Editing MSC Cruises (section)

== Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve ==
[[File:Lighthouse Bay, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas (December 31, 2019).jpg|thumb|The man-made lagoon located in the middle of [[Ocean Cay]]|227x227px]]

In December 2015, MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease for the private island of [[Ocean Cay]] in the Bahamas to develop the land for an exclusive island experience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13400-confirmed-msc-closes-deal-on-private-island-in-bahamas-.html|title=Confirmed: MSC Closes Deal on Private Island in Bahamas|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=17 December 2015|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|access-date=15 November 2019|archive-date=15 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115184659/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13400-confirmed-msc-closes-deal-on-private-island-in-bahamas-.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site had previously been used to mine white [[Aragonite]] sand for decades. After the original owners abandoned the 95 acre island, the land had to be restored to remove all of the old mining equipment, with MSC Cruises committing $200 million for the project, involving restoration and conversion of the island into a private resort.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arlene Satchell |first1=Arlene |title=MSC Cruises plans $200 million private Bahamian island |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-msc-cruises-ocean-cay-island-20151217-story.html |website=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |access-date=18 April 2023}}</ref>

The restoration required the work of many scientists to bring the area back into a functioning marine habitat. Once the Bahamian government granted the site marine reserve status, the project was officially named the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and was set to open in mid-November 2019. However, weather delays pushed the date to 5 December 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/msc-cruises-announces-new-opening-date-for-ocean-cay-marine-reserve.html |title=MSC Cruises Announces New Opening Date for Ocean Cay Marine Reserve| work=[[TravelPulse]]}}</ref>