The Bahamian dollar is the official currency, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, and the island's own operational site describes the US dollar as widely accepted. Most purchases run through your preloaded cruise card, the same onboard account you're already using on the ship.
The one cash-only exception named on that same site is the artisan market. Bring some cash if you want to shop there.
All-aboard, and what we couldn't confirm
We found no cruise-line-published statement of a specific all-aboard mechanic for this island, or of whether key-card tracking on a private island works any differently than at a public port. Treat your ship's announced departure time as firm, and don't assume a private island gets you more slack than a normal port call.
We also found no documented weather or rough-water cancellation pattern specific to a Half Moon Cay call, from either line's own materials. If conditions look questionable on your sailing, ask your ship's excursion desk rather than assume either outcome.
