All Things HALF MOON CAY !

[rpclmc]

Do you need water shoes in the water or is the bottom sandy?

 

Laura

 

It is sandy, the softest sand you will ever see/fill. In the water, there are no rocks, seawood and few fish, in the roped off area.

[CruiserBruce]

Do you need water shoes in the water or is the bottom sandy?

 

Laura

 

The beach is a gorgeous flour like sand. Absolutely no need for water shoes.

[Laurab23]

The beach is a gorgeous flour like sand. Absolutely no need for water shoes.

 

Thanks.One less thing to pack.

[Typhoon1]

It is sandy, the softest sand you will ever see/fill. In the water, there are no rocks, seawood and few fish, in the roped off area.

 

For sure. We were at GSC last weekend, it was rocky and very uneven. We'll take HMC anytime.

[missymckibben]

I'm so excited to visit HMC. Hubby and I are going in May. We would like to rent a clamshell for the day but have it towards the quiet end of the beach. Do we set up the clamshells ourselves or does someone do it for us? Are they willing to put it up wherever we want them? I really would like shade.

 

Thank you!

[CruiserBruce]

I'm so excited to visit HMC. Hubby and I are going in May. We would like to rent a clamshell for the day but have it towards the quiet end of the beach. Do we set up the clamshells ourselves or does someone do it for us? Are they willing to put it up wherever we want them? I really would like shade.

 

Thank you!

 

The clamshells run out about cabana #12. You can pick the location, from where they have available, but you don't get to say I want it just anywhere. A staff member will do the set up.

[Typhoon1]

The clamshells run out about cabana #12. You can pick the location, from where they have available, but you don't get to say I want it just anywhere. A staff member will do the set up.

 

The clamshells frames are fixed in place. You can't just get a clamshell and move it anywhere. One of the staff members will set it up the canvas portion.

[missymckibben]

Thanks.

[AJI2596]

Has anyone done the StingRay Adventure with a 7 or 8 yr old? How was your experience? My son really wants to do it but I'm not sure he will be able to stand and how strong the current is for him to swim.

 

Thanks:)

 

 

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[beauty1492]

Frist time on HMC ---in the snorkel area are there beach chairs? or do you have to rent a clam shell? how is the snorkleing is worth bring all our own gear?

[rpclmc]

The clamshells frames are fixed in place. You can't just get a clamshell and move it anywhere. One of the staff members will set it up the canvas portion.

 

The clam shell I rented, saw several this way, the staff member picked up the frame and the canvas and moved it to an area I wanted. My group was about cabana #11 or so. But they will set up the clam shells behind the chairs, so as to not block the views; it is still in the same area and not far from the water, but behind the chairs, in front of the cabanas. You can still put 2 chairs under your clam shell.

 

Linda

[Laurab23]

Is it true that if you have the Carnival Cheers that you can get soft drinks for free on HMC?What about the non-alcoholic frozen drinks?Are they free too?I know Cheers does not work for alcoholic drinks.

[Typhoon1]

The clam shell I rented, saw several this way, the staff member picked up the frame and the canvas and moved it to an area I wanted. My group was about cabana #11 or so. But they will set up the clam shells behind the chairs, so as to not block the views; it is still in the same area and not far from the water, but behind the chairs, in front of the cabanas. You can still put 2 chairs under your clam shell.

 

Linda

 

One of the staff members will be happy to accommodate you. Don't expect them to go further than cabana #12.

[missymckibben]

Thanks everyone.

[butterflychick]

Is the Island Tram Calypso Tour worth it? We thought maybe take the early one and then hang out the beach?

[Pellaz]

Is it true that if you have the Carnival Cheers that you can get soft drinks for free on HMC?What about the non-alcoholic frozen drinks?Are they free too?I know Cheers does not work for alcoholic drinks.

 

Cheers is Carnival's 15-drink-a-day alcohol package. Their unlimited soda package is called Bottomless Bubbles. They are separate programs and are charged separately.

 

Bottomless Bubbles IS honored on HMC for soft drinks but I doubt it works for non-alcoholic frozen drinks.

Cheers is NOT honored on HMC for alcoholic beverages...something they should probably change. (I suspect it's because they can't transfer the number of drinks someone had on the island back to the ship in time to keep them from drinking over the 15-drink daily max.)

 

Certain special unlimited alcoholic drink programs ARE honored on HMC; some of the people on my last cruise's roll-call had them. (!)

[loves cruising]

Has anyone done the StingRay Adventure with a 7 or 8 yr old? How was your experience? My son really wants to do it but I'm not sure he will be able to stand and how strong the current is for him to swim.

 

Thanks:)

 

 

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We did this several years ago - I definitely did not like it as much as in Grand Cayman where they bring you out to the sandbar. At HMC, the stingrays are penned so they swim the perimeter of the cage and can get going pretty fast as they really have nothing else to do. If you can choose, I would do it where the stingrays are in the natural habitat.

