Private Tour on Half Moon Cay?

[ISHCruising]

Probably a long shot, but I was told the same when visiting Princess Cay, and we ended up finding a FANTASTIC private excursion in Princess Cay which was the highlight of our cruise!  

 

Are there any private operators in Little San Salvador aka Half Moon Cay?

 

If not, how accessible is the island if we wanted to hike somewhere and explore?  Also, is there good snorkeling accessible off a beach away from the masses (we scuba dive so will be packing our own gear to snorkel)?

 

Thanks!

[K&RCurt]

No there is no one on the Island except employees of Holland America Line.  (Though a subsidiary of Carnival Corp, HAL leases the Island from the Government of the Bahamas.) Carnival Cruise Lines sublets the Island from HAL when Carnival ships call there.  All the tours are operated by "HAL Enterprises" as witnessed on the Shore Ex tickets.

 

There are limited walking paths but the majority of the Island is a nature preserve and is not accessible.

 

Snorkeling off the beach is mediocre at best.  If you want to snorkel take a boat trip.

 

As an FYI "Princess Cays" isn't a "Cay" at all, it is a strip of beach on Eleuthera which is a much larger Island than Little San Salvador and has several sizable towns that are tourist destinations themselves.  "Princess Cays" is very near to Disney's "Lighthouse Point."

 

Edited November 30, 2021 by K&RCurt

[ISHCruising]

Thanks for the reply and explanation!  When we did our private excursion in 2019 Lighthouse Beach was not at all developed (unsure if that work has started?), so it was spectacular.

 

I don't mind taking a boat to snorkel, but the reviews of whether that is worth the money seems up for debate.  I would just hate spending the money to not see any decent coral or fish.  

[CruiserBruce]

Some have reported better snorkeling south of the peninsula that has the boat channel in it. You would be totally on your own.