The Bahamas · Cruise port guide
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
MSC’s private island in the Bimini chain — a rehabilitated industrial sand-dredging site, now a marine reserve, with overnight calls.
Port basics
Getting ashore
Ships dock
Berth to town
There is no town. The island is a self-contained MSC facility with several beaches.
Time in port
Typically 8–12 hours, frequently including an evening in port
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Currency
Purchases run on the onboard account; no cash needed
Language
English
Time zone
Eastern Time (UTC−5, UTC−4 in summer)
Nearest airport
South Bimini (BIM) — About 30 km north — not reachable on a port call
These are the patterns Ocean Cay normally operates on. Berth assignments, tender arrangements and time in port vary by ship, line and day, and we confirm the specifics for your sailing once we know the dates.
About Ocean Cay
Ocean Cay was an industrial site: a sand and aragonite dredging operation in the Bimini chain, abandoned and left derelict. MSC took it on in 2015, removed thousands of tonnes of scrap and rebuilt it as a beach island surrounded by a 165 square kilometre protected marine reserve, opening in late 2019.
That history is the island’s most distinctive feature, and MSC leans into it — there is coral restoration work on the reef and conservation interpretation ashore, which gives a group something to do beyond the beach.
The other distinguishing feature is time. Ships frequently stay into the evening rather than leaving mid-afternoon, so passengers can be ashore after dark, with the island’s lighthouse lit in changing colours. Very few private island calls offer that.
Eight beaches are spread around the perimeter, which spreads a full ship out more effectively than a single crescent. The planting is still maturing, so natural shade is limited — the usual private-island caveat applies.
Going ashore in Ocean Cay
Within reach on foot
- Eight separate beaches around the island’s perimeter
- A lighthouse that is lit in changing colours after dark
- Bars, a market square and complimentary dining venues
- Marine reserve interpretation and coral restoration displays
What the port is known for
- Snorkelling within the marine reserve
- Beach cabana and lagoon-side rentals
- Kayaking and paddleboarding
- Guided marine conservation walks
How ships berth here
Ships berth alongside, so there is no tender. Ocean Cay is also one of the few private islands where ships regularly stay into the evening, letting passengers go ashore after dark.
Access and mobility
Purpose-built, docked and largely step-free, with flat paths around the island and beach wheelchairs usually available.
Weather and when ships call
Warm year-round, 22–27°C in winter and 28–32°C in summer. The island is low, flat and newly planted, so shade is still limited.
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Typical itinerary length
Ocean Cay usually appears on 3–5 nights The Bahamas itineraries. Sails year-round.
Ports often paired with Ocean Cay
Itineraries that call here usually call at these too, so it is worth reading them together when you are comparing weeks.
Bimini
The closest Bahamian island to Florida — 80 km from Miami — with a docked berth, a beach club and a very small island to explore.
Nassau
The Bahamian capital and the most-called port in the world, with a rebuilt terminal that opens directly onto the historic town.
CocoCay
Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Berry Islands, with a pier, the Caribbean’s tallest waterslide and a very large freshwater pool.
Explore further
The Bahamas cruises
Short sailings from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines’ private islands — the easiest first cruise for a group.
Cruise ports in Bahamas
Every Bahamas port we cover, with seasons, berthing and shore access.
All cruise ports
Browse every port guide by region, country or name.
Bringing a group to Ocean Cay?
We hold five cabins or more together as a single block, quote it once, and let each household book and pay separately. Tell us roughly when and how many.