2024 Half Moon Cay | Changes To Clamshell Location and How To Secure Clamshell Update!

[@JourneyswithJuneandBrady]

OMG! I’m so glad I watched this. I was looking at them today. I’m going to HMC at the end of August!

[@lashawnyoung2725]

very helpful update!

[@LadyTrim]

Thanks for sharing this update. Going for the 1st time to Half Moon Cay next year and considered renting a clam shell. I was hesitant because the area with the beach chairs and clamshells looked very crowded. With this new location I'm more inclined to rent a clamshell now.

[@luvysfatlife]

One of our if not the favorite beach we’ve visited.

[@MegsnSeas]

Oh wow! Honestly I think being further out is a bonus, as long as they drive me there!

[@deblevine4580]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@luvysfatlife]

You're welcome! Enjoy your trip!

[@nicoleelliott6619]

Good to know! Thank you for the update.

[@CarnivalCruiseAddicts]

That water!!!! We can't wait to get back to half moon cay!

[@moniquegooden7047]

That’s a big difference from the last video. Thanks for the update. Most importantly it seems is to get there early!!

[@luvysfatlife]

@@moniquegooden7047 agree!👍🏻

[@Cruisingonabudget]

Thanks for sharing. When I went this last March, I was on the second tender over, I had a ticket for a clam shell and they were all used already. Pretty sure I saw the people setting them up for everyone accepting cash for them which was a bummer since I already paid. The cost on them is crazy, it stinks! I do like that they will drive you to the clamshells though.

[@luvysfatlife]

I think they just recently changed to this. This way only one person has to go and open al of them and they are in one area. A lady stated she went in May and it was NOT the way it was in this video. Thank you for watching.

[@Cruisingonabudget]

@@luvysfatlife I'm really happy about the change for sure!

[@lkaybird13]

Great Vlog Great Info! We don't go to half moon cay on my back to back in December we go to Princess Cay this time!

[@angie-whateverfloatsyourboat]

Thanks for the info!!

[@CruisingWithElena]

Great advice

[@jenn451]

I love HMC. It’s still my favorite. I’m sad the Sunshine is leaving. I live is Summerville SC so very close to Charleston

[@luvysfatlife]

@@jenn451 awesome! Did you recently try to join our FB group?

[@riannanewton4933]

Thank you for sharing this!! How far are they from the pirate ship bar?!

[@luvysfatlife]

It is a little walk down....maybe a quarter mile?

[@Jessica-m4z7o]

I can kinda see why they have moved them! Last year we rented a cabana and there was people that had their clamshells sitting almost on the steps of our cabana. The lounge chairs also needed to be spaced out, seems like everything was bunch up into one area!

[@luvysfatlife]

Yes, several years ago we rented a Cabana and just to the right of our Cabana was a clamshell. We did not have an issue with it. I have an issue more with paying a large amount of money and someone renting an umbrella camping right in front of my Cabana and Clamshell ;-) I was hoping renting the Clamshell would prevent that. The two rows of clamshells side by side puts them right on top of each other and the second row is looking at the back of the first row. I heard someone say it was to have less staff and so they would not need someone unlocking the Cabanas walking up and down the beach. They are all in one area now, which is true.

[@ohiostacker]

Question for you…I booked a Carnival Sunrise cruise for 2025. Does the Cheers package work on any of the islands you go to? We are going to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Celebration Key. Thank you!

[@luvysfatlife]

Unfortunately (I disagree on this as well), Carnival does NOT recognize the drink package off the ship. You can charge to your room number on the sign and sail card, but they do not recognize it. I think that is a BIG issue with Carnival and to me it should count.

[@joygift8105]

The same happen to is in April 2024. We just walk down closer to where they play the music and we took the chairs from the clamshell with us

[@luvysfatlife]

They had moved them all in April? Defeats the purpose of having the clamshells if you have to take the chairs down the beach 🏖️

[@clairegicbc]

I've rented a clam shell for this coming January. I also got a floating mat. Would you know how I would go about getting that mat? Do I get it after clam shell or before trolley?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@clairegicbc I didn’t see the mats near the clamshells. I’m sure they are somewhere close though. They couldn’t expect you to walk full length of beach. Someone will be there unlocking the clamshells or checking your voucher. Just ask them when they check your name off as soon as you come into area.

[@TheColleendoll]

I was commenting on a previous video about the snorkeling and just saw this. I am Surprised the clam shells are at such a distance from before! Was it due to wind for that time of year? How far was it to the nearest bathroom? I donated a kidney, so bathroom location is important to me.

[@luvysfatlife]

Hello, If I had to guess it was about 1/4 mile to nearest bathroom. The area you would be snorkeling in is a pretty good ways from a bathroom too though. Also, your comment on cost of Cabana versus clamshell is not even close. I think the Cabana is around $600 versus a clamshell for less than $100. There is a HUGE difference in the two though. Also, for the price difference you could get that Gopro or purchase a cheaper action camera. I personally would not take a chance with an iPhone in a plastic pouch for video. You have to do what is best for you though.

[@dianeharden6386]

I have a question about an extra room key on Holland. Do you know if you can get an extra room key for a relative to us3 your balcony?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@dianeharden6386 I’m pretty sure ONLY those assigned to room can get a room key. We’ve never done Holland, but that is how most work.

[@dianeharden6386]

Glad to know...we are going there in December on Holland. Not sure how it works on Holland reserving the tickets for these. If the rentals are for all day...how do you keep other people from using them if you leave and come back? Also, I have bad knees and it looked a little hard getting to the shore through sand steps...is it hard?

