Are you going on an MSC cruise and stopping at their private island, Ocean Cay? Then you need to read this. I recently visited the MSC cruise’s private island and have some tips to help you make the most of your day at Ocean Cay.
MSC Cruise Ocean Cay Tips
Best View of the Island from Cruise Ship
If you want to enjoy a view of Ocean Cay from your private balcony, it’s important to book a stateroom on the starboard (right) side of the cruise ship. This will ensure that when the cruise ship docks at Ocean Cay, you’ll have a perfect view of the island right from your balcony.
No Need for Tender Boats
One of the best things about Ocean Cay is that the cruise ship can dock directly on the island. There is no need to ride tender boats to get to the island. It’s easy to get onto the island—simply walk down the gangway! Because of this convenience, it has become one of my favorite cruise lines’ private islands!
BBQ Lunch on Ocean Cay
Don’t miss the buffet lunch on Ocean Cay. It’s served at the Seakers Food Court, an open-air pavilion with a buffet and picnic tables. It’s conveniently located near the cruise ship and South Beach. Ocean Cay is a small island, so it’s within walking distance from all the beaches or by taking the tram.
The buffet is a BBQ lunch with classic favorites like burgers, hotdogs, pulled pork, mac & cheese, and cold salads. Drink dispensers at the buffet serve complimentary ice-cold beverages like lemonade, iced tea, and water.
The buffet is open from 11:30 am to 2 pm. If you miss the buffet hours, don’t worry – there are food trucks around the island and the Lighthouse bar serving food.
Beach Umbrellas
Beach umbrellas are not free on Ocean Cay. You need to rent it for $29 a day (or $19 if purchased in advance before boarding the cruise ship). Without a rented umbrella, your options are limited to a few palm trees, and it’s a gamble to find a vacant palm tree.
The palm trees are also farther from the water, so if you have kids, renting an umbrella would be more convenient since you are closer to the water to keep an eye on your kids. Also, it’s inconvenient to be under the palm trees because you will need to drag your own lounge chairs to bring them under the palm trees.
Ocean Cay Lagoon
Ocean Cay Lagoon is an excellent place for swimming. It’s a stunning lagoon, very clean, with no seaweed and fine, white sand. The water is the beautiful turquoise that the Bahamas is known for. Because it’s a lagoon, the water is calm and very shallow, making it perfect for families with children. It’s just a short distance from the cruise ship and is surrounded by North Beach and South Beach.
In the middle of the lagoon, there are platforms that are popular with teenagers who like to dive off from there. The platform is also a great spot to rest and take a break for swimmers attempting to swim across from North Beach to South Beach.
Best Beach on Ocean Cay
In my opinion, South Beach is the best beach on Ocean Cay. It’s among the most popular beaches on the island, and for good reasons. To start with, it’s conveniently located right next to Seakers Food Court, the island’s main restaurant.
Additionally, it’s just a short 5-minute walk to the cruise ship. South Beach also has a rental booth where visitors can easily rent kayaks, floats, and umbrellas. Plus, it is a lagoon facing beach, so the water is calm and not deep at all.
Second Best Beach on Ocean Cay
North Beach is the second best beach on Ocean Cay. It is lagoon facing, so the water is calm, and there is a rental booth on North Beach.
The only downside is North Beach’s location: It’s further away from the cruise ship and Seakers Food Court. If you have mobility issues or are traveling with little kids, you should take the tram to North Beach.
If there are no beach lounge chairs available on South Beach, I recommend checking out North Beach.
Lighthouse Show
Don’t miss the beautiful lighthouse show on the beach at night. If your cabin has a balcony on the starboard (right side) of the cruise ship, you’ll have a great view from there. If not, head to the ship’s open deck. Alternatively, you can go down to the beach to catch the lighthouse show.
Beach Towels
There are no towel huts on Ocean Cay. You will need to bring your own beach towels to the island. MSC does provide beach towels; however, you’ll need to bring them with you from the cruise ship. Just make sure to bring back your beach towels to the cruise ship to avoid a charge of $30 per towel. Don’t forget to bring beach towel clips so your towels stay put! I always bring these fun flip flop beach towel clips whenever I go on Caribbean cruises!
If you are an MSC Yacht Club passenger, there are towel huts at the beach for you. You don’t need to bring your own beach towels.
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Secluded Beaches on Ocean Cay
The good thing about Ocean Cay is that there are many beaches on the island so if you want to go to a secluded beach, you can.
If you want some privacy away from the crowd, head to Lighthouse Beach, which is located near the lighthouse. You will get a more secluded beach experience there.
Bimini Beach, located on the other side of North Beach, is also ideal for passengers looking for a secluded beach experience. The only downside is Bimini Beach is a bit farther from Seakers Food Court.
Seashells
You are not allowed to bring seashells back to the cruise ship. They are pretty strict about this rule. If they catch you with seashells, they will take them away from you and return them back to the island. Trust me, I saw buckets of seashells confiscated by the cruise ship’s security! Check out: 22 Things to Pack in Your Cruise Private Island Beach Bag (Free Packing List)
Check out these free cruise printables
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