What’s MSC Ocean Cay actually like? That’s one thing I had at all times puzzled as an avid cruiser.
So, once I had the prospect to go to the island as a part of a preview crusing onboard the brand new MSC World America, I, in fact, needed to soar on the chance.
We obtained to expertise all that the island has to supply over the course of an in a single day name on April 10-11, 2025, and located loads to do for adults and households alike, whereas additionally reconnecting with nature and growing a brand new appreciation for marine life.
From the MSC Basis’s new instructional conservation heart to water sports activities and an array of kid-friendly enjoyable, there’s something for everybody on the Bahamian island.
The place is MSC Ocean Cay?
Ocean Cay is the non-public island and marine reserve within the Bahamas that’s owned and operated by MSC Cruises.
It’s positioned about 20 miles south of Bimini, and per bulletins made by MSC World America Captain Dino Sagani throughout our mini cruise, is simply 69 miles from Florida’s PortMiami – which is the brand new vessel’s first and present homeport.
At this distance, fashionable MSC cruise ships could make the journey from Miami to the Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in simply two to a few hours.
How Huge is the Personal Vacation spot?
MSC Ocean Cay is about 95 acres, or 38.5 hectares in dimension, and has roughly 1.5 miles of pristine beachfront for MSC Cruises friends to get pleasure from.
For context, it’s comparable in dimension to Royal Caribbean’s Good Day in CocoCay, which covers 125 acres on the previous Little Stirrup Cay within the Berry Island archipelago.
Though this is among the larger island developments to be owned and operated by a cruise line, it’s nonetheless on the smaller aspect general and fairly walkable.
I used to be capable of stroll from the pier to the farthest level on the island in about 20 to half-hour – and I did that as I used to be nonetheless recovering from surgical procedure on my proper ankle.
There are many clear paths and signage, and our route was largely flat – making the island straightforward to navigate.
That mentioned, golf cart companies and electrical tram companies can be found for many who can’t or would somewhat not stroll.
Transportation companies may be discovered close to the pier and on the Welcome Heart – with VIP MSC Yacht Membership Visitors getting their very own devoted golf carts, which they will meet simply after exiting the pier.
The Historical past of MSC Ocean Cay
One thing that I discovered fascinating about MSC Ocean Cay is that it isn’t a pure island. As a substitute, it’s a artifical synthetic island that was constructed by Dillingham Building of Hawaii through dredging within the late Sixties.
The island was initially a mining web site the place white Oolitic aragonite sand was sourced for quite a lot of industrial functions.
By 2015, Dillingham Building had deserted the island and let it fall right into a state of decay – however MSC Cruises noticed a possibility.
Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago signed a 100-year lease settlement with the Bahamian authorities to redevelop the island right into a paradise for cruise friends – a mission that value $200 million when all was mentioned and achieved.
Work formally started in March 2016 – and after a delay attributable to the Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 – the island re-opened as an unique retreat for MSC friends in December of 2019.
The very first ships to go to included MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Divina, and MSC Armonia.
As of the tip of 2023, the European cruise trade chief introduced plans to speculate one other $100 million to proceed to develop the island and set up the MSC Basis’s Marine Conservation Heart.
Conservation and Sustainability
Ocean Cay has at all times been a marine reserve – making the vacation spot one-of-a-kind in comparison with non-public locations belonging to different cruise traces.
Since its redevelopment, the island has positioned specific emphasis on the conservation and restoration of coral reefs and the marine wildlife that reside there.
For instance, the Tremendous Coral Program is all about understanding and enhancing coral reef resilience within the Western Atlantic Ocean – and even encompasses a coral nursery.
My go to was significantly thrilling, as I used to be on the island for the official opening of the Marine Conservation Heart on April 10, 2025.
The brand new, state-of-the artwork amenities create a welcoming environment the place each adults and youngsters can study marine ecosystems in a enjoyable manner. Earlier than the tip of our go to, I noticed educated workers members interacting with friends, keen to supply data and to teach.
No reservation was required to discover the middle, which incorporates a number of interactive pavilions, a lecture corridor with snug seating areas within the shade, and coral exhibition tanks.
Getting On and Off the Cruise Ship
With a purpose to begin your day on MSC’s non-public island, you first must make your manner off your cruise ship – which you’ll be glad to know is sort of straightforward.
