The cruise ship MSC Poesia, operated by MSC Cruises, was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard in PortMiami, where it was scheduled to embark on a journey of 11 nights through the Caribbean and Central America on Sunday, November 1.
The extended inspection by maritime authorities prevented the ship's departure and forced the company to cancel the trip, after passengers had been on board for almost two days awaiting a solution.
A source familiar with the case informed CBS News that there were more than 2,000 people on board when the Coast Guard detained the cruise ship, although it has not been officially confirmed how many passengers were affected by the cancellation.
According to The Miami Herald, a spokesperson for MSC Cruises confirmed the cancellation after the company attempted to resolve a regulatory issue but was unable to do so within the necessary timeframe to begin the journey.
“Before the departure, a regulatory matter arose that required a solution. Despite our efforts to resolve it, we were unable to do so in time for the trip to take place”, explained the shipping company's spokesperson to the newspaper.
The Coast Guard detected deficiencies in the ship's systems
The Miami Sector of the Coast Guard confirmed that the MSC Poesia was detained while its teams conducted an expanded inspection to verify compliance with international maritime safety standards and U.S. regulations.
The captain Frank Florio, commander of the Miami Sector of the Coast Guard, stated to CBS News that inspectors had identified deficiencies in the vessel's systems and were working with MSC Cruises to correct them.
Florio explained that the cruise ship would remain detained until the deficiencies were corrected and the authorities authorized its departure.
However, the Coast Guard did not publicly identify which systems were affected nor specified what initially prompted the expanded inspection. The shipping company also did not detail the exact nature of the regulatory issue that prevented departure.
“The Coast Guard is responsible for ensuring that trade is conducted safely,” the agency stated in a release quoted by the Herald.
The authorities added that the harbor master’s priority is to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel, and the environment.
The vessel had initially delayed its departure while the inspection continued. According to the specialized outlet Cruise Hive, passengers received confirmation of the cancellation shortly after 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 3rd.
During the wait, the travelers remained on the boat, where food and entertainment services continued to be available, although the vessel was unable to leave the port.
A route covering six countries in the Caribbean and Central America has been canceled
The MSC Poesia was scheduled to depart from Miami on Sunday, November 1, and return on Thursday, November 12, after visiting several tourist destinations in the region.
According to the itinerary published by Cruise Mapper and reported by The Miami Herald, the trip included stops in Ocho Ríos, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Colón, Panama; Puerto Limón, Costa Rica; Roatán, Honduras; and Belize City, Belize.
The vessel, flying the Panamanian flag, has the capacity to carry over 3,200 passengers and around 1,000 crew members, although those figures reflect its operational capacity and not the number of people who were on board during this incident.
The cancellation forced travelers to reorganize their vacations and adjust their transportation and accommodation plans after boarding with the expectation of visiting the six scheduled destinations.
MSC Cruises offers full refunds and credit for another trip
MSC Cruises confirmed that the affected passengers will receive full reimbursement of the fare paid for the cruise, along with assistance to return to their homes.
"We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our passengers, and we sincerely apologize for the inconveniences caused during their vacations," a spokesperson for MSC Cruises stated in an email sent to the Herald.
In addition to the refund, the company offered a credit for a future cruise equivalent to 100% of the original fare paid, according to the compensation details communicated to the passengers and reported by Cruise Industry News.
This credit can be used to book another trip with MSC Cruises, as long as the new reservation is confirmed before November 2, 2027.
The shipping company also announced the refund of eligible advance purchases, including beverage packages, internet, specialty restaurants, and excursions booked directly with the company.
MSC Cruises announced that it would facilitate the reimbursement of certain additional expenses resulting from cancellations, such as changes to transport and accommodation tickets when passengers are unable to return home on the day of disembarkation. These compensations are subject to conditions and the review of the corresponding requests.
Passengers will be allowed to remain on board until Thursday
To facilitate the reorganization of travel, MSC Cruises allowed passengers to stay on the MSC Poesia until noon on Thursday, November 5, while they coordinated their return transfers.
The company also provided free onboard internet access so that travelers could communicate with their families, modify reservations, and manage new transportation connections.
According to information released by Cruise Hive, instructions regarding compensation and the procedure for requesting additional refunds were communicated to passengers through letters delivered to their cabins.
The Coast Guard had not announced a date to conclude the inspection or authorize the departure of the MSC Poesia. The vessel must address the deficiencies noted by the inspectors and receive the appropriate authorization before resuming its operations.
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