Carnival fans are about to get access to a massively revamped private island

2 weeks ago 15

Exciting news, Carnival Cruise Line fans: A visit to a massively revamped private island is in your future.

The world's second-largest cruise line on Tuesday announced a wide range of new Caribbean itineraries that would include a visit to Half Moon Cay, a private island that the line said will undergo a massive expansion.

Scheduled to begin in 2026, the new itineraries will be available on seven Carnival ships sailings out of four home ports: Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida; Galveston, Texas; and Baltimore, Maryland.

Already celebrated for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, Half Moon Cay will receive a major makeover that includes the addition of expanded beach areas, new dining venues and new drinking venues, Carnival said.

Also in the works for the private island is a new pier that will allow Carnival's biggest ships, including the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and sister vessels Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, to dock at the island.

In its announcement Tuesday, Carnival offered relatively few details on what the expansion of Half Moon Cay would entail but said additional information about the project would be announced soon.

Half Moon Cay originally opened to cruise ships in 1997. At the time, it was leased and used exclusively by Holland America, a sister brand to Carnival. But over the years, it began to welcome Carnival ships, too.

Carnival bought Holland America in 1989, and both lines are now part of parent company Carnival Corp.

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Holland America leased Half Moon Cay for 99 years in 1996. Originally called Little San Salvador and renamed Half Moon Cay by the line, the 2,400-acre island was uninhabited and without running water or electricity at the time of the lease's signing.

Holland America initially spent $16 million preparing it for cruise ships and has continued to invest in it over the years. The island is now home to beach villas that can be rented for the day, an oceanside cabana for massages and a multilevel watery fun zone for kids, among a long list of attractions.

Carnival on Tuesday said new itineraries with a revamped Half Moon Cay on the schedule starting in 2026 would include a variety of seven-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings out of Miami on Carnival Celebration — one of Carnival's biggest ships.

In addition to Half Moon Cay, the new Carnival Celebration sailings will include stops at Carnival's soon-to-open Celebration Key and a mix of the following ports: Nassau in the Bahamas; Grand Turk; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Cozumel, Mexico; Mahogany Bay in Honduras; St. Thomas; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Other new itineraries with a revamped Half Moon Cay on the schedule will include seven-night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral on Mardi Gras.

Those trips will include stops at a mix of the following ports in addition to Half Moon Cay: Celebration Key, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Nassau, Cozumel and Mahogany Bay.

In addition to Mardi Gras, Carnival Venezia will sail new itineraries out of Port Canaveral.

New itineraries out of Galveston will include six- and eight-night cruises to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Jubilee.

The new six-night itineraries will include visits to Cozumel and Mahogany Bay. The eight-night itineraries will bring visits to Key West, Florida; Nassau; Half Moon Cay; and Celebration Key.

The new itineraries out of Galveston will kick off in September 2026. Prior to that, Carnival Jubilee will operate seven-night itineraries visiting Cozumel; Mahogany Bay; and Costa Maya, Mexico.

Two other Carnival ships, Carnival Dream and Carnival Breeze, will sail new itineraries out of Galveston.

Carnival also announced Tuesday new weeklong voyages to a revamped Half Moon Cay out of Baltimore on Carnival Pride.

In addition to Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays, another private island, the sailings will bring stops at Nassau and Celebration Key. Carnival Pride also will sail cruises to Bermuda in 2026.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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