Bimini chain, Bahamas · MSC Cruises

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve sits in the Bahamas' Bimini chain. The island was built up by dredging in the 1960s and spent decades as an aragonite sand-mining site before MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease in December 2015 and spent a reported $200 million turning it into a marine reserve and beach destination, opening in December 2019.

damon on road, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
damon on road, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.Damon On Road / Widgety

Included in the fare

  • Beach access across the island's beaches
  • Walking trails and the lighthouse viewpoint
  • Entry to the marine reserve areas

Costs extra

  • Cabanas
  • Watersports equipment rental
  • Specialty dining and bar service

Beaches

Several beaches ring the island, developed alongside a coral restoration program and tens of thousands of native plants put in as part of the rebuild.

Food

A beachfront barbecue is part of the normal call. Specialty venues and bar service cost extra.

Activities

Swimming and snorkeling around the restored reef areas, walking trails, and the island's lighthouse, a leftover from its industrial past kept as a landmark.

Who it suits

Couples and families who want a beach day with a conservation story attached; the pace is quieter than a waterpark-style destination.

History and facts

  • Ocean Cay was built by dredging in the 1960s and used for decades as an industrial sand-mining and staging site.
  • MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease in December 2015 and spent about $200 million converting it into a marine reserve, opening in December 2019.
  • Mission Blue named Ocean Cay a Hope Spot in 2023 in recognition of its coral restoration program.

138 sailings call here

MSC Cruises itineraries that stop at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, starting prices per person based on two adults sharing, confirmed in a quote.

Photo credit: MSC Rights

Genoa, then Marseille, then Barcelona, then Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then Grand Turk Island, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Balboa (Panama City), then Manta, then Callao, then Arica, then Hangaroa, Easter Island, then Pitcairn Island, then Papeete, Tahiti, then Nuku'alofa, then Nouméa, then Auckland, then Tauranga, then Napier, then Picton, then Wellington, then Sydney, New South Wales, then Cairns, Queensland, then Lombok, then Benoa, Bali, then Ho Chi Minh City, then Ha Long Bay, then Chan May, then Laem Chabang, then Sihanoukville, then Singapore, then Port Klang (Ferry Port), then Colombo, then Cochin, then Mumbai (ex Bombay), then Dubai, then Port Qaboos, then 'Aqaba, then Alexandria, then Civitavecchia, then Genoa

115 nights, 39 ports

MSC Cruises, Ship: MSC Magnifica

From$19,889per personUpdated Nov 11, 2026. Departs Jan 5, 2028.
Photo credit: MSC Rights

Civitavecchia, then Genoa, then Marseille, then Barcelona, then Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then Grand Turk Island, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Balboa (Panama City), then Manta, then Callao, then Arica, then Hangaroa, Easter Island, then Pitcairn Island, then Papeete, Tahiti, then Nuku'alofa, then Nouméa, then Auckland, then Tauranga, then Napier, then Picton, then Wellington, then Sydney, New South Wales, then Cairns, Queensland, then Lombok, then Benoa, Bali, then Ho Chi Minh City, then Ha Long Bay, then Chan May, then Laem Chabang, then Sihanoukville, then Singapore, then Port Klang (Ferry Port), then Colombo, then Cochin, then Mumbai (ex Bombay), then Dubai, then Port Qaboos, then 'Aqaba, then Alexandria, then Civitavecchia

115 nights, 39 ports

MSC Cruises, Ship: MSC Magnifica

From$19,889per personUpdated Nov 12, 2026. Departs Jan 4, 2028.
Photo credit: MSC Rights

Marseille, then Barcelona, then Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then Grand Turk Island, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Balboa (Panama City), then Manta, then Callao, then Arica, then Hangaroa, Easter Island, then Pitcairn Island, then Papeete, Tahiti, then Nuku'alofa, then Nouméa, then Auckland, then Tauranga, then Napier, then Picton, then Wellington, then Sydney, New South Wales, then Cairns, Queensland, then Lombok, then Benoa, Bali, then Ho Chi Minh City, then Ha Long Bay, then Chan May, then Laem Chabang, then Sihanoukville, then Singapore, then Port Klang (Ferry Port), then Colombo, then Cochin, then Mumbai (ex Bombay), then Dubai, then Port Qaboos, then 'Aqaba, then Alexandria, then Civitavecchia, then Genoa, then Marseille

115 nights, 39 ports

MSC Cruises, Ship: MSC Magnifica

From$19,889per personUpdated Nov 11, 2026. Departs Jan 6, 2028.
Photo credit: MSC Rights

Barcelona, then Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then Grand Turk Island, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Balboa (Panama City), then Manta, then Callao, then Arica, then Hangaroa, Easter Island, then Pitcairn Island, then Papeete, Tahiti, then Nuku'alofa, then Nouméa, then Auckland, then Tauranga, then Napier, then Picton, then Wellington, then Sydney, New South Wales, then Cairns, Queensland, then Lombok, then Benoa, Bali, then Ho Chi Minh City, then Ha Long Bay, then Chan May, then Laem Chabang, then Sihanoukville, then Singapore, then Port Klang (Ferry Port), then Colombo, then Cochin, then Mumbai (ex Bombay), then Dubai, then Port Qaboos, then 'Aqaba, then Alexandria, then Civitavecchia, then Genoa, then Marseille, then Barcelona

115 nights, 39 ports

MSC Cruises, Ship: MSC Magnifica

From$22,379per personUpdated Nov 11, 2026. Departs Jan 7, 2028.
Photo credit: MSC Rights

Port Canaveral, Florida, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Georgetown, Grand Cayman, then Ocho Rios, then Nassau, then Port Canaveral, Florida, then Nassau, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Port Canaveral, Florida

11 nights, 5 ports

MSC Cruises, Ship: MSC Grandiosa

Quote available
Photo credit: ©MSC Rights. 2 / Widgety

Port Canaveral, Florida, then Nassau, then Ocho Rios, then Georgetown, Grand Cayman, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Port Canaveral, Florida, then Nassau, then Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, then Port Canaveral, Florida

11 nights, 5 ports

MSC Cruises, Ship: MSC Seashore

Quote available

Common questions

What was Ocean Cay before MSC Cruises developed it?
It was an industrial site used for decades to mine and stage aragonite sand, built up originally by dredging in the 1960s.
When did Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve open?
MSC Cruises opened it in December 2019, after a roughly $200 million restoration under a 100-year lease signed in December 2015.
Is Ocean Cay a nature reserve you can visit without cruising?
No. It is a private destination reachable only on an MSC Cruises sailing that calls there.

MSC Cruises · Full port guide for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve · All private islands