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Going on a cruise to MSC’s private island Ocean Cay? Read this post for 10 facts you might not know about the island and what they offer!
Ocean Cay marine reserve is MSC’s private island in the bahamas.
Ocean Cay is 65 miles from Miami, 20 miles from Bimini and 118 miles from Nassau. It’s an gorgeous island you should 100% visit if you’re considering an MSC cruise!
It offers several beaches, bars, food and activities.
If you’re wanting to learn more about the island, what is included, what is an extra cost and where you should hang out then keep on reading!
This post is all about MSC Ocean Cay.
1. Ocean Cay is not just MSC’s private island, it’s a marine reserve.
Ocean Cay used to be an industrial site that MSC restored to the beautiful island it is today. It is 64 square miles of marine reserve.
It started out as a man made island that companies used to dredge sand. Ocean Cay is made up of two small islands actually that are connected by a bridge.
They relocated 400 coral colonies and planted 85,000 plants and shrubs. 95% of everything planted are native to the Caribbean.
It is absolutely stunning and if you’re looking for a relaxing private island experience in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay might just be the best.
2. There aren’t any pools on the island, just beaches.
If you’ve visited other cruise line’s private islands you might be used to having both the beach and a few pools as options to spend your time at.
MSC Ocean Cay however does not have any pools on the island. Some might miss the pools but honestly it is such a beautifully well maintained island with tons of beaches to hang out at, you won’t even miss the pools.
Beaches:
- Lighthouse Bay: This is the closest beach to the ship that has tons of activities and umbrellas.
- Sunset Beach: This is a large half mile strip of beach that is past Lighthouse Bay.
- Paradise Sands: This beach is further down around the corner of the island from sunset beach and is close to the spa.
- South Beach: South Beach is a large stretch of beach facing the lagoon.
- North Beach: This is the beach directly across the lagoon from South Beach.
- Bimini Beach: Bimini is across the bridge on the smaller of the two islands, across from North Beach. Bimini is my personal favorite beach because there aren’t a lot of people who make the trek out here.
- Ocean House Beach: Ocean House is the private beach just for Yacht Club members.
- Seakers Family Cove Beach: This beach is coming soon and will be centered around families with kids.
They also have a beach for the crew but that is a restricted area for all passengers.
3. Your drink package and wifi will work on the island.
A fantastic perk of taking a cruise with MSC is being able to use your (potentially expensive) drink package and wifi package on the island.
Unfortuntely not every cruise line allows their drink package to work on their private island. Having this perk on MSC’s Ocean Cay makes paying for it even more worth it because you aren’t having to spend more money in port on drinks like you potentially would on other stops.
MSC will also sometimes run a “free drinks and wifi” promo as an add on to your cruise. This promo is not technically free, it does cost more than if you booked the cruise without it.
However, it does give a huge discount on those packages so I would always recommend if you are interested in buying a drink package I would use the “free drinks and wifi” promo if it is offered to you.
4. You can book an excursion if you want to, but there’s really no need.
MSC offers a few excursions from the island. Example excursions are snorkeling, lighthouse tours, jetski rental, paddle boarding solo or with a group, boat tours, etc.
Every cruise line private island offers shore excursions. You definitely can book one if something interests you but there usually is a lot to do/places to hang out at on these islands so it’s not needed.
It’s also a great way to save money. If you have a private island on your port stop list then you have access to the island and food that’s already included in the price of your cruise.
Side note:
On MSC’s private island they unfortunately do charge for a couple basic things. You might have to rent an umbrella if you’re wanting some shade. They do have a few around the island but not enough so if you’re looking to stay out of the sun for hours, I’d suggest renting one.
They also charge for floating mats to hang out on the ocean. Neither of these items are expensive but they are an added cost.
Looking for a way to save money? Bring your own beach products!
5. They have overnight itineraries.
One uncommon thing MSC Cruises does is offer cruise itineraries with overnight stays at Ocean Cay.
Cruise lines don’t typically have two days at their private islands in a row, but MSC does. You can’t stay on the island overnight, you’ll have to go back to the ship to sleep but they do have perks such as late night beach parties, sunset sails, and you can go back to the beach the next morning!
I wish more cruise lines would offer multiple days at their private islands.
Related Content:
Everything You Need To Know About MSC Cruise Drink Packages
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6. They offer several activities on the island.
Like I mentioned before, you don’t have to buy a shore excursion on Ocean Cay to have a great day. The cruise line offers a lot of activities you can enjoy during your time there.
- Beach soccer and volleyball
- Ocean Cay Olympic Games
- Luna Libre Party
- Junkanoo Parade
- Evening lighthouse Show
- Sunset cruise, evening beach picnic
- Beachside fire pits and stargazing
7. You can get a massage on the island.
One perk I love about MSC Ocean Cay that isn’t offered on every cruise line’s private island is a spa.
MSC has a section of the island where you can get a massage. This is a nice perk for those who want to relax while off of the ship.
8. There are a number of food and drink options.
As stated above, if you have a drink package you can use it on Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. You can also of course purchase drinks individually if you don’t have a package. Water is free at all bars and the buffet has complimentary iced tea. There are 10 bars on the island.
Food Options:
Seakers Food Court: This is the complimentary buffet on the island and the biggest venue to get food. It has typical barbeque items, salads and desserts. There are lots of picnic tables to sit at.
Food Trucks: If you don’t want to wait in line or are closer to a food truck these are another convenient option. They have a limited menu compared to the buffet offering things such as: burgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, fries and brownies.
Seafood Shack Food Truck: This is a food truck that offers lobster entrees, ceviche, calamari, and more for an additional charge.
Lighthouse Bar: This bar not only offers drinks but has a limited menu of food you can purchase for an additional cost.
Ocean House Restaurant: This restaurant/bar is exclusive to MSC’s Yacht Club members and offers a higher end level of food choices.
The Smiling Fish: This venue offers ice cream for an additional cost.
9. There are shops on the island.
If you want to bring home a couple souvenirs then you should check out the shops on MSC Ocean Cay! I liked how all of these products were in one places verses spread out like other cruise line’s private islands.
They have tons to choose from in the couple shops right near the ship. Definitely stop in and take a look while you’re on the island.
10. You can get married or renew your vows.
If you’re looking to get married or renew your vows with a stunning backdrop you can do so right on the island!
You need to consult with the staff of the cruise line in advance to be able to do this so if it’s something you’re interested in I would email and/or call MSC as soon as possible.
Beach Cover Ups And Accessories
If you need some inspiration for a few beach accessories here are the top tried and tested products topping the charts.
This post was all about MSC Ocean Cay.
