MSC Cruises to take agents to 'paradise' private island

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, located in the Bahamas, will also offer seven beaches, a lighthouse to watch sunsets and late-night parties.

The first guests will arrive onboard MSC Meraviglia from November 9, with four ships calling on different days each week.

Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises chief executive, revealed the cruise line will organise a fam trip for agents “a couple of months” before the island opens, with another larger trip planned in the first quarter of 2020.

He said one of Ocean Cay’s "key highlights" was its ability to offer evening entertainment, due to the island’s proximity to Miami.

More than 100 structures – such as bars, restaurants and housing for employees and staff – are currently under construction and environmentally friendly, MSC said.

Onorato said MSC wanted to “build paradise in the Caribbean” while being “as unimpactful as possible” to the natural environment.

“The island will be powered by solar energy, single-use plastic will be practically abolished and waste taken away by the ships that call,” he explained.

When asked how MSC’s island would compare to Royal Caribbean International’s Perfect Day at CocoCay concept opening in May, Onorato said: “They [Royal] are offering a perfect day; we are offering a ticket to paradise.

“They are offering a theme park, we are offering an experience closer to nature – [Ocean Cay] will be totally different.”