MSC Cruises recently welcomed the first passengers to its new Bahamas destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

The island, part of the Bimini chain, has been converted from a former sand extraction site to an eco-tourism resort which includes a spa, Bahamian village, restaurants, and activities such as paddle boarding and kayaking.

MSC Cruises also plans to create a Conservation Centre on the island within the next few months to promote coral research and education.

Executive chairman of MSC Cruises Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Ocean Cay is founded on a deep commitment to ecological principles – beliefs that shape everything from how venues are built to how the island is run, to the kinds of activities featured on the island.”

“Having the first guests arrive is a moment of great pride for all of us. We wanted to create something sustainable, with a higher purpose. Ocean Cay is not just a vacation island, it is a unique marine reserve.”

All four of MSC Cruises’ North America-based ships will call at Ocean Cay and remain docked into the evening to give visitors a chance to experience a Junkanoo parade and other sunset activities.

According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), The Bahamas had the most cruise passenger visits in the region for the first half of 2019. Around 2.8 million tourists sailed into the country in that period.