The “private island wars” are in full swing, and it’s cruise passengers that are benefiting.
The battle started years ago when Royal Caribbean upgraded CocoCay from a sleepy island to what’s essentially a beach amusement park.
More recently, we’ve seen Carnival open its new Celebration Key destination and NCL announce major new upgrades to Great Stirrup Cay.
Now MSC has revealed plans for major new upgrades to its private destination, Ocean Cay. And they look to make it an even better place to visit without altering the overall feel of this gem.
One of the Largest Private Destinations Set to See More Features
For those of you who haven’t visited Ocean Cay, it’s among our personal favorite private islands. The entire place was created from a former sand excavation site. Located about 65 miles southeast of Miami, the island is large — encompassing about 165 acres — with white sand and blue water.
And while the trend on many islands is to put in everything from waterslide towers to ziplines, and more, Ocean Cay is much more laid back. The focus is on enjoying beautiful beach and water instead of being as “go-go” as many other private destinations. Plus, with so much space (it’s offers significantly more than passenger area as spots like CocoCay), there’s tons of room for everyone to spread out, find their own space and enjoy a beach day.
With the announced upgrades, MSC is definitely adding more things to do, but in a way that seems to be focused on improving the experience while also keeping ahold of what makes Ocean Cay special.
Coming Family Areas, Adults-Only Spots, and More Food Options
The cruise line announced today that tons of new features will come to the island, set to be finished in late 2027.
First, there will be four new dining venues added to Ocean Cay, including a new specialty restaurant but also new buffet areas and other options. In fact, when we last visited there were considerable food lines during lunch at both the buffet and the food trucks dotted around the island, so this upgrade should help alleviate that issue.
For families, the cruise line announced the Seakers Cove Beach will have major upgrades for families. This will include a new playground, a splashpad, and a ropes course. MSC is also planning to put in games like ping-pong and foosball and adding new activities in the area to appeal to everyone.
Not sailing with kids? Then you’ll be happy to know that a new adults-only area — Paradise Sands — is being built. No word on if there will be an admission fee or not, but the cruise line says that it will “allow adults to relax and soak up the sun in tranquility by day before the space transforms into the perfect place to sip a cocktail at sunset.”
In addition, Ocean Cay will get more cabanas for guests wanting a dedicated spot during the day with plenty of shade. (A lack of shade is perhaps our only real issue with Ocean Cay.) And a new “Marine Conservation Experience” that will allow passengers to learn more about ocean ecosystems and coral restoration “through immersive, hands-on experiences.”
Perhaps the biggest change, however, is that MSC is working on a longer pier that will allow two ships to dock at once. The good news is that given the size of Ocean Cay, this shouldn’t have much impact on the overall feel of the island. There will still be plenty of space to spread out and find a spot of your own if you prefer things to be more quiet.
As well, the cruise line says it is still working on a second private island next to Ocean Cay. The cruise line says this spot “will stay true to the ethos of Ocean Cay, offering an experience that connects guests to nature, pristine beaches, and the beauty of the ocean plus luxury facilities and water features.”
