Half Moon, the 400-acre luxury resort on two miles of coastline in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, is finishing a phased reopening a year after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025. The resort, managed by Salamander Collection, says its historic Founders Cove accommodations return in stages, with the main batch due by Thanksgiving and a few more West Cottages in time for the festive season. The details below come from a Half Moon announcement published by Hotel Online in October 2026, with background from earlier Caribbean Journal and Jamaica Gleaner coverage.
How the reopening has unfolded
Half Moon has operated since 1954. After the hurricane it suspended operations for extensive restoration, and the resort says it supported more than 850 team members who were themselves affected by the storm. The return began in April 2026, when Eclipse at Half Moon and the reimagined Villas at Half Moon reopened. Eclipse alone returned 57 beachfront rooms to Jamaica’s luxury inventory, according to Caribbean Journal.
The final phase concerns Founders Cove, the resort’s historic stay experience. By Thanksgiving, the resort says it will reopen the Hibiscus and Ocean Court accommodations, the West Cottages that date to 1954, the original lobby, Seagrape Terrace and The Cedar Bar. A couple of additional West Cottages follow in time for the festive season. Ocean Court includes newly reconfigured two-bedroom suites.
A note on conflicting reports
Coverage over the year has not been consistent. A July 2026 article described the resort as fully restored across all 400 acres, including Founders Cove, while the October announcement describes Founders Cove as still being completed. Newer information is more reliable, and the October announcement is the resort’s own statement. If you are booking a specific room type, ask Half Moon to confirm in writing which accommodation is open on your dates rather than relying on a general statement that the resort is open. Our guide to reading a resort booking confirmation shows where the room category appears on your paperwork.
Three ways to stay
Half Moon sells three stay experiences. Eclipse is described as contemporary beachfront luxury. The Villas at Half Moon are private residences with dedicated staff. Founders Cove is the historic part of the property. The choice matters more here than at many resorts because the experiences differ in style and in what has been open at various points this year.
Golf, dining and shopping
The championship golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., returned earlier in the year. The resort runs a Guest Instructor Series through fall and winter, and the Half Moon Founders Cup returns on December 12. The tournament has raised more than 100,000 US dollars for Jamaican charities, according to the resort.
On the dining side, Sugar Mill has reopened under chef Christopher Golding with a focus on premium cuts cooked over flame. Delmare, the Italian-influenced seafood restaurant, has a new chef, Omar Gabriele Bernardi, who has more than three decades of experience that includes the two-Michelin-starred San Domenico. There are two new retail additions: Over the Moon for shopping and Garlandstone Gallery, which features Jamaican art.
Awards the resort cites
The announcement lists several 2026 recognitions. These include Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice rankings that place Half Moon first in Jamaica and thirteenth in the Caribbean, a Best Historic Hotel in the Americas title from Historic Hotels Worldwide, and five distinctions from the World Travel Awards and World Travel Tech Awards. These are the resort’s own claims drawn from award bodies, and we have not independently verified them.
What it means for travellers
Managing Director Shernette Crichton said, “As we reach the end of our long journey, Half Moon comes full circle.” She also said the resort is seeing encouraging forward bookings, especially for the peak holiday period. If you plan to travel over the holidays, that suggests availability may tighten, so it is worth asking early about the specific room or cottage you want.
The announcement does not give room counts for the reopened Founders Cove accommodations, and it does not say whether pricing has changed. Those are good questions to put to the resort or an agent. Resorts that reopen in phases can also run reduced services early on, so our post on checking for construction or renovation noise before booking is a useful checklist.
Part of a wider recovery
Half Moon is one of several Montego Bay area properties returning after the storm. For another example, see our post on the Bahia Principe reopening in Runaway Bay. If you want ideas for leaving the resort, things to do in Montego Bay beyond the resort is a good start.
Sources: Hotel Online, “One Year After Hurricane Melissa, Half Moon Set To Complete Phased Reopening,” October 2026; Caribbean Journal, April 5, 2026. Dates are the resort’s targets.