MSC to Expand Ocean Cay With Two-Ship Pier by Late 2027
Ocean Cay is slated for late 2027 upgrades, including an adults-only beach, family lagoon and extended pier that can handle two ships at the same time.
MSC Cruises now operates 23 ships and has a fleet-and-destination schedule that runs through 2028, led by additional World-class newbuilds and more dedicated Bahamas capacity. The fleet spans six ship classes and includes MSC World America, which entered service from Miami in April 2025 and has completed its first year in operation.
MSC is the third-largest cruise brand by capacity, just over two decades after its 2002 launch. The near-term schedule adds North American capacity while Europe remains the line’s largest summer operating region and the core of its Mediterranean program.
World-class ships lead the capacity schedule
MSC World America is the current North American vessel in the World-class series. Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, the LNG-powered ship measures 216,638 gross tons and carries up to 6,764 passengers with 2,138 crew across 22 decks.
The ship made its official debut in Florida after a christening ceremony at MSC’s new cruise terminal in PortMiami, where Drew Barrymore served as godmother. Its inaugural sailing called at Puerto Plata, San Juan and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and its 2026 program continues with seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, including Cozumel and Roatan.
MSC World Asia, a 208,500-ton World-class ship, is scheduled to enter service in December 2026 with year-round Western Mediterranean cruises. MSC World Atlantic is due in late 2027 and is planned for Port Canaveral deployments to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
MSC Group remains headquartered in Geneva, while MSC Cruises consolidated its cruise division in Miami in January 2024. The 130,000-square-foot Downtown Miami facility houses personnel from MSC Cruises, MSC Cargo and Explora Journeys.
Europe remains the main summer base
MSC’s itinerary range covers Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean, but the line continues to base most of its ships in Europe during the summer. Its core European products include seven-night Western Mediterranean sailings and Northern Europe itineraries from Southampton.
During the winter, MSC keeps some capacity in Europe while also deploying ships to South America, South Africa, the Gulf and the Caribbean. The line also operates an annual world cruise, a multi-month voyage that typically departs in January and covers at least three continents.
Fleet segmentation spans mega-ships and older tonnage
The six-class fleet ranges from the World and Meraviglia ships, which carry more than 6,000 passengers at maximum capacity on the largest vessels, to the smaller Musica and Lirica classes. The Seaside class sits between those groups with ships carrying up to 5,877 passengers, while Fantasia-class ships carry about 4,300 passengers.
The older Lirica-class ships remain the smallest vessels in the MSC Cruises fleet, with capacities around 2,600 passengers. The class underwent a £160 million refurbishment program in 2014 that lengthened the ships and added 193 cabins, a spray park, retail space and new entertainment areas.
The product range also includes MSC Yacht Club, the line’s ship-within-a-ship suite product with 24-hour butler and concierge service, priority embarkation and disembarkation, private restaurant and lounge access, a dedicated pool deck, premium drinks and Wi-Fi. Yacht Club pricing is typically about double the cost of a standard cabin, while entry-level inside cabin fares on some sailings start from about £40 per person, per day.
MSC’s loyalty program, MSC Voyagers Club, has six tiers: Welcome, Classic, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Blue Diamond. Members earn points based on cruise length, accommodation category and pre-cruise spending, and Blue Diamond requires 25,000 or more points earned through sailing with MSC Cruises.
Bahamas projects add dedicated passenger space
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve remains the line’s primary private-island destination in the Bahamas. The island, about 65 miles east of Miami and 20 miles south of Bimini, has a direct pier. Passengers walk ashore without tendering.
MSC is also planning Sandy Cay, a new private island adjacent to Ocean Cay, for 2028. Separately, the company is developing a 20-acre beach club at the Grand Lucayan complex in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island for passengers sailing with MSC Cruises and sister brand Explora Journeys.
Ocean Cay’s late-2027 upgrade scope includes new restaurants, an adults-only beach, a family lagoon and an extended pier designed to accommodate two ships calling at the island at the same time.
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