We just returned from a 7-night MSC Armonia cruise in the Caribbean. Ocean Cay was great for our grandkids, who spent much of the day delightedly making sandcastles along a calm-water inlet. But for adults, it started to feel a bit like "Pleasantville" in the movie "The Truman Show." Too man-made and contrived. You feel as if you might touch a plastic bubble overhead if you reach high enough. The scattered palms, looking as if they are laid out according to an architect's design, are planted and stuck in the ground with wooden supports until they take hold. (Don't know how true this is, but we heard the island was previously a garbage dump for the Bahamas, over which MSC has poured sand and spread some concrete walkways.) Bose outdoor speakers play music everywhere along the walkways, so if you thought you'd finally be free to enjoy some real peace and quiet, think again.
If you've never been to a tropical island before, you'll likely enjoy Ocean Cay. You'll find the water pretty shades of blue, and the warm weather pleasant for both swimming and sunbathing. (Note, however, that the water is cloudy near the shore due to all the imported sand, which underwater feels strangely like jelly beneath your feet in places.)
Everything else costs big $$, so come prepared to spend. Good snorkeling apart from the tour (which I can't comment on) is non-existent; we were told at the "Snorkel Shack" (where they were straight-facedly renting out snorkel gear at high prices) that the reason there is little to see is because they are in the process of implanting and incubating coral around the island, which of course could take years if not decades to produce meaningful results. Our grandkids did come across a hapless sea slug near the shore, which was considered a real "find" and was soon the attraction of the day on our part of the beach.
We'd already missed one port (Costa Maya) due to weather--high seas and winds--and Grand Cayman had to cancel its snorkel tours due to weather also, so we were relieved to finally get our kids and grandkids to a port they could enjoy. Of course the cruise line can't be blamed for weather issues. But I think we were all a bit disappointed in what this port turned out to be. Several of our group had bought and practiced with snorkel gear before they came on this cruise, yet got to do almost nothing of that nature.
On the plus side, there are outdoor showers and plenty of restroom facilities, and the lunch buffet at the big pavilion was cost-free, plentiful, and very good. But they begin closing it down exactly at 2 p.m. so be mindful of the time. Tip: At least go for the free ice water!
Be sure to stay hydrated, and use lots and lots of sunscreen, renewed often during the day. My husband and I wore long-sleeved/legged swimsuits and broad-brimmed hats, and were the only ones in our family who did not get sunburned, despite plentiful use of sunscreen. It's a long day out there, with little shade unless you rent an umbrella, and those are glitchy and rather small.
We didn't do any of the proffered tour activities, so cannot comment on those. They did not seem to be renting out any Sea-doos the day we were there, presumably because of rough weather on the open ocean. But we did see some folks kayaking, mostly on the inner "bay." Also you can rent large, stable inner tubes with plastic bottoms, which looked to be fun for families. There is a small diving platform, too, in the middle of the bay, which was always packed with kids.
We missed most of the nighttime show due to having to pack. It looked to consist of music, fires on the beach, and a light show on the lighthouse. (I don't think the lighthouse is a genuine lighthouse, either, but it does provide a photogenic landmark for those Instagram pics.)
In short: Don't be overly critical of this very new, work-in-progress port, and you'll have an enjoyable day, especially if you have small children.
MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve
in Private Islands
Posted · Edited by CoolBlueWaters
We just returned from a 7-night MSC Armonia cruise in the Caribbean. Ocean Cay was great for our grandkids, who spent much of the day delightedly making sandcastles along a calm-water inlet. But for adults, it started to feel a bit like "Pleasantville" in the movie "The Truman Show." Too man-made and contrived. You feel as if you might touch a plastic bubble overhead if you reach high enough. The scattered palms, looking as if they are laid out according to an architect's design, are planted and stuck in the ground with wooden supports until they take hold. (Don't know how true this is, but we heard the island was previously a garbage dump for the Bahamas, over which MSC has poured sand and spread some concrete walkways.) Bose outdoor speakers play music everywhere along the walkways, so if you thought you'd finally be free to enjoy some real peace and quiet, think again.
If you've never been to a tropical island before, you'll likely enjoy Ocean Cay. You'll find the water pretty shades of blue, and the warm weather pleasant for both swimming and sunbathing. (Note, however, that the water is cloudy near the shore due to all the imported sand, which underwater feels strangely like jelly beneath your feet in places.)
Everything else costs big $$, so come prepared to spend. Good snorkeling apart from the tour (which I can't comment on) is non-existent; we were told at the "Snorkel Shack" (where they were straight-facedly renting out snorkel gear at high prices) that the reason there is little to see is because they are in the process of implanting and incubating coral around the island, which of course could take years if not decades to produce meaningful results. Our grandkids did come across a hapless sea slug near the shore, which was considered a real "find" and was soon the attraction of the day on our part of the beach.
We'd already missed one port (Costa Maya) due to weather--high seas and winds--and Grand Cayman had to cancel its snorkel tours due to weather also, so we were relieved to finally get our kids and grandkids to a port they could enjoy. Of course the cruise line can't be blamed for weather issues. But I think we were all a bit disappointed in what this port turned out to be. Several of our group had bought and practiced with snorkel gear before they came on this cruise, yet got to do almost nothing of that nature.
On the plus side, there are outdoor showers and plenty of restroom facilities, and the lunch buffet at the big pavilion was cost-free, plentiful, and very good. But they begin closing it down exactly at 2 p.m. so be mindful of the time. Tip: At least go for the free ice water!
Be sure to stay hydrated, and use lots and lots of sunscreen, renewed often during the day. My husband and I wore long-sleeved/legged swimsuits and broad-brimmed hats, and were the only ones in our family who did not get sunburned, despite plentiful use of sunscreen. It's a long day out there, with little shade unless you rent an umbrella, and those are glitchy and rather small.
We didn't do any of the proffered tour activities, so cannot comment on those. They did not seem to be renting out any Sea-doos the day we were there, presumably because of rough weather on the open ocean. But we did see some folks kayaking, mostly on the inner "bay." Also you can rent large, stable inner tubes with plastic bottoms, which looked to be fun for families. There is a small diving platform, too, in the middle of the bay, which was always packed with kids.
We missed most of the nighttime show due to having to pack. It looked to consist of music, fires on the beach, and a light show on the lighthouse. (I don't think the lighthouse is a genuine lighthouse, either, but it does provide a photogenic landmark for those Instagram pics.)
In short: Don't be overly critical of this very new, work-in-progress port, and you'll have an enjoyable day, especially if you have small children.