Ocean Cay Opening Delayed Until October 2018

Ocean Cay, a new cruise port in the Bahamas under development by MSC Cruises, will now open in October 2018, 10 months later than originally scheduled.

The cruise line purchased the 85 acre island in the Bahamas and is in the process of transforming it into the only marine reserve island experience for cruise passengers. The island will also have a dock so there will be no need for tendering.

MSC Cruises said the reason for the new opening date for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was to ensure the level of quality and attention to detail that guests have come to expect from the cruise line. Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, gave the following statement:

“As we sat out to finalize construction plans for this one-of-a-kind destination, we realized that to ensure the level of quality and attention to details in both infrastructure and services that our guests have rightfully come to expect from MSC Cruises, it was only appropriate to allot a longer time frame. In fact, while working on the final project, it was hard not to further enrich this unique beach destination with new and additional unique services for our guests. This naturally called for more time than originally planned.”

Work is officially underway on Ocean Cay with a ground breaking ceremony scheduled to be held on October 6, 2016. In attendance will be the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Right Honourable Perry G. Christie, and other high dignitaries from the country’s government.

http://cruisefever.net/0914-opening-new-bahamian-cruise-port-pushed-back-2018/

wow that is really disappointing. Thank you Mike for letting us know !

Once again more BS from Vago! the December 23rd Itinerary is/was Nassau, St Thomas and Ocean Cay, how the hell can Nassau be a replacement when it was already there ? Vago you better find another stop to replace Ocean Cay.

This smacks of Divina going into Miami a day earlier than planned which has left a very sour taste in many peoples mouth`s including our and now you are at it again .... :mad:

This is certainly disappointing. The private island stop was a big reason why I booked an MSC cruise for Feb 2018 in the new Seaside. I'm not interested in going to Nassau again. I'm going to have to seriously reconsider our reservation now.

I'm disappointed, too. We are trying MSC for the first time in March, 2018 and were really looking forward to the private island. No desire to go to Nassau (been there, done that). Same thing happened to me last month on NCL. We were suppose to go to NCL's new private "island", Harvest Caye, but that was delayed as well.

Ugh...this is sooooo disappointing!!!! I too, will be changing my date or cancelling. Nassau??? YUCK. One of the reasons I was so excited for this cruise was because of the private island. VERY disappointed:mad::mad::mad: and who knows if it will even be ready in October of 2018??? I will probably just cancel.

What a downer! We booked the Seaside for February 2018 and were really excited about the private island stop. Heck, I don't even remember the rest of the itinerary, but now I'm going to have to look and see if we will cancel or not.

I've also posted this through my e-mail on the interior update forum, not realizing at the time this forum existed. If they don't come up with an acceptable substitute I will definitely cancel and go elsewhere even though I was looking forward to the Seaside and the YC. The island was a big reason for this cruise. I booked for May, 2018, figuring enough time for delays, but not a year. Big disappointment!!. I think that MSC still doesn't get it about customer service.

Seems like they used the island to drive the bookings, looks like it may well backfire on them.

There are still many on the roll call boards who do not know yet.

I'm willing to accept a stop at the half finished private island over Nassau. Give me a clean, sandy beach to hang out on with some cold beer and a bbq serving burgers and I'll be a happy guy. I'll even accept tendering to the island if the pier isn't able to handle the ship.

I just got off the phone with MSC. They just got the e-mail today about the delay but haven't received any information on another port or any compensation. Evidently they've gotten many calls about this,

Oh well will see it in 2019.

I hope they find a better substitute than Nassau, even Key West would be an improvement. I haven't booked my Summer 2018 cruise yet on the Seaside, but I don't think this news will deter me. I still loved the MSC product and will be keeping my plan to book Seaside for a June 2018 cruise.

If I could cancel I would do that right away. Unfortunately not that easy in. my country... Maybe they allow us to change the booking though. We have a back to back in 3/2018. 3 times Nassau!? No thank you!

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This is certainly disappointing. The private island stop was a big reason why I booked an MSC cruise for Feb 2018 in the new Seaside. I'm not interested in going to Nassau again. I'm going to have to seriously reconsider our reservation now.

This is so typical of MSC, announce it to the press before telling customers with no plan B ! apart from lets take them to Nassau twice in a seven day sailing.

Sid, I couldn't agree more. I doubt if they do, but I hope someone at MSC reads these posts.

Seems that the UK office have not been told about it yet ! ... :mad:

Very disappointed...

Since our cruise already stops in Nassau, I wonder what the replacement will be...

Cruise ships that were scheduled to stop at Ocean Cay (MSC Seaside, MSC Divina) will now call on Nassau as a replacement until the island is completed. For itineraries that already have Nassau as a scheduled stop, a different port will be added to replace Ocean Cay.

I agree that the delay is disappointing, however, it's disappointing for MSC as well. Delays usually cost more money whether they're due to red tape, lack of qualified tradespeople or equipment, whatever the cause it hurts.

Our last cruise was on NCL Star around the British Isles followed by the TA to Tampa. We considered adding the first Caribbean cruise too so that we'd be the first to see the brand new Harvest Caye (NCL's 2nd private island). It was scheduled to open Oct 19th, 2015.... it still hasn't opened due to government involvement and red tape causing delays and it is now to open early November, 2016.

Sure glad we decided not to book that additional cruise... :p

Ocean Cay, a new cruise port in the Bahamas under development by MSC Cruises, will now open in October 2018, 10 months later than originally scheduled.

The cruise line purchased the 85 acre island in the Bahamas and is in the process of transforming it into the only marine reserve island experience for cruise passengers. The island will also have a dock so there will be no need for tendering.

 

MSC Cruises said the reason for the new opening date for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was to ensure the level of quality and attention to detail that guests have come to expect from the cruise line. Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, gave the following statement:

 

“As we sat out to finalize construction plans for this one-of-a-kind destination, we realized that to ensure the level of quality and attention to details in both infrastructure and services that our guests have rightfully come to expect from MSC Cruises, it was only appropriate to allot a longer time frame. In fact, while working on the final project, it was hard not to further enrich this unique beach destination with new and additional unique services for our guests. This naturally called for more time than originally planned.”

 

Work is officially underway on Ocean Cay with a ground breaking ceremony scheduled to be held on October 6, 2016. In attendance will be the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Right Honourable Perry G. Christie, and other high dignitaries from the country’s government.

http://cruisefever.net/0914-opening-new-bahamian-cruise-port-pushed-back-2018/

No news for me. I would be surprised if it would build on time :rolleyes: nothing and I mean nothing was or will be build on time on Bahamas or Caribbeans.

On the flip side, if they went ahead and let people aboard an unfinished island, there would be complaints on how they should have delayed opening as it's clearly in shambles type posts.....I think they did the right thing.

Seems like a lot of quick trigger fingers on the "I'm going to cancel side". The trip is more than a year away, give them some time, who knows what they may come up with.

Im also dissapointed we were excited about the private island.im not thrilled with nassau but what can you do

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Given the speed with which other projects progress in the Bahamas I am not surprised at all and NEVER thought they'd make the original timeline.

That said, I want to book this ship for Q4 2018 and hope they are up and running by then.