Heidi BucoloWe just returned from a Carnival cruise visiting both the brand-new RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key in the Bahamas. Both private destinations were a highlight of the trip but for very different reasons. Each has a distinct vibe — one is a purpose-built resort with a massive lagoon pool, waterslides, and 30+ food and drink options and the other is 2.5 miles of natural, pristine Bahamian beach. Which one is better? That depends entirely on what kind of beach day you want. RelaxAway Half Moon Cay vs. Celebration Key: here’s how they compare.
What Are Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay?
Both Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay are privately owned by Carnival Corporation, which means the only way to visit either is on a cruise. Carnival guests at both destinations dock directly at a dedicated pier — so getting ashore at each is simple.
Celebration Key is Carnival’s newest private destination, located on the southern coast of Grand Bahama Island about 23 miles from Freeport. It opened in July 2025 and is designed from the ground up to be a full resort experience — a freshwater lagoon, a 10-story sandcastle with dual waterslides, an adults-only beach club, and more food and drink options than most ships. It’s lively, amenity-packed, and built for fun. Carnival ships and Princess ships visit Celebration Key.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is entirely different. Formerly known simply as Half Moon Cay, this crescent-shaped island about 100 miles southeast of Nassau has been a Carnival Corporation destination since it opened in 1997. It recently underwent a major expansion and rebrand as part of Carnival’s Paradise Collection — including a brand-new pier and a fully developed north side experience exclusively for Carnival guests. Holland America ships still visit the south side of the island via tender boats. But the philosophy hasn’t changed: this is a natural beach perfect for relaxation. No pools, no waterpark, no manufactured lagoon.
Beach & Pool Experience
Key Takeaway: If you want a pool and a resort day vibe, go to Celebration Key. If you want a natural unspoiled beach, go to Half Moon Cay. Neither is objectively better — they’re just completely different.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key’s signature feature is its enormous freshwater lagoon — totaling over 275,000 square feet, making it the largest freshwater lagoon in the Caribbean. Starfish Lagoon on the east side of the property is the family-friendly pool with a gentle sloped entry, a 10-story sandcastle structure with two waterslides, and a splash pad nearby for younger kids. Calypso Lagoon on the west side has more of an adult energy and a DJ island at the center. There’s also a beach on both sides — Starfish Beach and Calypso Beach — with free loungers and umbrellas available.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay has no pool, splash pad, or waterslides by design. Instead, it has approximately 2.5 miles of beachfront. Think white sand, turquoise water, and over 4,500 complimentary umbrellas and double that number of chairs spread across the sandy shoreline. This is a proper beach day, where guests can swim, snorkel, or simply relax away.
Food & Drinks
Key Takeaway: Food is included at both destinations, but in very different ways. Half Moon Cay offers an unlimited buffet. Celebration Key gives each guest one Island Eats meal credit with 30+ options to choose from — but everything beyond that costs extra. At both destinations, the Cheers drink package does not work.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key has a variety of food offerings spread across the property, from food trucks serving Bahamian tacos, doughnuts, and fritters, to a food hall, Snack Shack locations, and full-service sit-down restaurants including Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen, Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews, and Gill’s Grill.
The catch is the Island Eats credit system. Rather than an unlimited buffet, each guest receives one meal credit per person — redeemable at a quick-casual venue for a free meal, or as a 40% discount on one entrée at a full-service restaurant.
On the drinks side, there’s no shortage of bars — swim-up bars in both lagoons, the Sunshine Swings Bar, multiple beach bars, and even a coffee shop. However, Carnival’s Cheers drink package does not work at Celebration Key. All alcoholic and specialty drinks are paid out of pocket via your Sail & Sign card.
The menu items we sampled were flavorful and the portions were a good size. We appreciate the variety when compared to a traditional island BBQ; however, you need to go in knowing that you’ll likely spend extra on food.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay keeps it simple. A complimentary, unlimited lunch buffet is available at two locations on the north side — Orchid Beach Grill & Bar and Hibiscus Beach Grill & Bar serving burgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, nachos, salads, and desserts. There are currently no premium offerings or up-charge restaurants.
There are bars spread across the north side, including Lil’ Tiki Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack, Luna Tide Beach Bar, and Rum Time Bar Shack — each serving a full menu of island-inspired cocktails. Like Celebration Key, Carnival’s Cheers package does not work at Half Moon Cay either. You’ll need to use your Sail & Sign card for beverages.
The RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay buffet is large with lots of stations and seating areas. The items we sampled were definitely on par or slightly better than other cruise lines’ island buffets.
Activities & Amenities
Key Takeaway: Choose Celebration Key for built-in thrills and resort-style amenities and Half Moon Cay for nature-based experiences including the very popular horseback riding excursion.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key was built to keep guests active and entertained beyond the beach and pools. The standout upcharge activity is the Suncastle’s dual racing waterslides — two 350-foot, 10-story slides available for $15 per person for unlimited rides. Sports courts with pickleball, basketball, and volleyball are complimentary, as is the gaming pavilion with table tennis and cornhole. The Guppy Grotto splash pad is free for younger kids.
