Do you take pleasure in massive cruise ships however nonetheless wish to really feel such as you’re within the lap of luxurious? Passengers booked in MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club cabins and suites have entry to high-end facilities – each on the ship and off.
Butlers, unique eating and a non-public pool delight friends on board, however perks additionally await on MSC‘s personal island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, within the Bahamas. You may count on devoted trams, towel service and an opportunity to e-book the nicest cabanas on the island, amongst different extras.
Learn on to learn how the MSC Yacht Membership Ocean Cay expertise differs from that of the common cruiser.
For extra cruise guides, information and ideas, join TPG’s cruise newsletter.
MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Membership seashores vs. common seashores
MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve private island is dwelling to seven (quickly to be eight) seashores, and all are public, besides one — Ocean Home Seashore, which is the Yacht Membership’s unique swath of sand. Past its exclusivity, the seashore has a number of different variations from the island’s common seashores.
There, use of lounge chairs and umbrellas is free. Chairs on the different seashores are additionally free and out there on a first-come, first-served foundation; nonetheless, umbrellas include an additional value.
Passengers should signal out towels on board the ship earlier than heading ashore to Ocean Cay’s primary seashores. Yacht Membership passengers can skip that problem and ask for towels on the towel tent discovered on Ocean Home Seashore.
Curiously, I discovered that a number of of the general public seashores had been much less crowded than Ocean Home Seashore. On the latter, chairs had been positioned rather more intently to at least one one other. When you’re keen to stroll or hitch a trip on one of many island’s trams, you will discover fewer crowds on the farther seashores than in case you stick near the ship.
MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Membership meals vs. common eating
Free lunch is included for all cruisers who go to Ocean Cay. For Yacht Membership vacationers, the Ocean Home Restaurant — an unique waiter-served eating venue the place passengers take pleasure in their meals on a shaded porch — exudes upscale seashore vibes.
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Throughout my go to, the menu included starters like crab ceviche, charred octopus and a salad with romaine, tomatoes, jicama, a poached egg and candied bacon in a citrus dressing. Mains featured domestically sourced blackened mahi-mahi, lobster roll, carne asada, a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and top-of-the-line burgers I’ve ever tasted throughout a cruise — a mix of Angus chuck, quick ribs and grilled brisket with crimson onion jam and Monterey Jack cheese. Desserts consisted of creme caramel, mango cheesecake and chocolate cake with espresso sauce.
The meals at Ocean Home are undoubtedly superior to the fare discovered on the Seakers buffet, which is the place cruisers not staying within the Yacht Membership can go for a seashore barbecue that serves sizzling canine, hamburgers, rooster, macaroni and cheese, crimson beans, roasted potatoes and a slew of salads, drinks and desserts.
The meals is tasty, however strains will be lengthy. Another is to go to one in all a number of meals vehicles all through the island. Some are free and dole out the identical gadgets supplied on the buffet however with shorter strains. Others promote fully totally different menu gadgets — lobster grilled cheese, fried calamari, shrimp with watermelon, Caribbean ceviche and octopus salad — with the price charged to cruisers’ onboard accounts.
Moreover — and likewise for an additional price — a stand close to the ship provides specialty espresso and ice cream. (When you’re a espresso lover, belief me once I say you will not wish to miss the Coco-Nilla Latte.)
MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Membership cabanas vs. common cabanas
There are three kinds of cabanas on Ocean Cay: Ocean Cay Seashore Cabanas, Ocean View Yacht Membership Cabanas and Beachfront Yacht Membership Cabanas. All three varieties can be found on a first-come, first-served foundation.
They will maintain as much as six individuals every and embody chilly water, seashore towels and chairs, in addition to floating mats to be used within the water. As the costs improve, so does the variety of inclusions. The final two varieties are solely out there for reserving by Yacht Membership passengers.
Ocean Cay Seashore Cabanas, discovered on South Seashore, North Seashore and Bimini Seashore, are probably the most reasonably priced on the island at $250 for the day. They have partitions on three sides, they usually’re outfitted with cushioned couches. They embody the fundamental facilities talked about above, and anybody can lease them.
Subsequent up are the Ocean View Yacht Membership Cabanas, which value $400 for the day and likewise entitle you to free lunch and drinks, in addition to recent fruit skewers, 4 units of snorkel gear and 4 floating mats. They’re discovered on the Yacht Membership’s personal Ocean Home Seashore, so that they’re off-limits to non-Yacht Membership friends.
The most costly, nonetheless, are the Beachfront Yacht Membership Cabanas, positioned in a special part of the Ocean Home space. They carry a $450 price ticket however supply all the identical extras as Ocean View Yacht Membership Cabanas.
The draw? They’re nearer to the water and, subsequently, have higher views. Though they are not on the principle a part of Ocean Home Seashore, they’re nonetheless within the unique space, close to the restaurant, so you do not have to go far to seize meals.
Finally, the one factor being within the Yacht Membership affords you on this case is the choice to e-book dearer cabanas.
MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Membership trams vs. common trams
At 95 acres, Ocean Cay is sizable. When you’re match, you may stroll from one finish to the opposite in about quarter-hour, but when you do not have nice mobility or in case you’re simply overheated, reaching a few of the island’s extra distant seashores will be troublesome on foot. That is why MSC provides tram shuttles.
Passengers in customary cabins will discover tram stops with shaded ready areas all through the island. Nonetheless, waits will be lengthy, particularly if many different persons are additionally in want of a carry.
Yacht Membership cruisers can reap the benefits of trams solely for the Yacht Membership. They run between a particular tent (with free chilly water to sip when you wait) arrange simply inside the doorway to Ocean Cay and the Ocean Home seashore and restaurant space.
You may make particular requests for stops, which the common trams often will not accommodate. For instance, you would possibly ask to go straight from the tent to South Seashore for a volleyball recreation with out stopping anyplace else first.
MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Membership actions vs. common actions
That is the one class the place the island’s public areas beat the Ocean Home space by a mile. When you’re on the lookout for one thing to do aside from consuming, consuming or lazing by the seashore, you will have to go again towards the ship as a result of there’s not a lot occurring within the unique areas.
All the things from massages, lighthouse excursions and water sports activities gear leases to seashore events, volleyball video games and shore excursions takes place elsewhere. Nonetheless, maybe that is by design. The Yacht Membership is mostly quiet, even on board, and the road probably prefers to maintain the raucousness to different areas.
Backside line
The MSC Yacht Membership expertise is extra unique than the usual one at Ocean Cay, with extras like butler service, devoted trams, towel service, entry to pricier cabanas and a non-public seashore and restaurant with higher meals and shorter waits.
Nonetheless, the entire motion — shore excursions, pickup volleyball video games, seashore events, the lighthouse present — occurs within the areas which can be accessible to everybody, which considerably ranges the taking part in discipline.
Moreover, gadgets like specialty espresso, ice cream and for-fee meals truck orders value further for everybody — even Yacht Membership passengers.
Total, Ocean Cay provides an amazing day for anybody who enjoys the seashore, no matter cabin sort.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
Trending Merchandise