The cruise ships dock proper alongside the pier – that means no tendering is required – and friends can stroll on and off as they please inside the time interval that they’re allowed to be ashore.
Just one cruise ship sometimes visits the island per day, which additionally helps to mitigate crowding and contours on the pier and across the resort.
The one line I actually needed to wait in was to undergo safety to get again on the ship, however this moved shortly. Even with solely visiting the cruise line’s non-public island, all passengers and baggage should be screened earlier than re-boarding.
Seashores at MSC Ocean Cay
Do you know the MSC’s unique vacation spot is dwelling to a number of totally different seashores? It’s true that the island is dwelling to greater than 5 totally different seashores that every supply a novel vibe and expertise.
Certainly, friends can soak within the solar from Sundown Seashore, Ocean Home Seashore, Lighthouse Bay Seashore, Paradise Sands Seashore, Bimini Seashore, and North Seashore and South Seashore – which come collectively to create a protected lagoon the place friends can snorkel and swim in clear, blue water.
I attempted to go to as many of those seashores as I probably might – and was capable of see all of them apart from Ocean Home Seashore, which is reserved for the unique use of MSC Yacht Membership friends.
My private favourite seashore was Lighthouse Bay Seashore as a result of I loved with the ability to have a look at each the iconic lighthouse and the cruise ship whereas wading within the cool water.
After swimming, my husband and I loved getting a drink from the Lighthouse Bar and taking within the sights from the obtainable bean bag chairs as we dried off.
Sundown Seashore was additionally price visiting – if solely as a result of it provides the longest stretch of seashore on the island – and Paradise Sands Seashore was our favourite choice to discover a quiet stretch of sand after we wished to unwind.
The household seashore, in the meantime, is named Seakers Household Cove – and is sweet for households as a result of it has shallower water and further seating. It was additionally close to the meals court docket and restrooms, which is further handy when touring with little ones.
Nevertheless, I’ll say I seen a variety of seaweed and sea shells within the surf right here, which made strolling within the waves considerably painful – extra so than on the different seashores. If I’m fortunate sufficient to return sooner or later, I’d positively be certain to pack swim sneakers to guard my toes.
Eating on the Island
After working up an urge for food within the waves, there are loads of eating choices across the island to tantalize your style buds – a lot of that are already included within the cruise fare.
These embrace the conventional barbecue buffet on the Seakers Meals Courtroom close to Seakers Cove and 4 complimentary meals vans.
My husband and I had our lunch on the Seakers meals court docket. Whereas the meals wasn’t extraordinary, it was nonetheless tasty and provided American classics like burgers, in addition to some more healthy choices, resembling salads.
The buffet had two traces that every led to the equivalent choices, which helped forestall lengthy traces from forming. Frankly, I anticipated the traces to be quite a bit longer than they had been – particularly as a result of we didn’t make our solution to the meals court docket till greater than an hour after it opened.
Crew members additionally handed out drinks at makeshift bars, which prevented crowding round drink machines (and was extra sanitary for my part).
We additionally had no bother discovering someplace shady to take a seat and revel in our meal, so so far as free lunch on a non-public island goes, we actually couldn’t have requested for a higher expertise.
After all, there are additionally extra snacks and drinks across the island that come at a further worth, together with refreshments from a number of bars – a lot of which provide an genuine Bahamian bar expertise – a fifth meals truck, and the Smiling Fish Ice Cream Parlor.
We made the Smiling Fish tender serve our post-lunch dessert, the place the choices vary from $4 to $9, and thought the ice cream couldn’t be extra scrumptious within the scorching Bahamian solar.
In the meantime, Yacht Membership friends even have their very own unique restaurant, known as the Ocean Home Restaurant, that gives a extra upscale expertise.
All In regards to the Lighthouse
After all, we will’t speak about MSC Ocean Cay with out giving the lighthouse a second within the highlight – which is arguably probably the most recognizable landmark on the island.
Whereas the lighthouse itself is great to take a look at, for a further payment ($10 if paid in particular person or $9 in the event you reserve prematurely), you may ebook an tour to climb to the highest of the lighthouse – an expertise that takes round half an hour.
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We tried this out throughout our go to and beloved the 360-degree views from the very prime – though I’ll warn you that this expertise is just not for these with a worry of heights. Not solely is the lighthouse 100 toes tall, however you may see via the grated flooring to the very backside.
