MSC Cruises has just announced plans to purchase and create a private island in the Bahamas for their guests.
Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago signed a 100-year lease yesterday. The island will be called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC plans to invest up to $200 million in converting and developing the island.
Ocean Cay, previously a sand extraction station, will take two years to become fully ready to receive guests.
The render above shows a Seaside class vessel alongside a dock there. Tendering in all those pax would be rather difficult and time consuming. MSC joins Disney as the only private island with a berth for their ship.
More details on the Island:
- 95-acres in size
- 11,400 feet of pristine beach front
- Six distinct beaches
- 20 miles south of Bimini
- 65 miles east of Miami, Florida
- 80 indigenous Caribbean trees, grasses, flowers and shrubs will be planted
- A Bahamian village will be build along with plentiful restaurants and bars offering local specialities, a variety of shops and an inviting arrival center with island-themed music gazebo.
MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago: This is a natural progression for our company, which is growing very rapidly, and we are thrilled about providing this totally new experience for our guests in the Caribbean. Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and its exclusive offerings will be a magnificent extension of our shipboard experiences. We ensure every decision we make keeps each of our ships true to the promise of our brand, offering the authenticity and quality our guests expect. This is what made us the leading brand in many of the markets we operate, including across Europe, South America and South Africa. We will apply the same thinking and attention to detail to our Caribbean offering, of which this exclusive marine reserve will become a cornerstone, because we know our guests will be amazed by this industry-unique experience.