Cruise passengers who roll up to Half Moon Cay are greeted with the sign "I Wish I Could Stay Here Forever," while over at another Bahamian private island, CocoCay, it's seemingly always a "Perfect Day."
Both islands are run by cruise lines: Half Moon Cay is used exclusively by Holland America and Carnival passengers, while CocoCay caters to Royal Caribbean cruisers. Regardless of which island you're on, after a day swaying on a hammock overlooking the turquoise ocean, that #privateislandlife seems more like a life goal than a clever hashtag.
Let's explore the amenities offered on each island to help you determine which port of call is best for your next cruise adventure.
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Similarities Between CocoCay and Half Moon Cay
CocoCay and Half Moon Cay are both private islands in the Bahamas, located about 150 miles from each other. You can only access these islands as a cruise passenger, so the name of the game in both destinations is primarily relaxing and having fun.

Differences Between CocoCay and Half Moon Cay
Island size and characteristics: Half Moon Cay measures a whopping 2,400 acres compared to CocoCay's 140 acres. Most of the land on Half Moon Cay's interior is undeveloped, though, and functions as a nature preserve. Facilities take up about 50 acres, whereas there is more development throughout CocoCay, particularly with the addition of the water park and other attractions as part of the Perfect Day at CocoCay upgrades.


CocoCay vs. Half Moon Cay: Bottom Line
Despite their proximity to each other, these two islands are essentially different in most of their offerings. Depending on what types of activities appeal to you best, you'll find the most variety, adventure and bells and whistles on CocoCay. Half Moon Cay, ranked highly by cruise passengers for its natural beauty, is best suited for a relaxing beach day away from the ship.Updated October 10, 2019
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