Additionally, you will must climb 165 steps to the highest of the lighthouse after which 165 steps again all the way down to the underside on a spiral staircase (however don’t fear, there’s a safe railing to carry onto).
However whereas this will sound like quite a bit, you do get to take two breaks on the best way up and down – which makes this exercise much more doable.
Through the breaks, your tour information may also share enjoyable details concerning the island and the crew members who truly reside there.
For context, I used to be capable of make it to the highest safely whereas recovering from ankle surgical procedure and utilizing a cane – however that is positively an tour the place it’s essential to know your personal limits.
Further Shore Excursions
Apart from climbing the lighthouse, cruise friends can ebook quite a lot of shore excursions via MSC for a further value.
These embrace experiences like jet snowboarding excursions, a Sundown Champagne Cruise, and a glow paddle boarding journey within the lagoon at night time.
You can too lease snorkeling gear, paddleboards, interior tubes, wind surfers, and even a kayak.
And for friends on the lookout for a extra relaxed expertise, seashore cabanas and umbrellas are additionally obtainable to order.
Late Night time Leisure
As many itineraries that embrace Ocean Cay permit for late-night all aboard occasions or in a single day calls, late night time leisure is prime notch on the island.
The Lighthouse Bay Seashore is usually the house to the Luna Libra Seashore celebration and the All White Celebration – which incorporates an all white gown code and particular performances. Each events characteristic music, dancing, and DJs, albeit with totally different vibes.
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We personally had enjoyable watching the White Celebration come to life throughout our crusing – and loved the dancing, the music, and took notice of many nice photograph alternatives.
Whereas we’re folks watchers who most popular to watch from the sidelines, we might inform the opposite friends beloved dressing as much as adhere to the all white theme and had been having a good time.
In the end, our private favourite night time time providing was the Mild Home present – which lasts for about 5 minutes and performs two occasions per night time.
Although it was brief and candy, the musical spectacle was very a lot price watching – because the greater than 34,000 lights are actually beautiful once they come to life.
Spa Remedies in Paradise
Talking of leisure, spa remedies aren’t simply obtainable onboard, but in addition on the island. The Spa at Ocean Cay provides quite a lot of remedies, resembling cabana massages and eco-friendly skincare, to loosen up you when you hearken to the sounds of the waves and the ocean breeze.
The northwest nook of the island additionally has a collection of non-public bungalows and therapeutic massage huts which might be particularly for the VIP Yacht Membership friends.
However in the event you’re not capable of make an appointment on the island, we did discover that the spa onboard was quite a bit much less busy whereas everybody was exploring the non-public vacation spot.
For those who’re on the lookout for distinctive items or souvenirs to carry dwelling for your self or family members, you could discover simply the factor on Ocean Cay.
The resort is dwelling to number of small, however cute, shops that provide a mix of genuine Bahamian items and crafts, in addition to MSC branded merchandise. I personally left with two cute T-shirts, which value me what I felt was an affordable $40.
For comparability’s sake, when I visited Disney’s Castaway Cay I purchased a single shirt that value over $50.
If you’re planning to buy groceries on the island, be certain to hyperlink your bank card to your reserving – which you are able to do via the MSC for Me App – prematurely.
Throughout my go to, the shops had been solely capable of cost my MSC account and couldn’t settle for cost through money or bank card.
How Was the Wi-Fi?
In our fashionable age, we in fact love to remain related. However in the event you’re fearful about conserving in contact along with your family members at dwelling or posting on social media, let me guarantee you that you shouldn’t have any issues with the web on the island.
MSC Ocean Cay truly has its personal Wi-Fi scorching spot that’s separate from the Wi-Fi onboard the ships and works nicely – however you will have to buy an web bundle to entry it.
I did even have cell service on the island from T-Cell, and my plan permits me to make use of my knowledge internationally at no further cost. That mentioned, at all times test along with your cell service supplier earlier than utilizing your knowledge at sea or within the ports of name to keep away from a giant telephone invoice.
How Can You Go to?
For those who’d like to go to MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve for your self, all it’s essential to do is ebook a cruise that features this port name from MSC Cruises.
Reservations may be made on-line, by calling the cruise line, or through a good journey agent.
At the moment, MSC provides Ocean Cay-bound sailings from Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida, in addition to from New York Metropolis (Brooklyn), New York.
Itineraries can be found for each finances – starting from fast getaways to week-long cruises and prolonged journeys.
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