MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas is a beautiful slice of paradise that’s perfect for a beach day. If you’ve clicked on this article, chances are you’re either looking to book a cruise to Ocean Cay, or already have and want to know more about it. You’re in luck — here’s our guide to what you need to know about Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Everything You Need to Know About Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

What is MSC Ocean Cay?

Ocean Cay is MSC Group’s private island in the Bimini district of the Bahamas. It’s located 20 miles south of Bimini proper.

Ocean Cay is an artificial island that was built by dredging in the 1960s by Dillingham Construction. It was used to mine white sand for industrial purposes. Dillingham Construction wound up abandoning the island, and in 2015 MSC Group acquired it through a 100-year lease agreement.

The transformation from industrial mining site to cruise destination involved removing the abandoned mining infrastructure and cleaning up the island and surrounding ocean bed. The company also relocated hundreds of coral colonies from debris on the ocean bed to better locations where they can grow, and planted thousands of plants on the island that are native to the region.

Through MSC Group’s restoration and conservation efforts as it developed Ocean Cay, the island achieved marine reserve status. Thus, the destination’s full name is Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and is now a flourishing 64-square-mile ecosystem.

Currently, all Caribbean and Bahamas voyages on MSC Cruises that depart from Miami, Port Canaveral, and Brooklyn include a visit to Ocean Cay. MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys, also visits the island on some of its Caribbean itineraries.

Getting to Ocean Cay, Bahamas

Ocean Cay is a private island, meaning only MSC Cruises and the company’s luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys, can go there. This means that to visit, guests must book a cruise that stops there on one of those two cruise lines. Currently, guests can book sailings on MSC Divinia, Grandiosa, Magnifica, Meraviglia, Seascape, Seashore, Seaside, and World America that visit Ocean Cay.

Ocean Cay has a dock, which means passengers can walk on and off the ship at their leisure without having to wait for a tender ride.

Your cruise itinerary dictates how long your ship will dock there. Most ships will arrive around 8 am, with a single-day call ending anywhere from 5 pm to midnight. Some visits are overnight, with the ship departing the following day. However, even on overnight calls all guests have to be back on the ship for the night — usually around midnight — and can then get back on the island in the morning.

Just off the dock is a transportation area where guests can catch a free tram to various beaches. If you don’t want to take a tram the closest beach, Lighthouse Bay, is about a five minute walk.

Yacht Club guests get their own transportation to the private Yacht Club area on the island, Ocean House, in the form of golf carts.

What’s Free at MSC Ocean Cay?

For most visitors, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve is a beach day, so it’s fitting that there are eight beaches to choose from. The closest beach to the ship, which faces the ocean, is Lighthouse Bay. It’s a busy beach with activities throughout the day, sitting between the pier and the island’s lighthouse. Other ocean-facing beaches include the destination’s longest beach Sunset Beach, Bimini Beach on Ocean Cay’s smaller island, Paradise Sands between the spa and wedding pavilion, and Ocean House Beach — which is just for Yacht Club guests.

Ocean Cay also has a lagoon, which sits between the main island and the smaller island with a bridge to connect them. The main beach on the lagoon is South Beach, which is a long beach with easy access to food and drinks. It’s also where you’ll find water sports equipment like kayaks and paddleboards. North Beach, which is located on the smaller island, sits across from South Beach on the lagoon as well. Additionally, Seakers Cove is a new family area found between the ship and the lagoon.

Other complimentary activities to enjoy at Ocean Cay include sports competitions like volleyball, ping-pong, or beach olympics, as well as dance classes and live music. Kids and teens have their own scheduled activities too, such as active games and scavanger hunts.

Throughout the day, guests can also expect various other entertainment on Ocean Cay Marine Reserve like a beach party to get everyone in the Bahamian spirit. During late-night calls, passengers can also take part in the Luna Libre party on Lighthouse Bay following the signature laser show from the lighthouse. It’s complete with a DJ, dancing, and a bonfire.

Food at Ocean Cay

Complimentary Food at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Much like the ship, there are included food options available on the island. Seakers Food Court is the classic barbecue lunch buffet that cruisers are familiar with if they’ve visited other cruise line private islands. It serves up things like burgers, hot dogs, jerk chicken, fish, and a variety of sides like fruit, potato and mixed bean salads, coleslaw, and french fries. Veggie burgers are available upon request. Desserts are simple, including things like cookies, brownies, and rum cake.

You’ll also find food trucks near various beaches on the island, serving up the same type of fare — though with more limited menus — as Seakers Food Court.

The Yacht Club area features Ocean House Restaurant, offering up fancier dishes than the ones on other parts of the island. These include things like carne asada, crab ceviche, a lobster roll, a grilled portobello sandwich, charred octopus, and blackened mahi mahi. Desserts include mango cheesecake, chocolate cake, and creme caramel.

Extra Cost Food at Ocean Cay

If you’re looking for something a bit more elevated and don’t mind paying for the privilege, Ocean Cay features the Great Star food truck serving up a variety of seafood dishes. Options include things like seafood ceviche, lobster grilled cheese, fried calamari, and a lobster roll. Prices range from around $8 to $13 per item.

For a fun sweet treat head over to The Smiling Fish, which serves ice cream and coffee. Ice cream flavors include chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and key lime, along with fun toppings. Try the signature treat — ice cream in a fish-shaped waffle cone. Ice cream prices range from $4 to $9. Coffee options include things like espresso and iced coffee including the Ocean Cay Coco-Nilla latte. Coffee prices range from around $3 to $4.75.

