Half Moon Cay is one of the most beautiful of all the private resorts used by cruise ships. The perfect crescent of beach, on a peaceful island in the Bahamas, is surrounded by a warm, clear sea. The sand is as soft as talcum powder; there are snorkels and pedaloes for hire for the energetic, and sunbeds aplenty for those who just want to lie in the sun. The sign above the beach bar proclaims “I Wish I Could Stay Here Forever” and one of the most popular attractions is horse riding through the waves.
Even with a shipload of passengers taken ashore by tender it’s as tranquil a haven as you could wish for, as I discovered when I visited on Eurodam.
It was a different place entirely last week when Carnival Fascination arrived, bringing one-time boy band New Kids On The Block. There’s hardly a grain of sand to be seen on the beach as almost 3,000 fans crowd round the specially-erected stage to watch the show.
NKOTB are no strangers to Carnival – this was the third time the group had performed on a cruise, but it’s the first time they put on a show on the island.
