Ship’s Position at Ocean Cay

[cellfree]

Do all MSC ships back into Ocean Cay?

[WorldTraveler151208]

What do you mean with all ships?  Four of them are on Ocean Cay at the moment.  That is Meraviglia, Preziosa, Seaside and Armonia. Sometimes they go to Freeport, probably for fresh supplies, but they always return to Ocean Cay.

[dexddd]

From the limited time they've been docking there, that is all we've seen.

[cellfree]

I do not mean right now. I meant once sailing again. When we docked there on the Armonia, she backed in. Does the Mera  back in also?

[BoundForSea]

2 hours ago, cellfree said:

I do not mean right now. I meant once sailing again. When we docked there on the Armonia, she backed in. Does the Mera  back in also?

No. She pulls forward through the narrow trenched channel and does an amazing and precise basin turning maneuver before berthing alongside the pier. Its got little margin for error and its very tight, impressive to watch. This is why high winds will cause them to skip OC on an itinerary. Not as common as Tendering in say NCLs island but still a possibility. 

[Cruisergal1208]

When on Seaside and Meraviglia the bow was toward the lighthouse.  Is that what you are asking?

 

[cellfree]

Sorta of - ha - does that mean “even” numbered cabins face Ocean Cay?

[Cruisergal1208]

Yes, starboard faces the island

 

[Hlitner]

We should clarify that Ocean Cay can only dock one cruise ship.  At this very moment there are no ships docked at Ocean Cay (per AIS) although there are at least two in the vicinity.  The norm is that the ship executes a 180 while in the tight turning basin and backs up to the pier (Starboard side of the ship faces the island with the bow towards the lighthouse).  This makes the disembarkation maneuver quite easy.  That being said there is no reason why a ship could not dock bow first and later back away from the pier.

 

Hank

[jansarts]

I wondered the same,found out Starboard side always faces Ocean Cay. I almost always prefer Port side Balcony  but my next Ocean Cay cruise I booked a Starboard side so I can see Island while at the port.