All the large cruise companies have their own private island, a concept that sounds a bit Bransonesque! In many cases these are almost like theme parks, with zip-lines and other play-time facilities available. HAL’s - referred to as Half Moon Cay but is in fact Little San Salvadore Island, one of the Bahamas, is a much more sedate affair - in-tune with nature, as befits the demographic of the passengers more likely to be found on an HAL ship than say, a Disney ship or the giant megaliths of Royal Caribbean.
We arrive before dawn, not least because it suits captain for us not to assume Bermuda time, which parallels Florida, until tonight so we are one hour ahead of reality. We see the sun rise as we take breakfast on our veranda and then we drop down to deck A, one below deck one, where the transport to the island is waiting.
By 09:00 we’re on the beach walking it’s length northwards as far as we can go, it’s only a mile. Heading inland we pass the stables where in other circumstances we might have been tempted to another ride, but they are not allowing any activities today because of current Bahamian government rules.
We pet a donkey, wander around a huge paddock and chat and play with another couple of horses, whilst heading to the inner lagoon. Here is where kayaking and other sports are offered and there’s a pen for petting and feeding stingrays, all except the kayaks we’ve done before.
There are two rays steadily circling the enclosure - they come for a look, but as we’re not feeding they soon wander off, still we got the best view.
Continuing around the lagoon returns us to the barbecue, bar and seating area the company has constructed over the years, but it’s still too early, and anyway we’ve only clocked up four miles, so we repeat the whole walk again.
Now it’s lunchtime, so we partake of mixed salads (gosh two days in a row!) and stuff from the BBQ, and a Coors Lite seems appropriate here.
The facilities are very simple, the above mentioned, lots of sun-loungers, a few beach huts, including family-sized ones, a tiny church and another bar shaped like a pirate ship which has been here for as long as we can remember.
We walk past the crowds, not that there are that many really, and chose a place to dip into the sea. It’s so aqua-blue and inviting, we have a wonderful time!
We have to walk our remaining distance so with exactly the correct time remaining we head up the beach again, turn around and return, remembering to pick up our discarded bag as we pass!
We just miss the 14:15 transfer so have to wait for the last one at 14:30 which mops up all the remaining staff, and we’re late because two guests have become hopelessly lost (how?) and arrive all flustered. There is a condescending round applause by some of the others onboard - clearly these people are sooo important they cannot be delayed!!
Straight up to deck nine without stopping, apart from to draw breath - it is ten floors, we’re continuing our lovely day by the pool. Sunset is different again - our last, we’ll be on the wrong side for a few days now as we turn around.
Dinner in Pinnacle is salad, the most succulent chicken ever, then key lime pie, a bit blurry but it’s not the wine honestly!
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