Little San Salvador Island, also known as Half Moon Cay, is one of about 700 islands that make up the archipelago of The Bahamas. It is located roughly halfway between Eleuthera and Cat Island, administratively in the Cat Island District. It is a private island, owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, which uses it as a port of call for the cruise ships it operates in the region. Prior to being owned by Carnival, Little San Salvador was the private island of Norwegian Cruise Line. Little San Salvador Island is located about southeast of Nassau. Holland America Line purchased the island in December 1996 for a price of US$6 million. It has since developed of the island, with the stated goal of maintaining as much habitat as possible for wildlife. The island is also a significant nesting area for waterfowl. The island does not have deep water docking, requiring the use of tenders for cruise ship passengers to disembark and embark. Activities offered on the island include swimming, sunbathing, scuba diving, jet-skiing, cycling, and snorkeling. Deep-sea fishing, parasailing, glass-bottom boat rides, and nature walks also are available. A variety of water toys are available for rent, including Hobie catamarans, Sunfish sailboats, windsurfing sailboards, and kayaks. There are volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoes, shuffleboard, a fitness trail with exercise stations, horseback riding, and nature trails for hiking. Etymology The indigenous Lucayan people called the island Guateo, meaning "distant land". References External links Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Resorts in the Bahamas Holland America Line Private islands of the Bahamas