MSC Group’s Cruise Division has announced plans to launch a new luxury private island destination adjacent to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas in 2028

Located within the same Bahamian waters as Ocean Cay, the destination will complement the company’s existing private island destination and offer a more “intimate and immersive” experience, the line said.

Exact features of the new island have not yet been disclosed. MSC recently announced enhancements to Ocean Cay, which will see the introduction new facilities and experiences designed to further enhance the guest offering on the island.

Enhancements include additional dining venues, new beach concepts for families and adults, expanded relaxation areas, and new ways for guests to engage with marine conservation.

With the addition of Sandy Cay, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys said it will look to “continue to elevate” their private destination offering, “creating seamless connections between life on board and experiences ashore”.

“Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Sandy Cay together represent the next step in MSC Group’s Cruise Division’s vision to deliver unforgettable holiday experiences combining relaxation, discovery and deep respect for the natural world,” the company added.

It comes after the line revised the deployment of MSC World Europa for winter 2026-27 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The ship was scheduled to operate a series of Middle Eastern cruises from November 2026 to April 2027, but will now spend the winter sailing a range of seven and 14-night itineraries in the Caribbean, calling at ports in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Saint Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

World Europa will replace MSC Seaview in the Caribbean and Seaview will be redeployed to Brazil and Argentina for the winter 2026-27 season.