MSC Breaks Ground on Sandy Cay Private Island in The Bahamas
Construction and site preparation were already well underway before the ceremony, with plans for five beaches, swimming and snorkeling, dining venues and private retreats.
MSC Group’s Cruise Division held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 28, 2026, for Sandy Cay, its new private-island destination in The Bahamas, which is scheduled to open in 2028. Construction and site preparation were already well underway before the ceremony.
Located beside Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Sandy Cay is being developed exclusively for passengers of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. MSC plans a more secluded, luxury-focused experience centered on wellness and relaxation, complementing its existing island destination.
Plans call for five beaches, swimming and snorkeling, dining venues, private retreats and spaces for guests to unwind. MSC says the guest experience will emphasize the island’s natural surroundings, with organized activities and hospitality services also planned.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, and Philip Davis, prime minister of The Bahamas, attended the ceremony alongside government officials and project partners. MSC’s announcement did not include remarks from Vago or Davis. The company first disclosed the Sandy Cay project in April 2026.
The development accompanies planned additions at Ocean Cay, including more dining outlets, new beach concepts catering to families and adults, and larger relaxation areas. MSC also plans experiences that let visitors engage more closely with its marine conservation work.
MSC’s investment in Ocean Cay dates to 2015, when it secured a 100-year lease from the Bahamian government and began restoring the former industrial site. The island opened to cruise passengers in December 2019.
Created through dredging in the late 1960s, Ocean Cay had been used for aragonite-sand mining for decades. Its rehabilitation included removing more than 1,500 tons of scrap metal, restoring shorelines and native vegetation, and starting coral-restoration projects. Coral nurseries are now part of the destination’s conservation work.
Booking details for Sandy Cay have not yet been released.
