The company describes Sandy Cay as an intimate counterpart to Ocean Cay, created to offer a quieter atmosphere and a deeper sense of connection with the surrounding seascape and the character of The Bahamas.

Sandy Cay takes its name from its bright aragonite sands, which MSC Group notes are among the purest found globally. The island has been envisioned as a serene setting that provides a more personal yet elevated experience, reflecting the same guiding ethos as Ocean Cay—bringing guests closer to the natural beauty of the ocean.

While sharing the same clear Bahamian waters as Ocean Cay, Sandy Cay is intended to introduce a distinct layer of discovery and tranquillity. Guests of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys will have their first opportunity to visit the island when it opens in 2028.

Enhancements Planned for Ocean Cay

MSC Cruises has also announced a series of upgrades for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. These improvements will introduce new dining options, refreshed beach concepts for both families and adults, expanded areas for relaxation, and additional opportunities for guests to participate in marine‑focused experiences.

According to MSC Group, these enhancements support the company’s ongoing approach to developing private island destinations that evolve with guest expectations while honouring the natural setting of The Bahamas.

Strengthening Onboard‑to‑Shore Experiences

The addition of Sandy Cay is positioned as part of MSC Cruises’ and Explora Journeys’ broader effort to enrich their private destination offerings. Together, Ocean Cay and Sandy Cay represent the next phase in the Cruise Division’s vision to deliver holiday experiences that blend relaxation, exploration and an appreciation for the natural world.

Source: Official announcement by MSC Cruises on 13 April, 2026

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The initiative is centred on a three-year grant that brings together the world’s largest cruise company with a global conservation organisation to protect coastal ecosystems that play a critical role in environmental stability and local livelihoods.

Partnership targets restoration of coastal ecosystems

The collaboration will focus on safeguarding and restoring mangrove forests and broader coastal wetlands, which are recognised for their role in protecting shorelines from storms, absorbing carbon emissions and supporting marine biodiversity.

According to the announcement, these ecosystems have been affected by severe weather and other environmental pressures. The programme will support natural regeneration while strengthening research and monitoring efforts.

Community engagement is also a core element of the initiative. The partnership aims to ensure that local populations who depend on these environments benefit from long-term conservation outcomes, with projects designed to align environmental protection with social and economic resilience.

Support for nature-positive businesses and livelihoods

In addition to ecosystem restoration, the programme will provide targeted support to small and micro-enterprises that rely on natural resources, with a focus on enabling nature-positive businesses across the Caribbean.

These include ecotourism operators, fishers and artisans whose livelihoods are closely tied to coastal ecosystems. Through collaboration with local partners, Conservation International will deliver technical assistance, training and mentoring, alongside access to small grants to support sustainable practices.

The approach reflects a broader effort to connect conservation initiatives with community development, ensuring that environmental programmes contribute to both ecological and economic sustainability.

Funding supported by guest participation

Funding for the initiative will be provided by Carnival Corporation, alongside guest participation programmes across its cruise brands, with additional supporting programmes expected to be introduced over time.

These include Holland America Line’s “On Deck for a Cause” events, where guests take part in organised walks to raise funds, as well as the “Keep the Change” programme, which allows guests to donate a portion of casino winnings.

These initiatives form part of a wider strategy to involve guests in sustainability efforts while supporting conservation projects in destinations visited by the company’s ships.

Sustainability strategy aligned with 2030 goals

The partnership builds on Carnival Corporation’s broader sustainability framework and supports its 2030 sustainability objectives.

Across its operations, the company continues to focus on reducing fuel consumption and emissions, while advancing circular economy practices through reducing, reusing and recycling materials. It also emphasises collaboration with communities in the destinations it serves, supporting cultural preservation and environmental protection.

Josh Weinstein said the partnership provides an opportunity to work alongside communities in biodiverse coastal regions, supporting local innovation while helping to protect natural environments.

From the conservation partner’s perspective, the initiative is positioned as a way to strengthen ecosystem resilience while delivering long-term benefits for both people and nature.

Industry significance and destination impact

The Caribbean remains one of the most important regions for global cruise operations, hosting some of the industry’s most visited ports and destinations. The focus on mangroves and coastal wetlands reflects the growing emphasis within the cruise sector on destination stewardship and environmental responsibility.

These ecosystems are widely recognised as essential to coastal protection and biodiversity, making them a key priority for conservation efforts in regions heavily reliant on tourism and maritime activity.

