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Holland America to Open New Beach Club at Half Moon Cay This October

Holland America Line is opening a new Beach Club at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas, debuting in October and appearing on more than two dozen Caribbean itineraries running through April 2027. The Beach Club requires a separate day pass, with passes going on sale in early October; the pass includes priority tendering, dedicated waiter service, drinks, beach accessories and specialty food and beverage offerings. Pricing and guest capacity have not been released. Guests who skip the Beach Club still get a free new barbecue pavilion, renovated bars and eateries, upgraded cabanas, refreshed clamshells and daybeds, plus new canopy loungers and beach chairs. Four pickleball courts from last season remain available. The updates mark the start of a yearlong lead-up to the island's 30th anniversary in 2027, since Half Moon Cay has been part of Holland America's Caribbean cruises since 1997.
šŸ’” What This Means For You

If you're booked on a Caribbean sailing to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay between October 2026 and April 2027, watch for Beach Club day passes to go on sale in early October. Pricing and capacity haven't been announced yet, so book early if you want one. Cabanas have historically sold out before sailing, so the same early-booking advice applies to the upgraded units.

šŸ“ Mark's Take

Holland America is clearly using this as a soft launch for the island's 30th anniversary in 2027, and the timing tells you the play: get a full year of buzz and repeat bookings out of nostalgia plus a new revenue line. The Beach Club is the tell here — a paywalled add-on layered on top of a free island day that "stays," per the line, meaning Holland America gets to upsell without touching the base product. No pricing or capacity yet, which in my read means they're testing demand before locking numbers in. Cabanas historically sell out pre-sailing, so I'd expect the same scramble for Beach Club passes once they go live in early October. If you're sailing between October 2026 and April 2027, I'd set a calendar reminder for early October and book the pass the day it drops rather than wait and see.

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