MSC Ocean Cay

It’s nearly time to dive deep into Ocean Cay’s MSC Marine Reserve, as part of a chain of islands in the east of the Bahamas. It’s a very natural island with 165 square km of marine reserve, so it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in an eco-friendly environment! Ocean Cay will officially open the 9th November 2019 and to say we’re excited is an understatement!

Excursions

There’re so many fantastic activities to do on Ocean Cay that we guarantee you won’t want to leave! We’re in love with all the amazing water activities on this island that we just need to try out for ourselves! Shipwreck snorkelling seems to be a crowd favourite, and for obvious reason. Although the difficulty level of this activity is tough, the instructors will teach you everything you need to know before you go out to the water. However, there are many other water excursions that don’t include swimming at all, including the adventurous parasailing. Prepare yourself to take in the glorious views of the Bahamas while you fly around effortlessly. This is one that we’re especially looking forward to! With a Kayak exploration tour and a paddleboard tour, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

There’re also many activities that the whole family can enjoy together like enjoying a relaxing boat ride with a glass bottom while viewing a range of exciting marine life such as sharks, colourful birds and exotic coral reefs. The best part? Your tour guide will dive into the water and bring back friendly animals for you and your family to hold and interact with! The kids all love this. Us included! Or how about beachside gazing under the magnificent Bahamian sky? Enjoy a welcome drink while exploring more about the planets and galaxies around us. Sounds like a great way to end a great day! There’re so many excursions we need to try while here!

Food & Drink

While you’re docked at Ocean Cay, you’ll still be able to enjoy food from the ship, however, there is a family restaurant, five bars, and ice creams shops around the island for you to indulge in. Remember, calories don’t count in the Bahamas! There’s a wide range of options of food so there really is something for everyone. Enjoy some authentic Bahamian food or play it safe and indulge in the American classics. At the Lighthouse Bar, not only can guests enjoy delicious drinks, but they have the pleasure of having live music with DJ’s and surprising visual experience! The bars sell the most mouth-watering cocktails! The Smiling Fish offers hundreds of different flavours of ice cream, with some of them including an authentic Bahamian twist! Our favourite thing about the food and drinks here at Ocean City are the amazing choices of Tiki Bars. There’s 8 of types of Tiki Bars here, each with their own unique fun feeling. Oh, the thoughts of it sound absolutely amazing! Who doesn’t love a cocktail on a private island after all?!

Relax

As if being on this stunning island isn’t relaxing enough, Ocean Cay offers the most blissful spa! With a selection of lovely body and facial treatments, the Aurea Spa will leave you feeling content and peaceful. With traditional and authentic massages, we’re in dire need of an afternoon spent there. How does a traditional Balinese massage sound to you? With each massage, you’ll notice that you’ll receive a unique experience from them all. We couldn’t think of anything better right now! Did we mention that there are also six beaches on the island? Yes, read that again… six! So, don’t worry, you’ll defiantly find a place to sunbathe! Also, the North and South beach are primarily family beaches, with shallow water so, it’s the perfect place to bring the little ones. However, if the spa and beaches aren’t your cup of tea, you can still relax with by choosing from a variety of sports tournaments and dance lessons. There’re also some yoga lessons that take place on the beach, so keep an eye out!

Shopping

How could you leave an ocean reserve island without bringing home a souvenir… or a new necklace of course! Take a piece of the island home with you and shop the stunning Bahamian authentic local made products. A lot of the products highlight the marine sustainable values on the island, so don’t forget to pay some attention to it!

Tips

We recommend booking the excursions and extra beverage packages early, which can be done on the app or booked directly on board at relevant information desks. There’s a standard, unlimited and premium WI-FI package to choose from on the island, since the WI-FI from the ship won’t connect when you’re too far away from it. You can also rent all water sport equipment when you’re on the island, so you don’t have to worry about bringing it with you. Bonus! All payment on the island can be made through cruise card, except for the Bahamian Straw Market, where they only take American dollars. There’s also no need to worry about getting around on the island. A 15-20-minute walk will get you to most places, however, there is also the option of an electric cart service, in case you want to leave your walking shoes back on the ship! Just don’t forget your sun cream and sun glasses, we think you’ll need it!

We’re really looking forward to checking out this island! It really is the destination of a lifetime! You can check out some MSC cruises that sail to Ocean Cay below.