RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™: New Pickleball Courts, Enhancements & Anniversary

We’re excited to celebrate two milestones at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™! This week marks the grand opening of four brand-new pickleball courts and the 28th anniversary of our award-winning private island. To kick things off, we hosted a Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) tournament on December 6 — bringing fun, competition, and unforgettable island vibes to our tropical paradise.

Following the success of the Rate Vegas Cut Presented by Holland America, we’ve taken pickleball to the next level at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™ — and even brought the excitement to the PPA World Championship in Dallas, where B.B. King’s All-Star Band (from our shipboard entertainment) performed. To commemorate the four new courts, we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Captains Jeroen Van Donselaar and Eric Barhorst of Eurodam and Rotterdam, respectively, followed by a friendly tournament among guests from both ships. The winning duo received prizes from the Professional Pickleball Association, including branded paddles, sweatshirts, and towels.

As the Official Cruise Line of the Professional Pickleball Association since 2022, Holland America brings pickleball to the land and sea in a big way. Every ship features at least one ocean-view court, ensuring guests can play with stunning backdrops. With the addition of the four new courts at Relax Away, Half Moon Cay™, guests who have a passion for the game will be able to play a match or sign up for lessons ashore with the sports director. The island’s pickleball courts are in the sports area, which also features basketball, volleyball, soccer, and tai chi.

Our anniversary celebration coincides with a multimillion-dollar transformation of our award-winning private island — and it’s more inviting than ever with refreshed cabanas, new day beds, and expanded beach seating. We’ve added 500 complimentary beach chairs and will introduce upgraded clamshell sunshades just in time for the holidays. Our 15 private cabanas have been renovated with fresh paint, new decking, umbrellas, and loungers. Guests booking a cabana enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages, floating mats, and snorkel gear for the day.

Looking ahead, our two-story villas will undergo renovations this winter, and by next season, a new food pavilion will debut, complementing the current Island Barbecue that serves Caribbean-inspired flavors. These enhancements ensure more comfort, more choices, and more ways to relax on our award-winning private island. Here are more details:

• Waiter service for added convenience
• Priority tendering for quicker access
• Exclusive food and beverage menu
• Upgraded hammocks and beach loungers
• Indoor and outdoor seating with stunning ship views

• Food trucks serving island favorites
• Bacardi Beach Buggies and Aperol Spritz Tricycles
• Refurbished Lobster Shack
• Island-only menu items like fish tacos, fresh fruit, and Caribbean jerk chicken

• Four new pickleball courts
• Expanded shopping venues
• Enhanced beach facilities
• Upgraded cabanas and villas
• Cozy canopy beach loungers for two

This month, we’re proud to celebrate 28 incredible years of Holland America’s award-winning private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™. Known as the ultimate Caribbean escape, this pristine paradise has been carefully preserved while evolving to offer unforgettable experiences. From its breathtaking 700-acre natural lagoon to dozens of immersive shore excursions, every detail is designed for relaxation and adventure. Guests can indulge in island flavors at favorites like the Lobster Shack or simply lounge on powdery white sand under endless blue skies. Year after year, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™ remains our highest-rated Caribbean port — a testament to its beauty, amenities, and the memories created here. Join us in celebrating nearly three decades of paradise perfected.

Dreaming of turquoise waters and sun-soaked beaches? Holland America’s 2025–2026 Caribbean season offers nearly 30 itineraries across six ships, sailing now through April 2026. Explore the eastern, western, and southern Caribbean — or add a twist with a partial Panama Canal transit.

This season brings exciting updates: Miami joins as a new homeport, and Koningsdam returns, putting all three Pinnacle-class ships in the Caribbean for the ultimate cruising experience. Choose from weeklong escapes or extended journeys of 9–14 days featuring more islands on one itinerary. Want even more? Combine back-to-back sailings in Collectors’ Voyages for a seamless, multi-region adventure.

The winter is the perfect time to escape to the sunny weather and warm sands of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™ on a Caribbean cruise.

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