Holland America Line took home four Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards this year in areas including best private island, onboard dining, shoreside experiences, and more.
For an impressive 20th year, readers of Porthole named Half Moon Cay as Best Private Island, beating out the likes of Royal Caribbean’s tricked-out Perfect Day at CocoCay and Disney’s idyllic Castaway Cay with both family and adults-only beaches.
Porthole Cruise Magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by thousands of the publication’s readers who vote both online and via paper ballot for their favorite cruise lines and destinations in dozens of categories.
About Half Moon Cay
For the past 20 years, Porthole’s readers have named Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas as the industry’s best private island. Its powdery sand, crystal-clear waters, and chill atmosphere make it easy to see why. Half Moon Cay features a natural 700-acre lagoon, several dining venues including a casual barbecue, a kids’ waterpark, and two-story villas and private cabanas available to rent.
There are also a variety of shore excursions to choose from for everyone from nature lovers to adventure seekers. For example, nature lovers and history buffs might like the Eco Bike and Hike, which allows passengers to take a bike ride through the island to behind the scenes areas that most visitors never see. After cycling around, ditch the bike to hike through the foliage, spot a variety of birds, and even climb some hundreds-year-old ruins. As for other activities, adventurous visitors may enjoy the Stingray Adventure, Snorkel by Boat, or Horseback Riding by Land & Sea excursions.
Nearly all of Holland America’s Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale visit Half Moon Cay, and many of Carnival Cruise Line’s Caribbean and Bahamas voyages stop at the island as well.
Additional wins for Holland America in the Readers’ Choice Awards this year include Pinnacle Grill as Best Specialty Restaurant, Best Shore Excursions, and Best Facilities for Guests with Disabilities.
Carnival Corporation, which owns Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn, and a number of European cruise lines currently plans to begin a phased return to cruising in the U.S. in January 2021.
