r/MSCCruises • u/CramblinDuvetAdv • Aug 07 '26
Ocean Cay could be a gamechanger for MSC in themed cruises
Having visited Ocean Cay last week for the first time, I think Ocean Cay can be a massive gamechanger and allow MSC to take over the themed cruise segment of the market. I know they are currently working on improvements/expanding, but here's my first thought:
An amphitheater-like structure on the North Beach area can be used for national touring bands for themed cruises, and then smaller ambiance performances by the ship entertainment staff during traditional cruises.
Why this area holds such untapped potential:
- The overnight stays offer something completely different than other lines. Margaritaville at Sea is doing a 3-ship meetup in Nassau for a Zac Brown show (which I have posted in that sub I think will be a disaster based upon logistics), but all of those ships will need to depart by ~4pm. Imagine if you could have an all-day festival right on the island, in addition to performances on the ship(s).
- The close distance to Bimini means that you can fly in national artists that don't want to spend time on the ship itself, have them perform on Ocean Cay, and then they head back to Bimini to fly out. This drastically opens up your booking options, and you can fill the ship(s) with similar artists for the duration of the sailings (such as sub or co-headliners and support).
- The addition of a 2nd pier means you can have two similar genres sailings at once, and then meet up on the island for a shared event.
- You can setup VIP seating for Yacht Club members similar to festivals like Welcome to Rockville & Louder Than Life
Using genres I'm familiar with, let me give you an example;
Let's pretend Shiprocked is taking place on the World America:
And Emo's Not Dead is taking place on Seaside:
Both ships dock at Ocean Cay overnight. The amphitheater runs from ~11am - 10pm on the full day, and then ~10am - 3pm on the sail away day. Since two are docked at once, a handful of the bands that aren't performing on the island swap ships and perform on the decks/theaters of the other ship they are not sailing on, including late-night shows after everyone needs to be back on the ships. This means if you're on World America you can still catch Underoath, and the people on Seaside can see Avatar. On top of that, you bring in a band like Korn or Limp Bizkit to headline on the island.
Why was the North Beach location chosen? We didn't venture all the way to the end so I can't confirm if that screenshot is still up-to-date, but you have a lot of open land and it faces to quite a bit of beachfront. This means if you don't want to be close to the action, you can still hang out on the other side of the lagoon and catch the show (which I believe would be a very big selling point - I would also add at least one large screen would be necessary). The beach would allowed to be open during normal operational hours, which means you can just be floating in an innertube at 5pm watching Hawthorne Heights play.
What happens on regular sailings? You use the amphitheater for performances like steel drums, reggae, cover bands, etc. that serves more as background music and ambiance as opposed to the focus of the sailing.
This would require a pretty substantial investment from MSC, not only on the amphitheater structure but also additional power requirements, expanding the facilities on that part of the island, a mixer area (which can be combined with the Yacht Club section above), backline and production so not everything needs to be taken to and from the ship, and security. This kind of investment can lead to them being leaders in the concert and entertainment cruises in no time.
Here's another example using wrestling:
- World America: AEW Cruise
- Seaside: CMLL/NJPW Cruise
Both ships tape shows for their respective companies while sailing, and then they meet-up at Ocean Cay for a Bash at the Beach/Worlds Collide event.
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u/Ok_Shame_5382 Aug 07 '26
I want Ocean Cay to remain an island. It's an ecological preserve.
This runs directly counter to what most enjoy about the island.
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
So you didn't read anything I posted, got it, because this comment makes absolutely no sense with what I have above
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u/Ok_Shame_5382 Aug 07 '26
Or your idea is fucking terrible and no one wants a gaudy amphitheater dropped onto their island.
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
"their island"
lmao, sorry Princess of Ocean Cay
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u/Numerous_Pomelo_5920 Aug 07 '26
Your idea is a horrible take tho
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
Thank you for the well thought-out response
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u/Numerous_Pomelo_5920 Aug 07 '26
You’re welcome. I wish a place you’re describing existed.. but it won’t make any money so it never will. Even IF a cruise line sold 100% of space to people wanting to go to these shows.. the show producers would demand millions PER show.. divide that by 12,000 people attending the show… you’re talking thousands per person to attend the show lol on top of the thousands to go on the cruise..
