by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Thu August 3, 2023
MSC Cruises announced it had received approval from the
local government to expand and upgrade its Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve cruise
destination in The Bahamas.
According to Eyewitness
News Bahamas, the Bahamian Central Bank revealed in its Monthly Economic
and Financial Developments report that MSC Cruises would dump around $100
million into Phase II of the project.
As part of the cruise destination overhaul, MSC will add new
storm and drain management systems, entertainment areas, three new buildings
for staff accommodations, a private yacht club, a solar farm and other amenities,
per ENews.com.
Officials from MSC Cruises revealed the private island would
temporarily
close from April 7 to May 22, 2024, while construction takes place. Over 35
sailings will be impacted across four ships; MSC Seashore, MSC Seascape, MSC
Divina, and MSC Meraviglia.
Earlier this week, most of the itineraries for MSC Cruises’ 2024-25
winter season opened for booking. The cruise line is offering a large
selection of voyages in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Europe and North
America during the 2024-25 winter cruise season.
In July, MSC Cruises introduced a revised ‘Future
Cruise Program’ that it says is designed to benefit travel agents and the
line’s guests when a customer who had used an agency for their holiday at sea
books their next sailing while onboard.
Under the new program, the original agents will receive full
commission for any new booking made on board. The cruise line believes the new
plan will allow agency resources to be better allocated and provide funds to
foster new opportunities and customers.
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