MSC Cruises has been hit by a second major disruption in less than a week, with an 11-night Caribbean cruise cancelled after MSC Poesia was detained by the US Coast Guard in Miami.
The ship was due to leave PortMiami on Sunday, 1st November 2026, but remained docked for two days while authorities carried out an inspection. Passengers had already boarded and were waiting for news of when their holiday would begin.
On Tuesday morning, 3rd November, the captain confirmed that the voyage would not go ahead after efforts to resolve the regulatory issue failed to secure clearance for departure.
The cancellation comes just days after passengers booked on another MSC Cruises ship, MSC Opera, received last-minute cancellation notices and changes to their embarkation arrangements following a separate technical problem in Europe.
Passengers Offered Refunds After Two Days In Miami
MSC Poesia had been scheduled to depart Miami at 5pm on Sunday for an 11-night itinerary visiting Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize.
Instead, passengers spent Sunday and Monday on board the ship without leaving port, as MSC Cruises worked with the Coast Guard to resolve the situation.
On Monday evening, the ship’s captain told guests that the company remained hopeful of receiving clearance but warned that the entire voyage would have to be cancelled if the ship could not depart the following day.
That outcome was confirmed shortly after 10am on Tuesday.
“It is with very deep regret that I must inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel our cruise,” the captain announced.
“Despite our team’s continuous effort to solve the regulatory matter that delayed our departure, we unfortunately have to cancel.”
Passengers have been promised a full refund, future cruise credit and additional compensation. Further information about the arrangements was due to be delivered to their cabins later on Tuesday.
Guests are being allowed to remain aboard MSC Poesia until noon on Thursday, 5th November, giving them additional time to organise their journeys home.
Complimentary WiFi has also been made available to help passengers rearrange flights, accommodation and other travel plans.
Dining, entertainment and other onboard facilities had remained available during the delay, although passengers were unable to visit any of their scheduled destinations.
The ship had originally been expected in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at 9am on Tuesday, shortly before the cancellation was announced.
Coast Guard Has Not Disclosed Reason For Detention
The US Coast Guard confirmed that its Miami sector had detained MSC Poesia for an inspection aimed at verifying compliance with US regulations and international maritime standards.
In a statement reported by CBS News, the agency said:
“The Coast Guard is tasked with verifying safe and secure commerce. It is the Captain of the Port’s priority to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel, and the environment.”
However, officials have not publicly identified what prompted the inspection, whether any deficiencies were discovered or what would be required before the vessel could resume sailing.
The inspection was separate from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which assesses hygiene and public health standards aboard cruise ships.
MSC Cruises confirmed that it was cooperating fully with the Coast Guard but said it could not provide further details while the inspection process continued.
The company has not announced whether the issue will affect subsequent departures.
MSC Poesia’s next scheduled voyage is a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Miami on Thursday, 12th November. Its itinerary includes the US Virgin Islands, St Kitts, St Maarten, Antigua, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Whether that departure can proceed as planned will depend on the ship’s operational status and the outcome of the regulatory process. No cancellation of the 12th November voyage has been announced.
MSC Opera Also Affected By Last-Minute Cancellations
The disruption involving MSC Poesia follows a separate incident affecting MSC Opera, which had been preparing to resume passenger operations after a period in dry dock in Valletta, Malta.
On Wednesday, 28th October, some passengers booked to embark in Italy the following day received text messages informing them that their cruises had been cancelled for technical reasons.
MSC Opera had been scheduled to begin carrying passengers from Civitavecchia on 29th October, with additional embarkation opportunities at Genoa and Livorno as part of a programme that included Mediterranean sailings and a transatlantic repositioning voyage.
However, the ship’s return to service was disrupted, leaving some passengers with little notice that their travel plans had changed.
The cancellation messages prompted confusion, particularly as other guests reported receiving revised arrangements allowing them to embark in Livorno on 31st October instead.
MSC Cruises offered refunds to passengers whose bookings were cancelled, along with reimbursement of qualifying travel and accommodation expenses.
The company did not publicly identify the technical problem or confirm whether it was directly related to work carried out during the ship’s dry dock.
There was also no confirmation that every sailing associated with MSC Opera’s repositioning programme had been cancelled.
The two incidents involve different ships operating in separate regions, and there is no evidence that the problems are connected.
Nevertheless, the developments have resulted in significant disruption for MSC Cruises passengers within the space of a week, with one vessel unable to leave a US port and another experiencing last-minute changes to its planned return to service.
For passengers booked on upcoming MSC Poesia departures, the immediate uncertainty is when the ship will receive the necessary clearance to resume operations.
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