[kelleherdl]

Did the villa with butler three days ago. Will post longer review when I get home. It was GREAT!!!!!

Dennis

 

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[Typhoon1]

Did the villa with butler three days ago. Will post longer review when I get home. It was GREAT!!!!!

Dennis

 

Looking forward to hearing more.

[kelleherdl]

Sorry for the delay on the review.

 

For a special surprise for our party I reserved Villa D with the butler option on the NA March 2 cruise. I was a little leary about the cost, but all agreed that the day really made the cruise. I reserved Villa D early to get that one. It sits midway between the cluster of A,B,C and E the last one further down the beach. I originally did not want to be too far from the pirate ship bar for the unlimited 'beverages.' That turned out not be an issue. We never had to leave the vicinity of the villa. Robert, our butler, (all butlers are the waiters from the Pinnacle Grill) wouldn't think of letting us bother ourselves with getting our own drinks.... Yes, it was that convenient!

 

The morning before HMC I asked Robert at breakfast in the PG how I would find out who our butler would be. He just pointed to himself. He told me the next day that assignments are not by chance. The waiters can look up on the ship's computers which guests have each cabana and villa and I guess volunteer themselves. He assured me at breakfast that I had nothing to worry about. He would take care of us. We agreed he would meet our party at 9 am in the morning at our suite to escort us ashore.

 

Escorting ashore meant just that. Robert even offered to carry all the couples bags. That would have been challenging. Tendering was no issue. The Z'dam was at HMC that morning as well and I wondered how crowded the beach would be. As folks on the this board have already stated HMC is large enough to easily accommodate two HAL ships. I forgot to bring the excursion card ashore. The caused a short delay as Robert checked us in at the excursion desk ashore. We opted not to use the 'car' to our Villa as we wanted to see where the bars were located. As I said earlier that turned out to be irrelevant.

 

The Villas are really neat... The description in the excursion listing is correct... Very clean and well laid out. When we got there Robert took us on a tour and explained what we could do. He asked what time we would like lunch. That was a little surprising. I really did not think we would have that much control. Your excursion envelope includes an order form for lunch and dessert entrees to bring ashore. That also was a little irrelevant. Robert says he always has the Pinnacle Grill prepare more food than requested as it always gets eaten. BTW for lunch you will likely see all the PG waiters. It's all hands on deck delivering food. The food was excellent. No real hint that it was tendered ashore from the ship.

 

As I said before, nobody in our party left the vicinity of the Villa. No one was ever in need of a drink. Robert knew the head bartender at the Pirate ship and drinks appeared out of nowhere.

 

My wife and I did walk the length of the beach and we all spent some time in the water on the rafts, but we mostly just enjoyed the beach and the Villa. The water and beach are as nice as other posters have stated.

 

One caution: For obvious reasons the hot tub is high on chemicals. My wife's new bathing suit was faded. Take that into account. Wear suits that you know will stand the chemicals (like a Speedo designed for pools) or one you can accept some potential effect.

 

We hated the leave the island. It truly was a great day. We really liked that HMC was the last day of our cruise. All our party agreed it would not have been as enjoyable had it been the first day like it was for the Z'dam.

[jmonzz]

Hey Dennis that's great info. Unfortunately we're traveling on carnival and I'm pretty sure they don't offer butler service for the villas but I'm definitely gonna look into it. We have two of them rented, D & E.

[Typhoon1]

Hey Dennis that's great info. Unfortunately we're traveling on carnival and I'm pretty sure they don't offer butler service for the villas but I'm definitely gonna look into it. We have two of them rented, D & E.

 

Correct, butler service is not available on CCL.

 

Thanks for your thorough review, Dennis.

[Pellaz]

Cheers is Carnival's 15-drink-a-day alcohol package. Their unlimited soda package is called Bottomless Bubbles. They are separate programs and are charged separately.

 

Oops, I think I erred, here. Although Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles are separate, it is now my understanding that paying for Cheers also includes Bottomless Bubbles for that individual....but not, alas, the other way 'round. :)

 

Cheers is still not honored on HMC, regardless.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Pellaz

[morganboys]

Yep. Sounds like your gang is going to have a blast!! Here's a pic of Villas A,B, & C.

 

 

is there anywhere that lists the prices of the paddle boats and sail boats that are in this picture?

[Nadersmom]

I booked a cabana for HMC on our trip in November as a surprise for the others in my party. Trying to figure out if I need to be sure they bring towels with them to the island.

 

I know that there is snorkel equipment and floats, drinks and snacks, (hopefully sliced fruit) :). But are there towels included in the rental or do we need to bring them from the ship

 

Sorry, I'm sure it's been posted numerous times. I just went back quite a few pages and cant find reference.....

 

Any thing else I should know with the cabana rental? It's our first time at HMC and I'm so excited for this stop. I'm looking at cabana #8, 9 or 10 as my first choices if possible. I don't want to be all the way up to 15, but don't want to be right in the middle of the biggest crowds on the beach. Do these cabana #s sound about right for that?