Private island for a day: a cruise holiday on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
We went ashore and enjoyed an iced coffee from the island café – open air, of course, with our feet in the sand. Strolling further, we found a quiet stretch of beach at the family lagoon, with its powdery white sand and relaxed atmosphere. The water was perfect: crystal clear, refreshing and gently rolling.
For lunch, we visited the buffet restaurant in the centre of the island, included in the trip. There were grilled meats, pizza, pasta, burgers and salads. Alternatively, guests could return on board to the elegant à la carte restaurant or the larger buffet. After lunch, we browsed the island’s boutiques, run by locals.
Flying high in the Bahamas – and diving into the marine reserve
In the afternoon, we had booked the ‘Lighthouse Climb’. We climbed more than 200 steps to the viewing platform and enjoyed a panorama of the entire island. This tropical paradise offers over two miles of white sandy beaches across eight separate sections, with endless opportunities to enjoy the sun and the water. We slipped on fins and snorkels to explore the underwater world of the 165-square-kilometre marine reserve.
The private island is also home to the MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Programme, which works to restore the coral reefs and expand knowledge of coral conservation. Researchers from around the world are attempting to breed coral species here that can better withstand the temperature fluctuations caused by climate change.
As the day ended, the island’s sunset was a highlight: glowing orange skies, streaks of cloud and the blood-red sun sinking into the sea marked the close of our trip to paradise. We walked back to the pier, boarded the ship and sailed into the night.
From industrial wasteland to exclusive holiday paradise
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was inaugurated in 2019 and leased by the family-owned MSC Cruises for 99 years. The island had previously been used for sand extraction. MSC Cruises cleared the once desolate site of debris, restored it above and below water, replanted it and nurtured the natural environment. Numerous animal species now live here once again – and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve has become a unique, exclusive destination for MSC cruise passengers in the Caribbean.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise company and the market leader in Europe. As a global cruise brand with 23 modern ships offering cruises on five continents, guests can visit more than 100 countries worldwide with more than 300 destinations, collect unforgettable memories and enjoy hospitality at the highest level. The MSC founding family Aponte looks back on more than 300 years of maritime history and experience and established MSC in 1970.
MSC Cruises fully supports the maritime industry’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from ship operations by 2050. The Swiss cruise line is proud to have already reduced itsCO2 intensity by 37.5% in 2023.
Active efforts to decarbonise ship operations focus on all aspects of the business. This includes developing new and optimised technologies, continuously improving the design and efficiency of new vessels, implementing new energy efficiency measures, retrofitting new technologies such as shore power connections and switching to renewable fuels. The company is confident that it will achieve its goals.