Home › Compare ports › Celebration Key vs RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay

Celebration Key vs RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay

Two private islands, side by side, from our port guides' data. Data last checked: Oct 2026

The short answer

Both are rated Easy for exploring on your own.
Getting ashore: Celebration Key is dock, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is dock or tender.

Celebration Key

📍 Bahamas (Grand Bahama)

🚢 Carnival (also some Princess calls)

Easy

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay

📍 Bahamas (Little San Salvador)

🚢 Carnival · Holland America · Princess (from Nov 2026)

Easy

Side by side

	Celebration Key	RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Explore-on-your-own rating	Easy	Easy
Country	Bahamas (Grand Bahama)	Bahamas (Little San Salvador)
Dock or tender	Dock	Dock or tender
Where ships dock	Celebration Key pier (Carnival, south side of Grand Bahama; opened July 2025, expanding to four berths)	Half Moon Cay pier (1,005 ft; opened 2026, so most ships now dock) Tenders still possible in some cases
Getting ashore and around	No town. The pier walk to Paradise Plaza, the central hub, is about 6–10 minutes. Free hop-on trams link the areas ("portals").	The island formerly called Half Moon Cay is now branded RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. No town; a free tram links the beach stops and venues.
Cruise line	Carnival (also some Princess calls)	Carnival · Holland America · Princess (from Nov 2026)
Free	Paradise Lagoon and Calypso Lagoon pools; beaches; loungers; splash areas; sports courts; trams; one walk-up meal	Beach; standard loungers and umbrellas; buffet lunch; water, lemonade and tea; tram; beach wheelchairs
Costs extra	Drinks; full-service dining; Pearl Cove Beach Club (adults); cabanas; daybeds; rentals	Cabanas; clamshells and daybeds; lockers; alcohol and sodas; watersports; guided snorkeling
Beaches	Paradise Lagoon beach area Calypso Beach Pearl Cove (paid)	The island's long crescent beach
Top sights	Paradise Plaza shops and bars Starfish Lagoon waterslides and splash area (included) Calypso Lagoon (has a 13+ section) Pearl Cove Beach Club (adults; extra)	Crescent beach with several tram stops Cabanas and beach club areas (extra) Horseback riding and water sports (excursions)
Currency	U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account.	U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account.
Entry for U.S. citizens	Bahamas: on a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same U.S. port), U.S. citizens can sail with an original or certified birth certificate plus government photo ID, but a valid U.S. passport is strongly recommended in case you have to fly home. You stay inside the cruise line's area, so there's no separate immigration line for you.	Bahamas: on a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same U.S. port), U.S. citizens can sail with an original or certified birth certificate plus government photo ID, but a valid U.S. passport is strongly recommended in case you have to fly home. You stay inside the cruise line's area, so there's no separate immigration line for you.
Back on time	Allow 10+ minutes to walk the pier back. Be at the ship 30–45 minutes before all-aboard.	Trams get busy late in the day. Head back 45 minutes before all-aboard.

Fares and times are as reported by the sources on each port page and change often. Always confirm with your cruise line.

Why the ratings differ

Celebration Key: Can you do it on your own? Yes. It's purpose-built and self-contained; you don't need a tour.

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay: Can you do it on your own? Yes. Everything is on the island; just pick your beach spot.

Quick answers

Is Celebration Key or RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay easier to explore on your own?

Both are rated Easy for exploring on your own. Can you do it on your own? Yes. Can you do it on your own? Yes.

Do you tender or dock in Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay?

Celebration Key: Dock (Dock (6–10 min walk to Paradise Plaza)). RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay: Dock or tender (Dock (new 2026 pier; tender possible)).

What's free at Celebration Key vs RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay?

Celebration Key: Paradise Lagoon and Calypso Lagoon pools; beaches; loungers; splash areas; sports courts; trams; one walk-up meal. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay: Beach; standard loungers and umbrellas; buffet lunch; water, lemonade and tea; tram; beach wheelchairs.

When should I head back to the ship?

Celebration Key: Allow 10+ minutes to walk the pier back. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay: Trams get busy late in the day.

Celebration Key port guide → RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay port guide → More comparisons