We enjoyed a wonderful three-night cruise on the MSC Magnifica out of Miami with stops in Key West and Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island in the Bahamas.
We decided to try the Brightline train to Miami for this cruise. I did enjoy not having to drive down from Orlando, but we did have to then catch an Uber to the port from the train station, and back upon our return.
The Magnifica is a gorgeous ship, and we did splurge a bit on an upgrade to Aurea class, which gives a nice balcony room and a few other benefits, like unlimited use of the thermal room at the spa and “My Choice” dining (go on your own schedule and not a specific seating time).
Our first stop was Key West. We strolled down Duval Street and visited the Key West Butterfly Conservancy followed by the Hemmingway House.
The next day’s port was Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island in the Bahamas. They’re truly transformed this place into a paradise. If you have Tubi, you can watch “Building Paradise Island,” a 3-episode series on how they redid the island. An amazing makeover. This stop was really worth the price of the whole cruise. We walked all over the island (it is small), climbed the lighthouse (a $17 excursion fee, but well worth it — tallest lighthouse in the Bahamas) and enjoyed plenty of time on the gorgeous sandy beaches.
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