The new investments in the Bahamas and other countries show how Carnival is reshaping its cruise itineraries around luxury destinations.
Inside look at Carnival’s newly upgraded Bahamas Island
Carnival Cruise Line’s newly upgraded Relaxaway at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas features new restaurants, a beach and a pier.
- Carnival Cruise Line has upgraded its private island in the Bahamas and renamed it Half Moon Cay Relax Away.
- New additions to the island include a pier, tram service, restaurant and complimentary loungers and umbrellas.
- Carnival is expanding its portfolio of private destinations, known as the Paradise Collection, to accommodate larger ships and enhance the guest experience.
The sun was shining as I walked along the Papaya Pathway at Relax Away on Carnival Cruise Line’s Bahamas private island, Half Moon Cay. Visitors played volleyball on a nearby sandy court before jumping up and down, while others lay out on rows of loungers.
Trams whizzed along the sidewalks, dropping off passengers at stops named after fruits ranging from limes to guavas, and beach rental stations were stocked with one- and two-person kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel masks and fins, and three-wheeled aquacycles. But this was no raucous beach party. Visitors seemed to be relaxing, drinking tropical drinks and swimming in the sea.
Until recently, many of them did not exist. The cruise line welcomed guests to the upgraded island on June 1, as passengers on the Carnival Sunrise, carrying about 3,000 guests, explored the newly developed north side of the island for the first time.
Relax Away represents a significant investment in the company’s land-based operations, with an expanded white-sand beachfront that transports visitors to turquoise waters, but that’s not all. Carnival is focusing on its coastal portfolio and developing the Destination Paradise Collection.
Here’s why and what guests need to know.
What’s new with Relax Away at Half Moon Cay?
The destination’s new name – previously just Half Moon Cay – is one of many updates.
When I stepped out onto the balcony of my cabin in the morning, I saw the Carnival Sunrise moored at the new pier, about a 5-minute walk from Welcome Plaza. Also newly added, the tram service can visit six stops that act as its own section, or guests can walk between stops (a handy on-site map shows travel times; the longest is a 15-minute walk).
Each section has its own activities and facilities, from the artisan market at the Coconut Line tram stop that guests enter, to Lil Tiki Bar (try the refreshing, sweet but not too strong Bahama Mama) at the Lime tram stop, to Luna Tide Beach Bar at the avocado stop. There are currently no in-flight drinks packages on the island, and drinks such as cocktails and sodas must be purchased a la carte (although water and juices are complimentary).
Two of the stops have buffet style restaurants. During my visit, customers were lining up for lunch at Hibiscus Beach Grill, which offered free burgers, fries, and a nacho bar with toppings like pulled pork and chili con carne, as well as snacks like salads and fruit.
Loungers and umbrellas (previously charged) are free, but other options like cabanas and daybeds are available for an additional fee. Prices vary depending on the sailing and the package selected by the guest.
The cruise company also retained certain trademarks of the island, such as tours that took guests on horseback on the beach.
Carnival President Christine Duffy said the destination will accommodate two ships docked at the pier and one tender boat, including the Excel class and the upcoming larger Project Ace ship. However, the cruise line plans to limit capacity on the island until September as it ramps up operations.
Holland America Line, also part of Carnival Corp., is also visiting the island’s existing south side, adding its own “new design elements and food and beverage upgrades,” according to a news release.
As the name suggests, Relax Away is “a little more relaxed and low-key” than Celebration Cay, another Paradise Collection destination that opened on Grand Bahama Island last year, with waterslides and a giant freshwater lagoon, Duffy said.
“What’s really great is the beach,” she said during a media briefing aboard the Sunrise. “So I think sometimes we lose the color of the water, the beauty of nature, and when we crowd in too many other things to distract from it.”
However, guests can visit both on the same voyage. My 5-night itinerary started from Miami and back, stopping at two private destinations and Nassau.
What other private destinations is Carnival developing?
In late May, Carnival announced a new name and upgrades for Isla Tropical on Roatan, Honduras. The island opened in 2009 as Mahogany Bay. The new Mangrove Bay pool area will include a swim-up bar and children’s splash pad, providing guests with an additional 48,000 square feet of recreational space.
In addition to Relaxaway, Celebration Cay, and Isla Tropical, Carnival also has special destinations in Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Puerta Maya in Mexico.
While RelaxAway and Celebration Cay are destinations in their own right, Duffy said on the ship’s Wave Morning Show that the company refers to the other ports as “gateways.” Because these are places that take us to places where we can have special experiences in ports, but they are also gateways to visit these very beautiful places and do shore excursions.
Why is Carnival leaning toward private destinations?
As Carnival builds new, larger ships, there are only a limited number of ports those ships can visit, Duffy said. Many of the private destinations have been part of Carnival Corporation’s portfolio for many years, but they were not always marketed in the way they are today.
“And now, as we invest in these new ships and the larger ships that we have, the focus is on us saying, ‘Okay, we have to invest in these destinations,'” she said at a press conference.
Although Carnival still operates longer cruises, including popular eight-day cruises to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, many of the cruise line’s itineraries are shorter. Having a unique destination near the Bahamas has multiple benefits.
“The environmental benefits are obvious because it’s so close,” Duffy said. “There are also fuel benefits, which are popular with our guests.”The new pier will also make port calls more reliable, as ships may not be able to operate tenders in bad weather.
The changes come as many other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, are adding or upgrading land-based services, from private islands to small beach clubs.
Marilyn McAleer, a cruise travel analyst with Focus Light, told USA TODAY in 2025 that having their own destinations gives cruise lines more control over the experience, from the design to the ships that call there and the price of food and drinks. Some communities are pushing back against overtourism. Geopolitical developments that may impact Itineraries and private destinations become more predictable and convenient.
Carnival isn’t over. For example, there is an opportunity to further expand the Isla Tropical fleet, and the cruise line plans to make additional investments at Celebration Cay, Duffy added. “We’re always going to be thinking about what’s next.”
This article has been updated to update the headline.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