[@luvysfatlife]

Getting to the shore the sand is thick. There are a couple areas that have areas to walk down that makes it easier for wheelchairs. Not around the clam shells though. We became friendly with neighbors and asked them to watch when we left. If you leave something on clam shells no one will take from you. We’ve done this 4-5 times with no issues.

[@dianeharden6386]

@@luvysfatlife thank you for the information...very helpful

[@TheColleendoll]

How long did it take you to get to the lunch area? Did you get on a shuttle bus back to the lunch area and then back to your clam shell?

[@luvysfatlife]

It's probably a quarter mile to half mile walk? When we were there the shuttles were sparse.

[@Mrcruisefever1]

Hopefully they keep the nice forest on island. / I know it’s owned by Holland America ( Carnival Corporation )

[@jasone3785]

When you first got to Half Moon Cay where did you go to ask about the clamshells? Is it the info station? On the carnival site it says go to the watersports rental hut #1. We have tickets but want to make sure we get ours because someone said if you wait too late that you might not get one even if you paid in advance.

[@luvysfatlife]

@@jasone3785 that has changed and the website is wrong. We have another vlog on half moon cay on the carnival sunshine and the lady is at the entrance yelling clamshell rentals. Don’t be late! Get on that first tender if possible. Also don’t follow the ticket info on where to meet.

[@jasone3785]

You are awesome! Thanks!

[@amywright1133]

I love your wife’s swim cover-up. Can you tell me where she got it from?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@amywright1133 she got it off Amazon a few years ago. It is her favorite and she loves it. Thanks for noticing (she said). 😂🤣

[@amywright1133]

@@luvysfatlife you are very welcome. I am going on a cruise on sunshine to Nassau and half moon cay. August 17. I know on half moon cay Carnival cooks for you and you don’t have to pay for it. But what about Nassau. ? Also can you take a soft sided cooler off of the ship to put your drinks in to take to the beach just to keep from buying drinks cause I know your drink package don’t work off the ship.?

[@andrewjimenez7758]

How far are the clamshells from the cabana floats in the water? Because i rented both and we are going this month.

[@luvysfatlife]

Not far at all. Right beside them.

[@OurFamilyEscapades]

Do you have to do the same thing for the Umbrella rentals?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@OurFamilyEscapades I’m not sure about the umbrella rentals. They were putting them up everywhere including right in front of us. They were only telling out clamshell rentals come over here as you walked in.

[@mraymoreno]

Where do you get the umbrellas? I think we might like those better

[@luvysfatlife]

@@mraymoreno you can rent them there. That’s kind of a controversy too. People pay $50 for the clamshells and people set up the umbrellas right in front of them after they moved them all the way down the beach. 😉🤣😂🤦‍♂️

[@michellehagman4183]

I have a QUESTION? Do they rent umbrellas/chairs? the clamshells seem hot but if thats all they have will need to try them. Do You rent in excursions before you go?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@michellehagman4183 umbrellas are rented there not in advance. Key to clamshells is propping up the back for airflow.

[@michellehagman4183]

Ok thank you so much for the info!

[@brendalargent9063]

How close are the bathrooms to the new clamshell location?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@brendalargent9063 not close!

[@sjarm4]

$49 for a clamshell? I remember when they were 29 bucks. Half moon cay is gorgeous!

[@luvysfatlife]

@@sjarm4 we do too! So expensive now!

[@angrybeaver6667]

Do you happen to know how far down you are if you rented umbrellas?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@angrybeaver6667 there was an area to rent them but they were dragging them all over to set up. I didn’t a specific area for them. It actually made me a tad upset I had this clamshell and someone put a umbrella up right in front of me 😳😂🤣

[@SuntaX10]

Is it far from where you get food?

[@luvysfatlife]

It is a little distance. Half mile maybe?

[@carissaotis121]

Do they shuttle you back when you want to get back on the ship?

[@luvysfatlife]

Yes, it is not immediately....but they are constantly filling up tenders to go back and forth.

[@wendyhouck2695]

fyi..they weren't doing this in May when we went so it must be a new thing.

[@luvysfatlife]

Great to know. Thank you.

[@andrewjimenez7758]

If they drive you to the clam shells, where can you get lunch?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@andrewjimenez7758 you eat lunch at the same area they’ve always had the island bbq. You have to walk back or take a ride back.

[@andrewjimenez7758]

@@luvysfatlife seems like such an inconvenience. Is it far to get back?

[@willg7882]

👍!

[@sissundayschool]

did you wife bring her own float or did y'all rent that there?

[@luvysfatlife]

@@sissundayschool she brought that from home. Ordered from Amazon and brought on ship.

[@philandsabrina]

I don’t like the setup so far away. Beautiful island of course!

[@luvysfatlife]

It is a good distance away 😭

[@YuriR476]

I was there 8/7 and was very disappointed because the walk was insane. My son and I stayed in the middle because it was close to everything else. Didn’t use it at all. Money, down the drain. And on top of that, we had to leave early due to torrential downpour. Wish I had found your video prior to sailing. Thank you.

[@luvysfatlife]

@@YuriR476 hate to hear this! It is a long walk. My issue was I was walking in main road and buses wouldn’t stop to pick me up either 😳😂🤣🤔

[@marjoriechisholm-larouche6680]

Sitting in a clamshell ghetto is the worst! You’re on top of the neighbours, and if yo aren’t in the front row all you can see is the clamshell in front of you, no view, so what’s the point? I’d rather just wear a big brimmed hat, loose t shirt and sunscreen and sit where I want with a view and for free!

[@luvysfatlife]

Clamshell Ghetto....LOL We love the clamshells. That my friend was hilarious!