By
Alex Smith |
MSC Cruises has welcomed its first guests to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, its new private island destination in The Bahamas. They arrived onboard MSC Divina.
The company has transformed the island from an industrial sand excavation site, working with a range of experts to restore the surrounding ocean beds, marine life and endangered coral. During the process, 7,500 tons of scrap metal were removed and replaced by more than 75,000 plants and shrubs that were planted across the island. A team of divers and marine biologists also removed individual hard coral colonies from debris on the ocean bed and relocated them outside the construction zone.
“Ocean Cay is founded on a deep commitment to ecological principles – beliefs that shape everything from how venues are built, to how the island is run, to the kinds of activities featured on the island,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises. “Having the first guests arrive on the island is a moment of great pride for all of us at MSC Cruises. We wanted to create for our guests something sustainable, with a higher purpose. Ocean Cay is not just a holiday island, it is a unique marine reserve where people and nature thrive in harmony.”
Guests will be able to enjoy a range of activities on the island, including paddle boarding and traditional Junkanoo parades. All four of MSC Cruises’ US-based ships – MSC Armonia, MSC Divina, MSC Seaside and MSC Meraviglia – will call at the destination.