Picture this: you step off the tender onto a familiar stretch of sand, and something feels different. The loungers are wider, the bars look new, and there’s a beach club standing where there wasn’t one before. This is the RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay you’ll find if you’re sailing this fall.
Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas has been a fixture on its Caribbean itineraries for almost 30 years. The cruise line has sailed Caribbean waters for more than a century, and this fall marks the start of a yearlong buildup to the island’s 30th anniversary in 2027. The updates aren’t waiting for that milestone: they’re landing now, in time for you to see them firsthand if you’re sailing this fall or winter.
What’s Driving the Island’s Big Year
More than two dozen Caribbean itineraries will call at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay between October 2026 and April 2027, giving a wide swath of guests a first look at the changes. “It’s exciting to unveil the Beach Club as we prepare to welcome our first visitors in October,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. She said the goal is to build on what guests already love about the island, not replace it.
New Ways to Dine and Unwind
The most visible addition is the new Beach Club, but you’ll notice changes all over the island, not just there.
- Beach Club: Bookable starting in early October. The day pass includes priority tendering from the ship, dedicated waiter service, all-inclusive food and drinks, beach accessories and a few surprise extras.
- Food pavilion: A new pavilion serves a complimentary island-style barbecue menu at no extra charge.
- Bars and eateries: Holland America is renovating the island’s existing bars and eateries alongside the new additions.
- Cabanas and loungers: Upgraded cabanas, more daybeds, canopy loungers built for two and additional beach chairs give guests room to spread out.
- Pickleball courts: The island added four pickleball courts last season, giving guests another way to spend time ashore.
Together, the changes touch nearly every part of a day on the island, from the moment guests step off the tender to where they end up for lunch.
If you’re weighing a Caribbean cruise for later this year, the timing lines up. Booking for the Beach Club opens in early October.
If the holidays are on your mind, there’s more good news. Holland America Line’s Save on Sunshine promotion currently offers up to 50% off select fares, plus free kids’ fares on select sailings. That could make trading a traditional December at home for a few days in the islands easier to justify.