MSC breaks ground on Sandy Cay, targeting a 2028 opening

MSC Group’s Cruise Division has marked the groundbreaking for Sandy Cay, its planned private-island destination in The Bahamas. The September announcement identifies 2028 as the scheduled opening year.

Located beside Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Sandy Cay is being developed for guests of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. MSC says the destination will emphasize wellness, relaxation, dining and private retreats. The company also describes further planned improvements at Ocean Cay, including additional dining and beach areas.

A second destination with a separate character

Sandy Cay is intended to complement Ocean Cay rather than simply add another name to an existing stop. MSC describes a more intimate destination experience, although the announcement does not provide a completed map of every facility or a departure-by-departure calling schedule.

For travelers, the opening year is the clearest timing detail. Groundbreaking confirms a development milestone; it does not mean the island is already open to cruise passengers. A confirmed first call and a finalized itinerary would make the destination more actionable for a particular booking.

The MSC Cruises page and Explora Journeys page provide existing context for the two brands named in the announcement. Their ships and service models should be compared individually when considering the kind of trip desired.

Island access still depends on the itinerary

The company’s plans do not establish that every ship from either brand will visit Sandy Cay. The relevant evidence is the port list attached to a specific departure. Travelers booking around the island should confirm that it appears on their selected sailing and review subsequent itinerary updates.

The same applies to the promised shore experience. Dining venues, private retreats and wellness spaces can have different inclusion or reservation arrangements. The announcement does not publish universal prices or confirm that every planned service will be included in every cruise fare.

Readers can use Cruise Frog’s ship directory to compare vessels and the upcoming ships page to follow related fleet developments. A destination project and a ship launch can progress on separate schedules, so their availability should be checked independently.

Ocean Cay improvements are another part of the announcement

MSC also outlines additional dining venues, family and adult beach concepts, relaxation areas and marine-conservation experiences for Ocean Cay. Those plans concern the established neighboring destination. They should not be read as a finished facility list for Sandy Cay itself.

That distinction helps travelers compare future options without combining two projects into a single assumed experience. A subsequent destination guide, price list or sailing announcement would be the right place to establish which features are available, when and on what terms.

For passengers arriving in the region by air, Lounge Frog’s airport search, airline directory and lounge directory remain useful existing resources. Flight-related benefits and airport lounge entry are separate from the shore facilities included in a cruise.

The news is the start-of-construction milestone and the stated 2028 target for Sandy Cay. Further announcements will be needed to connect the project with first sailings and finished guest facilities. Follow destination and itinerary updates in Cruise Frog news.

Source: Official announcement. Reporting checked October 13, 2026.