For those wanting to venture off property, Celebration Key’s location on Grand Bahama Island opens up a range of shore excursions like ATV tours, ziplining, city tours, glass-bottom boat trips, and more.
Cabana and villa rentals are available across both lagoon areas and the beach. The adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club is the premium experience, with an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool, elevated dining, and a swim-up bar.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay’s activities lean heavily on the natural environment. Horseback riding is one of the most popular shore excursions on the island and a bucket-list experience. Beyond that, guests can rent kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, and more, or book guided excursions like a stingray adventure, eco lagoon tour, or snorkeling by boat. Cabana and daybed rentals are available at an upcharge, with standard cabanas starting at $799.99 and daybeds starting at $149.99.
On the complimentary side, the beach itself is the main attraction. And unlike Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay does not have an adults-only section.
Comparison Table
| RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay | Celebration Key | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Ashore | Dedicated pier on north side for up to 2 ships | Dedicated pier for up to 4 ships |
| Beach | Yes — 2.5 miles of natural beach | Yes — Starfish & Calypso Beaches |
| Pool/Lagoon | None | Massive freshwater lagoon |
| Included Food | Unlimited lunch buffet | One Island Eats meal credit per guest |
| Cheers Package | Does not work | Does not work |
| WiFi Package | Works on north side of island | Works |
| Waterslides | No | Yes — upcharge ($15/person) |
| Adult-Only Space | No | Yes — Pearl Cove Beach Club (upcharge) & 13+ section in Calypso Lagoon |
| Overall Vibe | Natural, relaxed beach | Lively and fun resort |
Overall Vibe & Pros and Cons
Visiting both destinations on the same cruise made one thing immediately clear to us: these two Carnival private destinations are completely different.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay has been a Carnival Corporation favorite for years and for good reason. The island’s entire identity is built around preservation and simplicity, and the 2026 expansion has added infrastructure without changing the island’s vibe. The beach is beautiful, the pace is slow, and the experience feels like the Bahamas rather than a theme park. The tradeoff is that if you’re expecting the amenities of Celebration Key, you’ll be surprised by what isn’t here.
Celebration Key is Carnival’s vision of what a private destination can be. It’s lively, impressive, and loaded with amenities. The lagoons are breathtaking in scale, Pearl Cove is one of the best adults-only retreats at any cruise destination, and the sheer variety of food and activities means there’s something for everyone. The tradeoff is that it can feel too loud for those seeking a relaxing day in the sun.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Pros
- 2.5 miles of pristine white sand beach with included chairs and umbrellas
- Unlimited included lunch buffet
- Horseback riding and other nature-focused excursions
- A natural, unhurried vibe
- Maximum of three ships in port with plenty of beach space to spread out
- Pier allows for easy access ashore, no more tendering
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Cons
- No pool of any kind
- No adult-only section
- Cheers package doesn’t work here
- Fewer dining options and bars vs. Celebration Key
- Distance between tram stops/amenities can be significant
Celebration Key Pros
- Massive freshwater lagoon — PLUS plenty of beach space
- A variety of food and drink options
- Pearl Cove Beach Club is an adults-only retreat
- Waterslides, sports courts, splash pad, and plenty to keep everyone busy
- Access to Grand Bahama Island for diverse shore excursions
- Authentic Bahamian touches — local food vendors & craft beer, artisan market, Junkanoo parades
Celebration Key Cons
- Island Eats credit system adds complexity to dining
- Cheers package doesn’t work here
- Feels theme park-like rather than naturally beautiful
- Pier now accommodates up to four ships at a time, which could lead to crowding
- Louder, party vibes can distract from a relaxing day ashore
Which Should You Choose?
Here’s our honest bottom line: RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key are built for different travelers on different kinds of days. “Better” all depends on how you define your perfect beach day. Do you want a fun, more active day ashore or a quiet, relaxing retreat?
We loved both of these exclusive destinations and think they complement each other nicely on Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries. We wouldn’t hesitate to book another cruise visiting both of these Carnival Paradise Collection locales.
Choose RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay if you want:
- One of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas
- A simple, relaxed day ashore
- Horseback riding or other nature-based excursions
- The feel of a real Bahamian island rather than a built resort
Choose Celebration Key if you want:
- A pool day with swim-up bars and all the amenities
- The biggest adults-only beach club retreat in the Caribbean
- Maximum variety in food, drinks, and entertainment
- A lively, social atmosphere with music and energy
If you’re on a Carnival itinerary that calls at both — as we were — you’re in for two very different but equally memorable days.
Comments
Do you have an upcoming cruise visiting RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay or Celebration Key? Which of these exclusive Carnival destinations do you prefer? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences visiting Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.
