Thanks again for all the great advice! I happened across this PointsGuy guide with everything you could possibly want to know about Ocean Cay, except how to remember to pronounce it "Key" 🙂
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/ocean-cay-msc-marine-reserve/
I have one odd question. Some people collect stamps, some collect coins, my spouse is a life-long sand collector. Look it up, it's a thing. She is *slightly* miffed that it is a "man made" island, which is technically against the rules, but in this case she's willing to make an exception. The rule is that each sand has to be from a named beach. For that, she'll be in collector's heaven. She collects a tiny quantity in a baggie and cleans and sorts it into tiny science specimen jars at home.
I know that at normal ports the security guards shake you down pretty carefully. Are they more relaxed because MSC owns the island? Wouldn't want them thinking she'd somehow scored some weird drugs. Anybody remember how well they checked? FWIW, we've had no problems at all with US Customs inspections, they seem to be familiar with the concept.