For the cruise industry, initiatives such as this highlight the increasing integration of sustainability into operational and destination strategies, particularly in areas where environmental health is directly linked to long-term tourism viability.

Source: Official announcement by Carnival Corporation & plc on 24 March, 2026

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Seeing the Invisible: A New Way to View Ice

The initiative marks Aurora Expeditions as the first operator to apply thermal imaging technology at scale within a guest-facing science program. The project utilizes specialized cameras that detect surface temperature differences, allowing ice formations and glaciers to be viewed through heat signatures rather than visible light. This technology translates temperature data into colour, revealing “patterns not visible to the human eye” such as melt rates and structural weaknesses in the ice.

Developed in close collaboration with Muise, the project ensures that the data collected is “robust, repeatable and valuable for long-term study.” Guests aboard the line’s three purpose-built small ships—Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, and the newly delivered Douglas Mawson—will actively participate in image collection under the guidance of Aurora’s expert team of glaciologists and Citizen Science Coordinators.

Expert Perspectives

The collaboration is driven by a shared commitment to making scientific data collection accessible and impactful.

“This project allows us to see polar environments in an entirely new way,” said Joe Muise, TIPI founder. “Thermal imaging lets us visualise information the we normally can’t — allowing us to track temperature, melt, and subtle changes in ice. By piloting and strengthening the methodology in real expedition conditions, we’re laying the groundwork for what could become a valuable longitudinal dataset.”

The initiative aligns with Aurora Expeditions’ broader philosophy of science-led adventure. The company, a Certified B Corporation, has long integrated education and environmental stewardship into its voyages.

“At Aurora, we believe exploration comes with a responsibility to learn, share knowledge and contribute where we can,” said Michael Heath, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Expeditions. “This collaboration reflects our approach — working alongside experts to help bring greater awareness to environmental change, while giving our expeditioners the opportunity to meaningfully engage with science in the places that matter most.”

A Fleet Built for Discovery

The program is now fully operational across Aurora’s fleet, which includes the Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, and Douglas Mawson. These vessels, featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® design for smoother sailing and reduced emissions, provide the ideal platform for accessing remote polar regions where this data is most critical. By engaging travelers in the scientific process, Aurora Expeditions aims to build a global network of ambassadors who can share the story of the changing polar regions with the world.

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The initiative forms part of Antarctica21’s ongoing sustainability strategy aimed at reducing emissions associated with polar tourism operations while maintaining safe access to remote landing sites along the Antarctic Peninsula.

Under the renewed agreement, the fleet of 10 Zodiac boats used to transfer guests from the expedition vessel Magellan Explorer to Antarctic shorelines will continue operating with synthetic fuel produced locally in southern Chile. The fuel is manufactured at HIF Global’s Haru Oni e-Fuels facility in Punta Arenas, using renewable energy sources to generate synthetic gasoline through a process combining green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.

According to the companies involved, the synthetic fuel offers a practical pathway to lowering emissions in sectors where electrification or alternative propulsion systems are not yet widely viable. Because the e-Gasoline can be used in conventional engines, the Zodiac boats require no technical modifications to operate with the fuel.

The collaboration makes Antarctica21 the first and only Antarctic tourism company currently operating landing excursions powered by synthetic fuel in the region, representing an early demonstration of the potential role of e-Fuels within the polar tourism industry.

Antarctica21 CEO Verónica Peragallo highlighted the broader environmental rationale behind the initiative, stating:

“By integrating e-fuels into our operations for a second consecutive season, we reaffirm our responsibility to protect one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems and to drive a real technological transformation within the maritime and tourism industries, rooted in Chile and reaching the world.”

The partnership with HIF Global is also intended to demonstrate how tourism operators can support innovation in alternative energy technologies. HIF Global develops infrastructure projects that convert renewable electricity into synthetic hydrocarbons that can be used in existing engines and transport systems.

Commenting on the collaboration, HIF Latam CEO Víctor Turpaud said:

“This renewed collaboration is a sign of continuity and ambition. Today, our e-Fuels represent a real solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. Supporting Antarctica21 once again allows us to demonstrate that regional tourism can be a driver of green innovation on a global scale.”

Supporting lower-impact Antarctic exploration

Antarctica remains one of the most environmentally sensitive regions on the planet, and tourism operators working in the area must comply with strict environmental protocols governed by the Antarctic Treaty System and industry bodies such as the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

Zodiac landing operations are an essential part of Antarctic expedition cruising, allowing passengers to disembark safely from expedition vessels and access remote wildlife sites, glaciers and research stations along the continent’s coastline.

