Guests boarded MSC Poesia at PortMiami on Sunday, November 1, expecting a 5 p.m. departure and an 11-night run through the Western Caribbean. The ship never left the berth. Two days later, on the morning it was due in Ocho Rios, the captain told guests over the public address system that the cruise was cancelled.
The U.S. Coast Guard had detained the ship for what it called an “expanded examination of the vessel.” MSC Cruises has said only that a “regulatory matter” arose before departure that it could not resolve in time.
What the Coast Guard and MSC have said
Coast Guard Sector Miami detained MSC Poesia for inspection on November 1, CBS News reported. In a statement on Tuesday, November 3, Capt. Frank Florio, the sector commander, said the Coast Guard “identified deficiencies with systems on board the vessel that we are addressing with MSC.” According to CBS News, the ship will stay detained until those deficiencies are corrected and it is cleared for departure.
The Coast Guard Southeast District told NBC 6 South Florida that its teams were verifying the ship’s compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations, and that the Captain of the Port’s priority is the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel and the environment. Neither the Coast Guard nor MSC has said which systems were found deficient. Cruise Hive noted that the inspection is separate from the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program health inspections.
MSC Cruises told NBC News it had made a “difficult decision” to cancel the sailing and apologized for the disruption to guests’ holiday. Reports of how many people were on board differ. A source told CBS News that more than 2,000 people were aboard, while NBC 6 gave 3,223 guests and 1,039 crew, figures that match the ship’s full capacity.
How two days in port became a cancellation
Cruise Hive, reporting from accounts on board, said the ship stayed alongside through Sunday and Monday while the inspection continued. At 8:40 p.m. on Monday, November 2, the captain told guests the line was still hoping for clearance. Ocho Rios was due at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Shortly after 10 a.m. that day, guests were told the voyage was off.
On Wednesday the ship’s live AIS position on Cruises.To still placed it at PortMiami at 0.0 knots.
The itinerary that was cancelled
The sailing was a round trip from Miami from November 1 to November 12. It was scheduled to call at Ocho Rios on November 3, Cartagena on November 5, Colón on November 6 and Puerto Limón on November 7.
The return leg ran to Roatán on November 9 and Belize City on November 10, followed by a sea day back to Miami. In the Cruises.To schedule, Cartagena was due at 7 a.m., Colón at 10 a.m. and Puerto Limón at 7 a.m.
What MSC is offering guests on this sailing
MSC told Cruise Hive and NBC News that guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and that it is helping them travel home. TheTravel, citing the captain’s announcement, reported an additional Future Cruise Credit equal to 100 percent of the fare paid, valid on any MSC cruise open for sale and usable until November 2, 2027. Cruise Hive reported that the captain mentioned a future cruise credit and further compensation, with written details to follow in staterooms, without giving a percentage.
Guests may stay on board until noon on Thursday, November 5, to arrange flights home, and MSC is providing free Wi-Fi for that. Restaurants, entertainment and other onboard services stayed open during the delay, according to Cruise Hive.
Flights, hotels and excursions booked separately from MSC are outside the cruise refund. Check the cancellation terms on each, and any travel insurance policy, before rebooking.
If you are booked on the next sailing
The next MSC Poesia departure in our schedule is a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami on Thursday, November 12, returning November 22. It calls at Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, Basseterre on St. Kitts and Philipsburg on St. Maarten. MSC also sells it as the first leg of a 21-night Caribbean cruise ending December 3.
MSC had made no announcement about that departure as of Wednesday, November 4, and the Coast Guard has given no date for lifting the detention. Watch the email address and booking account used for the reservation, and the MSC Poesia page, which will show when the ship leaves PortMiami and where it is heading.
What is still unknown
The Coast Guard has not said which systems on board were found deficient, how serious the findings are or how long the ship will stay detained. MSC has not said whether the November 12 sailing will go ahead, and the exact number of guests on board this week is unclear. MSC Poesia sails under the Panama flag, and the Coast Guard decides when it is cleared to leave.