MSC Cruises is breaking ground on the construction of a private island in the Caribbean, according to a report in the Caribbean Journal. The $200 million project is set to begin in March of 2016, and developers are eyeing a December 2017 debut to MSC guests.
MSC Cruises is the owner and operator of the MSC Divina, best known for its role as the main ship for Jam Cruise. The MSC Divina is also used for Holy Ship! cruises, and runs out of Miami, FL.
As of now, the new, 95-acre island will be in the Bahamas, and will be called the Ocean Cay MSC Reserve. The Bahamian Prime Minister and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman have both signed a 100-year lease agreement for the land, which was formerly a sand extraction station.
“This is a natural progression for our company, which is growing very rapidly, and we are thrilled about providing this totally new experience for our guests in the Caribbean,” said MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago in a statement in Caribbean Journal.
The island will feature a 2,000 seat amphitheater, presumably for live music events (!), as well as restaurants, bars, a zipline, a wedding pavilion, biking/walking trails, shops, a Bahamian village, an arrival center, and an exclusive spa/wellness center. Not too shabby for an unused plot of Caribbean land.
Bottom line: Jam Cruisers, get ready for a whole next-level experience in 2018!