Author: Rose Carluci

Agua Clara Visitor Center, Panama

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The Agua Clara Visitor Center is located on the Atlantic Ocean side near the town of Colon and the Colon cruise port (14km), in Panama. It is a fairly new center with an excellent view of Gatun Lake and this extension of the canal, a fine achievement of modern engineering. Every day different ships pass through here. You can admire this work in operation when, to the sound of the sirens, the locks open to allow the passage of a ship. Apart from the site from where you can observe the operation, you will find a projection room where you will see the development of this project from the beginning. There is also a path to observe the beauty of the flora and fauna of the place. A restaurant and gift shop complete the complex. The center is just over an hour’s drive from Panama City (79 km).

Tips

Due to the Covid, the projection room is closed as well as the trail route to observe the flora and fauna and the restaurant.

You can take a private bus tour or just take a taxi that will pick you up and let you watch the locks work. A closed price is requested in advance by the driver and this can include a small tour for the town of Colon if you are interested.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bimini Islands, Bahamas

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Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is part of the Bimini chain of Islands in the Western Bahamas, at 104.5 km East of Miami. It was an industrial sand excavation area but MSC Cruises decided to transform it into a marine reserve respecting the local ecosystem. A lovely place with white sand beaches and crystal blue waters. This place is only for MSC Cruises’ guests. The ships will arrive early in the morning and it’ll stay there till late evening to give an entire day to the guests including evening shows. Different activites are offered to the guests like snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, boat rides and much more. You can also have the spa treatments into small private cabanas surrounded by soft relaxing music facing to the sea and beaches. There are some shops too where you can buy souvenirs of the Bahamian culture or MSC logo souvenirs. There’s also the possibility to celebrate a wedding or renew vows. MSC Yacht Club members have an exclusive beach area and private cabanas. You have good food options in the buffet restaurant and some food trucks placed in different corners of the cay. There are still works running and different projects to preserve the reserve must still be done but you can enjoy a lovely day there cause it doesn’t disturb the beauty of the place. The access to Ocean Cay is direct and very easy.

Tips

You must just take your beach towel and your cruise card with you. The same package you have on board continue on the beach.

You will just need some money if you want to buy something from the artisans, for the rest of souvenirs, you can pay with the ship card.

If you are in a small group, you can rent a cabana for the day. You must book it the day before at the excursions’ counter on the ship as well as other excursions or activities.

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman island

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Seven Mile Beach is a very beautiful beach on the western end of Grand Cayman island. It’s considered among the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean with a lovely white sand and crystalline water. It’s a public beach and you can walk along it all. There are different properties along rhe beach (hotels, condominiums, clubs, restaurants) and everybody has access to the beach for free. You can also eat or drink at the different places you can find along the beach beacause the hotels has also public access to the bars and restaurants on the beach. George Town, the capital of the island, is directly to the south of Seven Mile Beach and you can find West Bay District to the north. The beach has areas with people offering you to rent an umbrella and transats for the day. There are also big picnic areas (huts), services and children playground area too.

Tips

If you are on a cruise spending the day in George Town, you can easily go to Seven Mile Beach by taxi or simply taking the bus-excursion offered by companies like MSC Cruises at a small convenient rate.

If you like snorkelling, there are some small reefs and the Marriott hotel has a good artificial one.