Moriah Posted August 2, 2019 #26 Share Posted August 2, 2019 16 hours ago, sevenseasnomad said: Some people will like the pier for the convenience. Others, like me, who have been sailing with HAL since 2008 dislike having this little slice of heaven-on-earth tampered with. I agree. My first time on HMC was in 2006 and I've been nostalgic for that experience ever since. I've been back every year since, and in my opinion it's a little worse every year. First they added more cabanas, then they built larger cabanas, then a bar, and on and on it goes. Now a pier. I admit the tendering to the island was my least favorite aspect, and the one year that choppy conditions didn't even allow us to have our day in paradise I would have welcomed the pier, and yet... I'm not usually a person who doesn't like change, but HMC was really perfect... until it wasn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 2, 2019 #27 Share Posted August 2, 2019 5 hours ago, *Miss G* said: Disney is coming to Half Moon Cay? 5 hours ago, Daisyloo said: OMG. 😱 I hope not!! What a way to ruin paradise. 5 hours ago, Randyk47 said: Why would DCL come to HMC? Totally separate company and they have their own island. OK, DCL is coming to Eleuthera. Sorry, I was confused - that's where Princess stops. But Half Moon Cay is not far from Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera. http://mickeyblog.com/2019/03/12/disney-cruise-lines-new-private-island-deal-finalized-with-the-bahamian-government/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 2, 2019 #28 Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) Sorry, duplicate Edited August 2, 2019 by Shmoo here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir PMP Posted August 2, 2019 #29 Share Posted August 2, 2019 43 minutes ago, Shmoo here said: OK, DCL is coming to Eleuthera. Sorry, I was confused - that's where Princess stops. But Half Moon Cay is not far from Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera. http://mickeyblog.com/2019/03/12/disney-cruise-lines-new-private-island-deal-finalized-with-the-bahamian-government/ Yes, it's right next door, now they can outdo each other.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stakeout Posted August 2, 2019 #30 Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) looks like the powers to be will again ruin a great thing... money rules.. as has been rumored for a while now and what we always used to say.. 'how long before they ruin HMC'... this will be it.... no more super nice pristine island... more and more since the Carnival ships have been stopping there they see the need to expand... and expand they will .. just a shame that a great place will be taken away from us HMC die hards.. been to the island over 40+ times since right after it opened starting in 1998 .. for us always a treat.. early mornings I can remember flyfishing the backwaters and lagoon for bonefish.. the tendering doesn't bother us at all.. always walk the entire west end of the island to the 'western point' getting off on the first tender.. have only had to bypass it 4x over all those years and it was always disappointing.. I guess this will go down as the same boondoggle as when HAL decided to take the pools out of the Veendam and Rotterdam expand the cabin #'s and ruin two good ships.. luckily they wised up and stopped.. we shall see... sad 😞 here's a few pics from HMC on our Rotterdam 42 day Atlantic Adventurer cruise from back in 2016 BTW we sailed the Atlantic Adventurer every year they ran it from 2011 thru 2017 .. 5x on the Maasdam.. 1x on the rotterdam.. 1x on the Veendam a walk to the West End on Half Moon Cay Edited August 2, 2019 by Stakeout 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted August 2, 2019 #31 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Thanks for the info .. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted August 2, 2019 #32 Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, rothbury said: I guess my only concern is where would they put the pier? Thinking about it, it seems like any pier would have to be pretty long to reach the deeper water for the ships to dock. If you have to walk a considerable distance I'm not sure it wouldn't prevent some disabled and physically challenged passengers from making a long walk to get on to the island. I guess they would make it wide enough to accommodate some sort of shuttle to drive back and forth. Has anybody seen a construction schedule? I wonder how long and when the construction and completion will take. Grand Turk has a very long pier. It doesn't have to stick out very far for deep enough water, but it's long enough to accommodate two ships (it runs parallel to the shoreline). I'm trying to remember if they have any kind of little vehicles for people with mobility issues. I recall seeing a service like that on Martinique, and that wasn't nearly as long a walk as on Grand Turk. I don't usually bother to take the tender to HMC unless I've booked the snorkel trip. I can get a better lunch in more comfortable surroundings on the ship, and from what I've seen a lot of other passengers feel the same way. If we docked, I might go out for a walk on the beach. I hope they don't overdevelop the island, but I do see HAL's point of view. Other lines are adding "features" to their private islands and HAL is playing catch-up. Edited August 2, 2019 by 3rdGenCunarder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted August 2, 2019 #33 Share Posted August 2, 2019 1 hour ago, Stakeout said: here's a few pics from HMC Wow. Looks like you had very calm waters for your visit. Thanks for the pictures. I hope they don’t overdevelop/further develop the island. That would be sad. ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G&G Posted August 2, 2019 #34 Share Posted August 2, 2019 7 hours ago, rothbury said: I guess my only concern is where would they put the pier? Thinking about it, it seems like any pier would have to be pretty long to reach the deeper water for the ships to dock. If you have to walk a considerable distance I'm not sure it wouldn't prevent some disabled and physically challenged passengers from making a long walk to get on to the island. I guess they would make it wide enough to accommodate some sort of shuttle to drive back and forth. Has anybody seen a construction schedule? I wonder how long and when the construction and completion will take. Good question. If you have ever snorkeled at Grand Turk near the cruise ship, Carnival dug out a deep channel for the cruise ships. With the shallow water near HMC I expect another deep channel excavated near the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted August 2, 2019 #35 Share Posted August 2, 2019 23 hours ago, *Miss G* said: Yes. It goes all the way around the island. Good answer. There are two pools on most HAL ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted August 2, 2019 #36 Share Posted August 2, 2019 I think the pier will be put in in such a way it will not destroy the beauty of the place. Many times I have seen HMC cancelled because the water is too rough to safely tender. I also remember negative comments when Captain Morgan's Boat went in and now most love that bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SumoCitrus Posted August 3, 2019 #37 Share Posted August 3, 2019 HMC is beautiful. If they do this right, they may even improve upon the beauty by reducing the noise and exhaust of the ferry boats. I was worried OP was going to say that they are turning HMC into an amusement park like the other cruise line has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted August 3, 2019 #38 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Well, there goes the neighborhood! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted August 3, 2019 #39 Share Posted August 3, 2019 14 hours ago, Randyk47 said: Why would DCL come to HMC? Totally separate company and they have their own island. It's not unheard of. Up until very recently, Carnival visited RCI's Coco Cay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sppunk Posted August 3, 2019 #40 Share Posted August 3, 2019 (edited) $80m for a pier installation isn’t much actually so the other changes will likely just be updates. But yes let us freak freak out because they’re adding something that on'y enhances the stop for both crew and customers. Edited August 3, 2019 by sppunk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted August 3, 2019 #41 Share Posted August 3, 2019 28 minutes ago, sppunk said: $80m for a pier installation isn’t much actually so the other changes will likely just be updates. But yes let us freak freak out because they’re adding something that on'y enhances the stop for both crew and customers. I'm not in the freak out group because I don't mind change, but with NCL, MSC, Disney, and RCI (x2) all having their own islands with piers, the writing is on the wall with what HMC will eventually become. Right now its a $80m renovation but just wait..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the2ofus Posted August 3, 2019 #42 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Only the section of the beach nearest the inlet where the tenders dock is really crowded, even when two ships are in. A trolley that would take people farther along the beach and an additional station to access more clamshells would relieve any potential crowding if more people go ashore. I'd like to see a sketch of the proposal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted August 3, 2019 #43 Share Posted August 3, 2019 7 hours ago, sppunk said: $80m for a pier installation isn’t much actually so the other changes will likely just be updates. But yes let us freak freak out because they’re adding something that on'y enhances the stop for both crew and customers. Your “freak freak out” standards are set very low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksmaxey Posted August 3, 2019 #44 Share Posted August 3, 2019 There is also the positive environmental impact of not needing to use fuel to keep the ship in position. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir PMP Posted August 3, 2019 #45 Share Posted August 3, 2019 13 hours ago, SumoCitrus said: HMC is beautiful. If they do this right, they may even improve upon the beauty by reducing the noise and exhaust of the ferry boats. I was worried OP was going to say that they are turning HMC into an amusement park like the other cruise line has. Don't worry they won't do this right.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted August 3, 2019 #46 Share Posted August 3, 2019 13 hours ago, Copper10-8 said: Well, there goes the neighborhood! Co come now. You don't really believe that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted August 3, 2019 #47 Share Posted August 3, 2019 FYI: Carnival Cruise Line can only use HMC when HAL is not using the Island. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted August 3, 2019 #48 Share Posted August 3, 2019 (edited) 23 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said: Grand Turk has a very long pier. It doesn't have to stick out very far for deep enough water, but it's long enough to accommodate two ships (it runs parallel to the shoreline). I'm trying to remember if they have any kind of little vehicles for people with mobility issues. I recall seeing a service like that on Martinique, and that wasn't nearly as long a walk as on Grand Turk. I don't usually bother to take the tender to HMC unless I've booked the snorkel trip. I can get a better lunch in more comfortable surroundings on the ship, and from what I've seen a lot of other passengers feel the same way. If we docked, I might go out for a walk on the beach. I hope they don't overdevelop the island, but I do see HAL's point of view. Other lines are adding "features" to their private islands and HAL is playing catch-up. While on various HAL ships at HMC, I have asked if t hey could dredge to deepen the water and several times was told yes. I think it terrific hey will be able to dock. and no tenders needed. Some of the Captains will be happy. 🙂 I think of it as a very welcome upgrade. Edited August 3, 2019 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted August 3, 2019 #49 Share Posted August 3, 2019 4 hours ago, Himself said: FYI: Carnival Cruise Line can only use HMC when HAL is not using the Island. That is also my understanding. Of the great many times we were at HMC we shared the island with other HAL ship (s) but Never a Carnival ship. I think they go there more during the summers when HAL is absent from the Caribbean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bEwAbG Posted August 3, 2019 #50 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Hopefully this means more time in port, too. I loved the cabana experience I had this year but having to pack up and get in line at only 2pm seemed cruel. Then of course we stood in line forever and a day waiting for the tender. The tender process puts a damper on almost all wonderful days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now