Carnival fans are about to get access to a massively revamped private island

27.08.2024 - 19:43 / thepointsguy.com / Holland America

Exciting news, Carnival Cruise Line fans: A visit to a massively revamped private island is in your future.

The world's second-largest cruise line on Tuesday announced a wide range of new Caribbean itineraries that would include a visit to Half Moon Cay, a private island that the line said will undergo a massive expansion.

Scheduled to begin in 2026, the new itineraries will be available on seven Carnival ships sailings out of four home ports: Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida; Galveston, Texas; and Baltimore, Maryland.

Already celebrated for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, Half Moon Cay will receive a major makeover that includes the addition of expanded beach areas, new dining venues and new drinking venues, Carnival said.

Also in the works for the private island is a new pier that will allow Carnival's biggest ships, including the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and sister vessels Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, to dock at the island.

Related: The 8 types of Carnival ships, explained

In its announcement Tuesday, Carnival offered relatively few details on what the expansion of Half Moon Cay would entail but said additional information about the project would be announced soon.

Half Moon Cay originally opened to cruise ships in 1997. At the time, it was leased and used exclusively by Holland America, a sister brand to Carnival. But over the years, it began to welcome Carnival ships, too.

Carnival bought Holland America in 1989, and both lines are now part of parent company Carnival Corp.

Holland America leased Half Moon Cay for 99 years in 1996. Originally called Little San Salvador and renamed Half Moon Cay by the line, the 2,400-acre island was uninhabited and without running water or electricity at the time of the lease's signing.

Holland America initially spent $16 million preparing it for cruise ships and has continued to invest in it over the years. The island is now home to beach villas that can be rented for the day, an oceanside cabana for massages and a multilevel watery fun zone for kids, among a long list of attractions.

Carnival on Tuesday said new itineraries with a revamped Half Moon Cay on the schedule starting in 2026 would include a variety of seven-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings out of Miami on Carnival Celebration — one of Carnival's biggest ships.

Related: Carnival orders 3 massive new ships

In addition to Half Moon Cay, the new Carnival Celebration sailings will include stops at Carnival's soon-to-open Celebration Key and a mix of the following ports: Nassau in the Bahamas; Grand Turk; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Cozumel, Mexico; Mahogany Bay in Honduras; St. Thomas; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Other new itineraries with a