What Did They Do To RelaxAway Half Moon Cay: Better or Worse?

We got an exclusive first look at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay — Carnival's newly expanded private island. No tendering, a brand new north side, and one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Here's our honest review of everything included, what costs extra, and what they don't tell you before you go. 💲Save BIG with MEI-Travel cruise deals: https://bookmeicruise.com/?apid=escy 🌎Save Up to 40% On Shore Excursions: https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1603014 Up Next: Royal Caribbean Vs Carnival Cruise Line: https://youtu.be/Zd-D0Z_TGYg Subscribe to the Eat Sleep Cruise YouTube Channel if you love to travel and cruise the world! https://www.youtube.com/@Eatsleepcruise1 🛳️ FREE CRUISE PLANNING GUIDE: https://eatsleepcruise.com/cruise-planning-guide Aerial Footage Courtesy of@CruiseRadio Get the latest cruise news and updates https://www.youtube.com/c/@CruiseRadio In this video, we cover everything you need to know before your Carnival Half Moon Cay visit: how the north side is laid out, what's included vs. what costs extra, the food and bar situation, shore excursions, beach rentals, and how RelaxAway stacks up against Celebration Key and other private island destinations. 🗺️ LAYOUT & GETTING AROUND The north side of Half Moon Cay is organized into six areas — Mango, Lime, Pineapple, Guava, Avocado, and the Arrival Plaza. Carnival has added a complimentary tram service to get between them, but there are two separate routes, so pay attention. Accessible trams are also available. The Papaya Pathway connects the full length of the island on foot, though it's largely exposed — bring water. 🍔 FOOD & DRINKS The main buffet is the Hibiscus Beach Grill & Bar at the Guava stop. Open-air layout, solid spread — burgers, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, nachos, salads, desserts, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. We'd call it on par with, or slightly better than, most private island buffets. A second dining location at Mango was not open during our visit. With only two dining spots anchoring the far ends of a long island, the middle stretch feels underserved — a real gap Carnival should address. 🏖️ THE BEACH The best beach of any cruise line private island we've visited — and we've been to all of them. Soft white sand, calm turquoise water, and a natural crescent cove that keeps the waves down. Over 4,500 umbrellas and more than 9,000 lounge chairs are included with your cruise fare. Bring your beach towels from the ship — they are not provided on the island. There is no pool or waterpark at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. No adults-only area either, which is a miss for experienced cruisers. Premium upgrades: clamshells from ~$65, daybeds from ~$150, cabanas from ~$799. These are only available at specific locations, so do your homework before you arrive. 🐴 SHORE EXCURSIONS The signature horseback riding excursion — a land and sea ride — remains the most popular activity on the island. Carnival added 12 more horses for this expansion. Runs around $137 per person; book in advance. Other options include catamaran tours, kayaks, paddleboards, water bikes (~$33–$50/hr), snorkeling gear (~$22), guided snorkel by boat (~$66), jet ski (~$126), stingray adventure (~$55), and hiking and biking tours from ~$27. Note: We were guests of Carnival on this sailing. As always, everything you hear is our honest opinion. 0:00 Complete Guide to Carnival's RelaxAway Half Moon Cay 2:05 RelaxAway Half Moon Cay Layout 2:45 Getting Around Carnival Relax Away Half Moon Cay 4:22 Dining at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay 7:04 Bars and Drinks on Carnival Half Moon Cay 9:02 The Beach at Half Moon Cay 10:54 Premium Rentals and Add-Ons on Half Moon Cay 11:19 RelaxAway Half Mopn CAy Shore Excursions and Activities 12:39 Shopping on the Island 13:07 RelaxAway Half Moon Cay vs Celebration Cay ---TRENDING VIDEOS FROM EAT SLEEP CRUISE------ Best Cruise Ships of 2026: https://youtu.be/X1dhNISRnLk Best Cruises for Couples: https://youtu.be/fenNj5GmLdM Cruise Essentials We Always Pack: https://youtu.be/xa-0mxKWkeo The Cruise Rip-offs https://youtu.be/cjbKOLTVStQ Join us on Social Media as we “Sea the World, One Port at a Time.” Instagram: https://instagram.com/EatSleepCruise Facebook: https://facebook.com/EatSleepCruise Twitter: https://twitter.com/EatSleepCruise TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatsleepcruise Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/EatSleepCruise #RoyalCaribbeanvsCarnival #CarnivalvsCarnival #CruiseTips #RoyalCaribbean #CarnivalCruise #CruiseLineComparison #CruisePlanning #BestCruiseLine #EatSleepCruise #CruiseReview Question – Which cruise line are you sailing on in 2026? Affiliate link: Some links above may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links may be affiliate links.