Have you ever stayed on the ship in Half Moon Cay?

[Mr. Boston]

Did you feel as if you missed out on anything if you did? Was there a lot to do on board when the ship was anchored? What about food service on board?

 

I am considering it this fall. Although I've been to HMC once the hype didn't meet my expectations. I was thinking that it might be a good opportunity to enjoy the ships amenities without the normal crowds. Any thoughts?

[peaches from georgia]

Absolutely I have and a number of people do. The ship is quiet, you have the pool areas almost to yourself, lunch is served in the Lido (and some pax who went over to the island come back by that time), and it is a great time for Spa or Beauty Salon appointments.

 

If you are looking for a lot of organized activities you will not find that until after the ship sets sail again, but it is a very relaxing day on board.

[imacrusing]

ALWAYS ALWAYS have stayed on out ship...It is like a havenn when everyone breaks their neck to get to the island..We sit on balcony and laugh at them....Then along comes a monsoon rain and they break their necks to get back.....tendering is the only way to and from island..so for us..its like watching a comedy show on TV.

[arzz]

We have stayed aboard more times than gone out at HMC -- love to be on the ship with almost no one else -- a grand playground all quiet and empty -- and as mentioned earlier a great time (as is any port time) to stop by the spa and see what is on "special" for the port day -- scheduled spa services are also discounted if booked ahead for a port time (if you do that, however, be aware what it should cost and what the discount is -- they always promise the port discount but then conveniently forget to put it on your bill unless you mention it again as you pay -- they must be very succesful at having folks forget about that discount -- after all how much do you notice after, say, 55 minutes of relaxing massage?)

 

Love those port days on board -- my DH and I, a couple of years ago, actually took a whole cruise and never got off and we were happy as clams.....

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have stayed on the ship several times when we were at HMC.

 

One time because another HAL ship got there a couple of hours before we did and the area we like to be in was already jammed packed.

 

A couple of times it was cloudy and just didn't put us in the mood to be on the beach.

 

The Lido wasn't crowded for lunch and lots of places around the pools.

 

Not much organized activities on board the ship - maybe bridge.

[SANDY BEACH]

HMC is one stop where I must exit the ship. A beautiful island with the softest sand. We do; however, at other ports choose to stay on the ship. It's a wonderful place while everyone is ashore.

[Cruiseoften]

Did you feel as if you missed out on anything if you did? Was there a lot to do on board when the ship was anchored? What about food service on board?

 

I am considering it this fall. Although I've been to HMC once the hype didn't meet my expectations. I was thinking that it might be a good opportunity to enjoy the ships amenities without the normal crowds. Any thoughts?

 

You have the same idea as us. We tried it twice and HMC is, I guess, to many, the be all and end all - for us - a quiet day on board is preferable.

Activities are limited, the casino is closed. Pampering facilities are all available; food as usual is available. We don't feel we're missing anything - guess we're just not beach people :D

[Southbound]

On our first several cruises with HAL, we chose to have an early breakfast in the Lido, then took the tender to HMC, spent some time on the beach and walked around exploring the island, sampled the offerings at the B-B-Q, then returned to the ship and spent whatever was left of the afternoon relaxing by the pool.

On our last two HAL sailings, however, our stop at HMC was the last day before returning to FLL. We decided to stay on board and, after breakfast in the Lido, returned to our cabin to pack up. We then went back up to the pool where we spent several hours relaxing, reading a good book and paying sporadic visits to the Lido buffet. It was heaven. No young critters in the pool/hot tubs splashing, screaming, whining, running wild; no diapered toddlers being dunked in the pool by their moms or dads. Without so much as a glance at the clock, we knew it was 4:30 and that the last tender had just returned from HMC because all h*** suddenly broke loose at the pool & hot tubs.

Now we know to take advantage of a stop at HMC by enjoying the beautiful beach for a couple of hours after breakfast and then we skidaddle back to the ship for lunch and an afternoon of peace and tranquility by the pool. Other pax we spoke with said they've been doing this same routine on every HAL sailing they've been on when stopping at HMC.

[iceman93]

I've only been to HMC once, on my most recent cruise. We had a cabana with butler service, which of course drastically cut down on the "hectic-ity" factor.

 

My wife and I have discussed future cruises (if we do the Caribbean again, which is far from our favorite itinerary), and debated staying on the ship vs. getting off in HMC. The drawback to staying aboard seems to be the paucity of on board activities, but posts here seem to indicate that minimal services such as the Lido, spa, etc. will be available.

 

HMC was nice, but I don't think I'd ever do it without a cabana and a butler. I guess the question will be whether going ashore is worth ~$1,000 or not...

[Cruiseoften]

I guess the question will be whether going ashore is worth ~$1,000 or not...

 

Our point exactly! - without a cabana it's no fun in our opinion.

[Mr. Boston]

I think you're helping me to make up my mind.

 

As far as the cabanas are concerned I couldn't imagine spending that kind of money to do something on a beach that I could do for free on the ship! Well, for the price of a few cocktails anyway!

 

Ok, I won't be able to feel sand between my toes but I'll be able to see it, the sun will feel the same and so will the air. I won't have a butler but a server will be plying me with drinks. And I won't have to wait in a tender line.

 

:confused: