MSC Cruises new private Bahamian island destination, scheduled to open November 9, 2019 promises to offer a haven for beach goers. Ocean Cay, located just 65 miles south of Miami, will feature uninterrupted ocean views, crystal clear waters, soft white sandy beaches with blue skies and sunshine.
Creating a flourishing marine reserve: With Ocean Cay (pronounced key), MSC Cruises is transforming a former industrial sand-extraction site into a vibrant marine reserve. The company has hauled tons of debris out of the surrounding waters and a coral nursery is being established to encourage and sustain the growth of new coral. Overall, the vision is to create a sustainable destination that allow guests to connect with the surrounding nature.
Guest Experience: On the island guests will enjoy,
- Seven beaches, including a smaller family lagoon for younger guests to enjoy.
- A variety of shore excursions to explore nature’s beauty, including snorkel safaris, kayak tours and paddle boarding.
- Entertainment activities day and night.
- Docking right on the island, so guests can easily move on and off the ship to refresh and enjoy evenings on Ocean Cay.
- A variety of food and drink options including a buffet, casual food carts and a variety of bars with different atmospheres, and an ice cream parlor.
- Island shopping with a Bahamian Shop & Market, hosting authentic arts and crafts by local artisans
- Spa services on the island with a selection of body and facial treatments
The island is surrounded by 64 square miles of protected waters, and a coral nursery is being established to encourage and sustain the growth of new coral. Plans are underway for a marine laboratory to be situated on Ocean Cay for researching climate change-resistant coral in hopes of providing insights to similar island habitats.
MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato explains:
“Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve will bring something new and unique to our Caribbean itineraries from Miami and is set to become a truly memorable highlight for our guests. We have created a guest experience that complements the breath-taking natural beauty of this remarkable part of the Caribbean. There was no need for us to build extensively on an island that already had the ingredients of a natural paradise. However, we have undertaken extensive work to clean-up the island, removing tons of historic industrial waste and helping to return the beaches, and the entire 64 square miles of protected waters surrounding the island, to their pristine state.”
Aerial images credit Conrad Schutt
Ocean Cay Marine Reserve will welcome MSC Cruises, MSC Seaside and MSC Armonia both sailing year round from Miami. Plus MSC Meravigilia and MSC Divina sailing seasonally from Miami starting in November 2019.
Also Read: MSC Seaside Review: The Good, Bad and Unbelievable