Half Moon Cay

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay: Our Favorite Beach Paradise Yet

Of all the beaches and tropical destinations we’ve visited, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay has earned the top spot for us. This place is gorgeous.

The combination of powdery white sand, turquoise water and a lush green backdrop feels like everything we want from a Caribbean beach day. The water is incredibly clear and calm, almost like swimming in a giant pool. We spent our time floating and playing in the sea, walking along the soft shoreline and enjoying a beach where we never felt crowded or pressured to buy anything.

One thing we especially appreciate is the absence of vendors walking the beach and soliciting guests. There are plenty of loungers and umbrellas, so the whole experience feels easy and relaxed.

And Half Moon Cay finally has a pier!

Previously, visiting the island required tendering from the ship, which was one of the biggest drawbacks we heard about from past visitors. The new pier makes arriving much smoother. You walk directly off the ship into a newly developed welcome area with shops, transportation and facilities waiting for you.

Getting Around RelaxAway

Once you arrive, the cay is divided into several stops connected by trams. Each area has a slightly different feel, and the umbrella colors make your stop easy to identify from the beach.

Stop 1: Welcome Center

This is your introduction to RelaxAway. From here, you’ll hop aboard a tram for the quick ride to the different beach areas.

The Welcome Center also has the largest shopping selection we saw, with apparel and souvenir items. If you want something commemorative from Half Moon Cay, I’d browse here before heading back to the ship.

Stop 2: Mango

Look for the brown-striped umbrellas.

Mango had the quietest atmosphere during both of our visits. Orchid Beach Grill is located here, although it was closed both times we visited. Perhaps the lack of an operating grill helps explain why fewer people seemed to settle in this area.

For anyone looking for a quieter beach day, Mango is worth checking out.

Stop 3: Lime

The teal umbrellas mark the Lime stop.

This area has cabanas available for rent along with a small shop carrying forgotten beach essentials and souvenirs. The shop here is much smaller than the one at the Welcome Center, but convenient if you realize you need something after settling onto the beach.

Stop 4: Pineapple

Pineapple offers more beach-day amenities, including a beach bar, cabanas and daybeds for rent. You’ll also find beach rentals such as floats and kayaks.

Stop 5: Guava

Look for the coral-striped umbrellas.

Guava seemed to be the most popular stop and had a noticeably livelier atmosphere. If you want a more upbeat beach-day vibe, this is the area I’d head toward.

It’s also home to the first-aid station and Hibiscus Beach Grill, where guests receive a complimentary lunch. The menu includes BBQ, burgers and cold sides.

Our tip: If you plan to eat here, head over around 11:15 a.m. to get ahead of the lunch rush.

Stop 6: Avocado

Avocado offers many of the same beach amenities as Pineapple, giving you another option if you’re looking for rentals and a more developed beach area.

More Than a Beach

As beautiful as the shoreline is, there’s more to explore around RelaxAway. Scenic nature paths wind through the cay, and there are several picture-perfect sculptures and installations along the way that make fun photo stops.

For guests who want something beyond a lounger and umbrella, daybeds, cabanas and villas are available to rent.

The new infrastructure is also a major improvement. Each stop has modern bathroom, shower and locker facilities nearby, which makes spending an entire day ashore much easier. We didn’t use the lockers, so I’m still unsure whether you bring your own lock or rent one through the beach rental stand.

Our RelaxAway Verdict

Half Moon Cay is exactly what we want from a Caribbean port day: gorgeous water, soft sand, plenty of shade and loungers, lush scenery and enough facilities to make the day comfortable without taking away from the natural beauty of the island.

We’ve visited plenty of beautiful beaches during our travels, but this one stands out.

There’s something about walking into water so clear you can see straight through it, looking back at the brilliant white shoreline against all that greenery and realizing there’s nowhere else you need to be for the day.

Give us a lounger, an umbrella and that turquoise water and we’re happy.

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay has officially become our favorite beach paradise yet.Read more