By using synthetic fuel for these operations, Antarctica21 aims to reduce the carbon footprint associated with these activities while continuing to provide close-up exploration experiences for expedition guests.

The company noted that the initiative also forms part of a broader strategy to evaluate the role of alternative fuels across its operations. Future possibilities under consideration include the use of synthetic marine diesel (e-MGO) for ship propulsion and synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) for its air-cruise flight operations.

Education and sustainability awareness

In addition to its operational impact, Antarctica21 says the e-Fuel initiative will also play an educational role during its expeditions. Guests travelling aboard the company’s Antarctic programmes will learn about the production and potential applications of synthetic fuels and their relevance to the energy transition.

The company aims to demonstrate that visiting the Antarctic region can be paired with efforts to minimise environmental impact while supporting the development of cleaner technologies.

Founded in 2003, Antarctica21 is known for its air-cruise expedition model, which allows travellers to fly over the Drake Passage from Punta Arenas to Antarctica before embarking on small expedition ships. The company operates boutique voyages with a limited number of passengers, including journeys aboard vessels such as Magellan Explorer.

With polar tourism continuing to grow, the adoption of alternative fuel solutions is increasingly seen as an important step in reducing the environmental footprint of operations in remote and fragile ecosystems.

For Antarctica21, the continued use of e-Fuel represents an early demonstration of how new technologies could help reshape expedition travel in the years ahead.

Source: Official Antartica21 Press Release, 12 January 2026.
Image Credits: Unless otherwise noted, all images & renderings are courtesy of the Cruise Line or sourced directly from their official Press Room & Media Assets for editorial use.

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The voyage was designed to showcase the potential of cleaner fuels and emissions-cutting technologies on one of the world’s most scenic maritime corridors. Onboard were international media representatives, industry experts and coastal residents, highlighting both the technical achievement and the broad interest in accelerating the decarbonisation of maritime travel.  

“We have a responsibility to the people and communities along our unique coastline,” said Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages. “And we know that biogas is already an effective solution for sailing the coastal route with very low emissions without having to make technical changes to our ships.”

Pioneering Sustainable Maritime Travel

The vessel took on a total of 350 cubic metres of liquefied biogas before departure — first 200 cubic metres supplied by Barents Naturgass at Polarbase in Hammerfest and the remaining 150 cubic metres delivered in Bergen — fueling the ship in combination with its battery systems. This blend enabled the vessel to complete the entire coastal itinerary with drastically reduced emissions, illustrating that climate-neutral cruising is achievable with today’s technology.  

Experts on board discussed the wider implications of the voyage for Norway’s coastal shipping sector, including the role that biogas could play in broader decarbonisation efforts. Stakeholders from environmental organisations, energy suppliers and local government representatives gathered to underscore the potential for sustainable fuels to support greener operations without compromising performance.  

Industry and Environmental Support

Industry voices praised the initiative. Elise Caspersen, Maritime Affairs Specialist at the Zero Environmental Foundation, commented positively on Havila Voyages’ demonstration that low-emission coastal travel is feasible. At the same time, discussions highlighted the need for predictable political frameworks and expanded infrastructure to support broader adoption of biogas and other clean fuels.  

Representatives from Molgas Energy, one of the biogas suppliers for the voyage, emphasised that biogas can deliver substantial emissions reductions at sea and spur collaboration between operators and fuel producers to scale supply capacity. “A company like Havila Voyages, with such clear ambitions and plans, will motivate us to find suppliers and partners who can boost biogas production in Norway,” said Gunnar Helmen, Director of Maritime at Molgas Energy.  

Towards Zero-Emission Coastal Operations

The company has set out ambitious goals for its fleet. Havila Voyages plans to operate all four of its coastal vessels climate-neutrally by the end of 2028, building on this landmark voyage. CEO Bent Martini noted that the initiative is not a one-off experiment: “If you want to lead the way, you always have to expect both support and headwinds… That’s why we are sticking to our goal of operating the coastal route climate-neutral with all four ships from the end of 2028.

Experts at the event also stressed the need for wider policy support to make climate-neutral operations the norm across Norway’s vital coastal network. With 34 regular port calls, the route has become a focus for sustainable shipping discussions, and the success of Havila Polaris’ biogas voyage may help shape future regulations and industry expectations.

Source: This article is based on the official press release “Havila Polaris on Historic Voyage Powered by Biogas” (5 December 2025) on the Havila Voyages press site.

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