Half Moon Cay Tender Process

How do you get ashore at Carnival’s Private Island, Half Moon Cay, is always a big question. There is no pier on Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay (at least not currently) so you have to take a water shuttle to the island.

It’s a pretty easy process to take the tender, or water shuttle, to Half Moon Cay, but it does require a little preparation.

Step 1: Pick up ticket

The location of the tender, or water shuttle, tickets will be announced and will also be available on the app. When you are close to ready to go ashore, send one member of your group to go pick up the tickets. Everyone does not have to go pick up the tickets. It will usually be anywhere for 15 minutes to an hour from picking up the ticket to actually having your number called. I would recommend sending one person to grab the tickets before you head to breakfast, that way you’re not just waiting around aimlessly and your spot will be ready once you are!

Step 2: Wait for your number

It depends on the ship how the number is actually called. Usually they are called over the intercom and sometimes they will be on the TVs as well. But it will be clear once they start calling numbers how it is happening. You don’t have to wait where you exit. That just makes you feel like you’re in the way and makes the waiting process much longer!

Step 3: Head to the designated location after your number is called

They will identify where you are supposed to go after your number is called. Usually that is deck 0 to get off the ship and into the water shuttle, but occasionally they will have you wait in a lounge while they gather people.

Step 4: Enjoy the ride to the island

Sometimes it is a pain to have to take the water shuttles. Sometimes it feels like you get a free excursion in the form of a boat ride. You can get great photos of the ship, photos of the shore. Feel the wind in your hair. Get a sunburn. If you are infinitely sunburnable, like myself, try to snag a seat in the shade. It can take a few minutes for the tenders to load and unload.

Step 5: Enjoy your time on the island!

Half Moon Cay is amazing. Enjoy your time – just note the time for the last tender back!

Step 6: Return to the ship

No tickets are needed for your return journey. Just join the line, go through security and then find your way onto the loading tender.

Helpful hints on the Half Moon Cay Tender Process

Do not try to get a ticket right when you want to get off. It will take a few minutes or even an hour.

If you are willing to wait until later in the day, they will stop doing tickets for tenders and you will be able to just walk off the ship. But most people want to go ahead and get the party started, so to speak, and this is one of those times I recommend joining the crowd.

Unless you’re not a beach person. If you don’t enjoy a beach and you just want to pop ashore for a quick walk and then head back to the ship, then maybe that is for you.

Diamond, Platinum, Faster to the Fun, Suite Guests or other PRIORITY cruisers

If you have priority boarding, you don’t have to do any of those steps listed above. You should get a letter in your room telling you where priority guests wait. (It’s usually the main dining room.) Just head to that area when you are ready and you will be escorted onto the next tender they load.

Please note, this is not an instantaneous process. You still have to wait for the next tender to be loaded so you may end up sitting in the waiting area for a few minutes before they’re ready to load. Also, because you will be in the first group on the tender, you get your choice of seats but it can take a few minutes for the tender to fill up and be ready to leave.

But generally, it is still a much faster process than getting a tender ticket and waiting for them to call you.

There is no priority from shore to ship. You just get to join everybody else.

And that’s it. It’s not a complicated process and while it might take a little while it doesn’t have to be painful. Just be prepared to grab your tickets in advance, but be ready when they call you!