Drinks at Ocean Cay

Free drinks on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve are simple, similar to what you’ll find on the ship: water, lemonade, and iced tea.

There are 10 bars spread across Ocean Cay as well — most that are open-air huts with bar seating. Two of the larger bars are Springer’s Bar and the Lighthouse Bar. Springer’s Bar is an authentic Bahamian bar that MSC describes as having a “laid-back atmosphere”. The Lighthouse Bar is a Hemingway-style cocktail bar serving up a wide selection of rums, spirits, and cocktails along with views of the ocean and your cruise ship. The other bars include Rose Bar, Great Star Bar, Ivory Bar, Cactus Bar, Pineapple Bar, Disc Bar, Maze Bar, and the Ocean House Bar (for Yacht Club guests only).

Bars on Ocean Cay offer beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, mocktails, soda, and bottled water. Cocktails include margaritas, piña coladas, strawberry daiquiris, mojitos, aperol spritzes, and more. Still and sparkling bottled water are also available, as are Coca-Cola brand soft drinks. These beverages can all be purchased individually. But if you have a drink package, the great news is that MSC Cruises’ beverage packages do work on Ocean Cay.

Things to Do at Ocean Cay That Cost Extra

While you can easily spend a day at the beach on Ocean Cay and not spend a dime, there are some amenities and activities that you can purchase to enhance your experience. One such experience is the Ocean Cay Lighthouse Climb, which allows guests to climb 165 steps up into the Ocean Cay’s iconic lighthouse and enjoy a unique vantage point to view the island.

Other activities you can book include a catamaran cruise, snorkeling over a shipwreck, stargazing on the beach, and jet-skiing tours. Kayak, paddleboard, snorkel equipment, and floating mat rentals are also available.

If you want ultimate relaxation during your day at Ocean Cay, head over to the island’s spa. You can get a massage that takes place in a treatment hut right on the beach, looking out over the blue Bahamian waters. Also offered on the island are sunrise and sunset yoga classes, which can be booked on the ship.

There are also shopping opportunities and cabana rentals on Ocean Cay, which we cover below.

MSC Cruises Ocean Cay FAQs

Is there WiFi on MSC Ocean Cay?

There is wireless internet available on Ocean Cay, and your onboard internet package does work on the island. Guests are able to connect their devices to the island’s wifi just as they would on the ship. However, you will need to disconnect from the ship hotspot and connect to the MSCOCEANCAY hotspot once ashore.

Does the drinks package work on Ocean Cay?

Yes, the beverage package that you have on the ship extends to MSC Ocean Cay. This includes the Easy, Easy Plus, and Premium packages. MSC Yacht Club guests have drinks included with their experience, which extends to the island as well as in the dedicated Yacht Club area.

Do I need to bring my own towels ashore?

Yes, guests should plan to bring beach towels with them from the ship when going ashore in MSC Ocean Cay. Guests will need to return these towels to the ship at the end of the day as well. The exception is for Yacht Club guests who will find towels on the island at Ocean House Beach.

What’s the weather like on Ocean Cay?

Ocean Cay is in the Bahamas, so you can expect warm to hot weather year-round just like in the rest of the Bahamas. Summer highs can reach around 90 degrees, and winter lows are around 70 degrees. Hurricane season runs from June through November. Sunny days are plentiful on Ocean Cay and the island doesn’t have an abundance of natural shade, so be sure to bring cover-ups and plenty of sunscreen.

Can Ocean Cay accommodate food allergies and other dietary needs?

Ocean Cay is equipped with both vegetarian and vegan dishes. Also available are veggie burgers, salads, and gluten-free bread (upon request). Specific food allergies can’t necessarily be accommodated, though. MSC recommends that guests eat aboard the ship where the staff can better accommodate allergy requirements.

Does Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve have cabanas for rent?

Ocean Cay has cabanas available for rent on several beaches. The Ocean Cay Beach Cabanas are partially-walled, thatched-roof huts with a couch, table, and lounge chairs. They include extra towels and two floating mats and can accommodate up to six people.

The Yacht Club area, Ocean House Beach, also has its own Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas. They include towels, fresh fruit, four floating mats, and four sets of snorkeling gear. These cabanas can also accommodate up to six people. Also available are Beachfront Yacht Club Cabanas, which are closer to the water than the Ocean View ones.

Can you buy souvenirs on Ocean Cay?

Ocean Cay has several shops where you can get things you may have forgotten for your beach day — or pick up a souvenir before heading back to the ship. The MSC Shop sells essentials like beach toys, lip balm, and sunscreen, as well as items from the MSC Foundation. The Ocean Cay Trading Post sells gifts inspired by nature and Ocean Cay-branded souvenirs like t-shirts, hats, beach towels, and accessories. You use your cruise card to pay for items from these shops just as you would if purchasing something on the ship.

Is Ocean Cay accessible for those with special needs?

Ocean Cay is completely ADA compliant, and has beach wheelchairs and beach wagons available upon request. There are also trams for transportation around the island for those with mobility issues.

Will there be construction during my visit?

While MSC continues to make progres to the island, there will likely be some ongoing construction during your visit that will not impact your day. For instance, during our recent visit, Lighthouse Beach and Lighthouse Bar were closed, but we could still enjoy everything else that the island had to offer.

What additional improvements are being made at MSC Ocean Cay?

You’ll find various projects underway including a second food hall, more bars, additional excursion centers, more family-friendly offerings, and the new Marine Conservation Center.

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