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It will include a coral nursery that will provide scientists with a base for education and research into corals. The project began in March 2016 and was delayed by the destructive wave action of the category 5 Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. The island welcomed its first MSC guests on December 5, 2019. Four ships will include a day at Ocean Cay on its itineraries in 2020. Like the rest of the Bahamas, Ocean Cay has warm weather year-round. Summer highs are in the 80s, and winter lows are around 70 degrees.
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Will food be available on the island?
The entire building is covered in light panels and circled at top and bottom with bright spotlights. Set to music, the show features colorful graphics around the lighthouse, along with an amazing lightshow. Participation in the parade is encouraged as many cruise passengers took part in the festivities. You can watch the show from the ship or beach at Lighthouse Bay, but the angle from the ship can be a little awkward unless you have a forward facing balcony or if you’re a member of the Yacht Club. This is probably the first thing you will notice about Ocean Cay, and it’s a great visual landmark for the island.
Cabana Rentals on Ocean Cay
It comes with beach chairs and all you need to chill out in your own shady paradise. If you’ve never tried stand-up paddleboarding, now’s your chance. Board rentals are by the hour and you can paddle around the island or in the lagoon looking down at the fish. Ocean Cay has eight stunning beaches lined with soft white sand compared to just four on RCI’s rival island at Coco Cay.
What family-friendly activities are available on Ocean Cay?
We had some deliciously seasoned fried calamari and we saw people happily ordering lobster grilled cheese and lobster bacon rolls. If you’re fit, you might want to check out the Lighthouse Climb. If it’s views that you want, you can see the entire island from your cruise ship. It's often the busiest, usually because people seeking R & R like to pick the closest beach and plop down without a lot of walking. The beach has some colorful beanbag-style chairs you can nab if you get there early.
What's the typical weather like on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve?
The paddleboards and kayaks are located within the lagoon for a more protected experience, while the wave runner excursions go around the island through choppier waters. Cruise line private islands, such as Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, have become vital ports on Caribbean itineraries, especially for cruises leaving from Miami. Since it opened in 2019, MSC Cruises has been taking full advantage of Ocean Cay, sometimes stopping there twice in one week and also staying longer into the night. If you are taking a cruise in the United States aboard MSC, chances are high that you’ll be visiting Ocean Cay. This is the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas that’s exclusive to guests of MSC. Our exclusive private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is sizzling with buzz!
Ocean Cay Excursions During the Day
Overall, Ocean Cay offers a great day for anyone who enjoys the beach, regardless of cabin type. Additionally, items like specialty coffee, ice cream and for-fee food truck orders cost extra for everyone — even Yacht Club passengers. They're closer to the water and, therefore, have better views. Although they aren't on the main part of Ocean House Beach, they are still in the exclusive area, near the restaurant, so you don't have to go far to grab food.
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There are eight beaches at Ocean Cay, including one that is solely set aside for crew members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, crew members haven't been allowed to get off the ship during regular port stops, so Ocean Cay gives them a chance to relax and have a good time on land. MSC does ask guests to bring the beach towels from their cabin to Ocean Cay. Because Ocean Cay is still being redeveloped, it can appear a bit "scrubby" at first glance, as the palm trees and vegetation on the island are still relatively young. That's ok -- you can still find a few trees for shade near the beach if you decide not to rent an umbrella (and MSC has set aside areas to eat that are shaded as well). Yacht Club cruisers can take advantage of trams exclusively for the Yacht Club.
What are the best Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve things to do?
The waters surrounding Ocean Cay Island feature coral reefs and ~90 different fish species. Water-based activities include kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling (on a 1,5-hour tour to the nearby cay) and scuba diving (with PADI-certified instructors). A shallow lagoon (Seakers Family Cove) was specially designed for young kids. If the whole family is coming along this adventure, Seakers Family Cove is the perfect setup for little ones to splash around while you soak up the Bahamian sun.
At the core of Ocean Cay are eight spread-out beaches lined with lounge chairs and sprinkled with a smattering of beach bars and food-truck-like food outlets. Check out our limited-time offers below and start planning your escape to Ocean Cay! Plus, you can book your cruise today with low monthly payments through Uplift, and cruise before your loan is paid off. Ocean Cay Village greets cruisers as soon as they step off the ship at the pier and stroll onto the island. Stunning blue waters envelop Ocean Cay, making for ideal places to cool off with a swim or laze about on a floating mat.
The beach that wraps around this area makes it easier to keep an eye on the kids, and it’s right across the way from the larger Ocean Cay Lagoon. One thing I noticed was that the spa at Ocean Cay had different music playing through the speakers. These Bose speakers are all around the island and are about 20 feet apart. At the spa the music was more ambient and offered a relaxing mood.
In addition to MSC Seashore, which just began regular sailings to Ocean Cay out of Miami this week, the island will be visited regularly over the coming year by the line's MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina. Before the line began work on the island, it was almost completely stripped of vegetation. As part of its restoration, MSC Cruises has planted 75,000 plants and shrubs as well as 4,600 trees. Other than that (and an off-limits-to-visitors housing area for island workers), there aren't a lot of structures on the island. But, as I slowly realized over the next few hours while wandering among Ocean Cay's eight sandy beach areas, that's sort of the point.
At night the lighthouse is transformed into an LED light show unlike any other. Synced to the music, the lights paint the lighthouse in vibrant colors and the spotlights pierce the night as they move in rhythm. Plenty of seating on the overlook deck offer a relaxing place to soak in the sights here as well.
The Yacht Club is generally quiet, even on board, and the line likely prefers to keep the raucousness to other locations. Like the food trucks, there are multiple bars around Ocean Cay where you can get anything your heart desires. Especially popular are the beach drinks served in a souvenir pineapple cup. One good thing is that your drink package from the ship also works on Ocean Cay, so you can get drinks here just like on the ship. Of course, guests will be most interested in the beaches and water.
A former industrial site that we reclaimed and restored to its natural beauty is now a unique private island destination that you can experience for yourself. If you've already been receiving VIP treatment throughout your MSC cruise in the MSC Yacht Club, don't worry -- your perks extend on Ocean Cay too. You have an entire separate mini-island at your disposable; you even have to cross a small bridge to get there. Given that you'll be arriving via a tram set up by your butler, your beach day begins in style. This is the one category where the island's public spaces beat the Ocean House area by a mile. If you're looking for something to do other than eating, drinking or lazing by the beach, you'll have to head back toward the ship because there's not much going on in the exclusive areas.
Shade is at a premiumWhile Ocean Cay has transformed into an island paradise, it is still a work in progress. The cruise line planted thousands of trees, but they are still growing. As a result, many spots around the island are barren or only have some vegetation. There’s plenty to eat on the island, and it’s included in your cruise fare.
The prices below for various items are from a recent trip and are subject to change. Each restroom station also has showers alongside the outside wall where you can rinse off the salt and sand from your day at the beach. As well, if you simply want to go back to the ship, the buffet onboard will also be serving food.
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