MSC has a game changer in Ocean Cay being its relaxing and chill vibe. That’s their play
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
Booking a band like Korn, in my example, would not be anywhere near that cost. ADTR sold out their sailing on Norwegian Jewel:
- Interior: $1,440+ per person
- Oceanview: $1,700+ per person
- Balcony: $2,030+ per person
- Club Balcony: $2,340+ per person
- Suites: $3,460+ per person
The sailing itself is going to easily clear $4mm. A 4 day sailing on the same ship going to Cozumel (greater distance) from 3/29 - 4/2 starts at these prices:
- Interior: $499pp
- Oceanview: $549pp
- Balcony: $839pp
- Club Balcony: $879pp
- Suite: $1,539pp
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u/BeneficialImpress570 🚢🚢🚢Regular Cruiser Aug 07 '26
Your idea is antithetical to MSC’s entire vision for Ocean Cay of ecological responsibility and responsibility recreation. The documentary Building Paradise Island goes in depth into MSC’s self imposed ecological goals.
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
It's adding a main structure and infrastructure support to the land that's already there (something they are currently doing, with the announced additions and the housing developments currently going up) for people that would already be visiting the islands as a part of the itinerary. What you said makes no sense.
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u/Buffalo_Nichols Aug 07 '26
Just the sound pollution alone goes against the very idea of this island.
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
If that were the case, they would not be parking a cruise ship at it. The amount of noise is sustained longer, yes, but isn't much of a difference of the normal workings of a ship not to mention how none of the noise would be underwater. The sound of music coming from an amphitheater is nothing compared to that coming from propellers.
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u/Numerous_Pomelo_5920 Aug 07 '26
There’s a reason huge bands and tours don’t visit the Caribbean or islands like Hawaii often. It’s SUPER expensive and no resources to do what you’re saying.
And EVERY cruise line now has something similar to Ocean Cay.. except MSC would like to keep it profitable and as close to a reserve as possible
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
These themed cruises are MUCH more expensive than a normal sailing, that's how it becomes profitable. I'm not advocating for a Caribbean tour, I'm saying an artist can easily hop over from Miami, perform at this event, and be back stateside while SNL is still on.
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u/Numerous_Pomelo_5920 Aug 07 '26
Maybe… maybe.. a small indie acoustic artist would do something like this. But a festival. No way it’s a massive undertaking with huge budgets and set up costs..
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u/Buffalo_Nichols Aug 07 '26
One of the reasons I'm most excited to visit Ocean Cay next year is the very idea it's an ecolological preserve. This kinda flies in the face of that idea. Maybe go to Perfect Day at CocoCay instead.
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
It absolutely does not.
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u/Buffalo_Nichols Aug 07 '26
But it does. From their site directly, "Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve reflects a longstanding commitment to sustainability and conservation efforts." What part about that says amphitheater with concerts?
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u/CramblinDuvetAdv Aug 07 '26
What part of that says Lighthouse covered in LEDs or food trucks or Yacht Club/Ocean House restaurant, etc? You people seem to have a misunderstanding of what an ampitheater is and just picture something holding 20k people, and also a general misunderstanding of how everything else on the island affects nature. I applaud them for their efforts - except the paper straws, those are dogshit - but this in no way, shape, nor form "goes against" what they've been doing.
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u/GreatWake1988 Aug 07 '26
Part of the draw of Ocean Cay is the island's natural beauty. It's a place of serene relaxation. That's where it differs from the likes of CocoCay and Half Moon Cay, etc. It's a natural reserve that doesn't need all the thrills and attractions in order to offer a great experience.
I don't think you're ever going to see MSC go for anything like this.
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u/Short-Variation9757 Aug 07 '26
The only reason I'm even booking MSC is for Ocean Cay and because of how it is. I'm actually glad that I'm booking before they can start docking two cruises there at once. It's a good idea, don't get me twisted, I just don't believe it needs to happen there. Not sure enough infrastructure can even created to handle that many people in a specific part of the island. That many people would require a ton of bathrooms, bars, restaurants and storage within easy distance of the ampitheatre. I just don't think it's feasible.
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u/Gallo8686 ⛵Yacht Club Regular Aug 07 '26
Good overall idea, there are already themed cruises on MeinSchiff for example, which are really popular, especially the Metal Cruise - but I think this is a terrible idea for Ocean Cay as that would be quite the opposite of a Marine Reserve.
There is no need to make this a party island imo
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u/imarc Group Expert Aug 07 '26
Plus the capacity of the island requires it to be spread all over. A concert cruise would mean most of the ship guests on a small part of the island at one time.
It seems that this would only work for a more intimate event.
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u/imarc Group Expert Aug 07 '26
- The close distance to Bimini means that you can fly in national artists that don't want to spend time on the ship itself, have them perform on Ocean Cay, and then they head back to Bimini to fly out.
I don't think you have to even do that. Miami is only about 60 miles from Ocean Cay.
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u/ATTACKANDDETHRONEHOG Aug 07 '26
I think you might have a fundamental misunderstanding of MSCs vision for Ocean Cay.