MSC Cruises has canceled the November 1 sailing of MSC Poesia after the U.S. Coast Guard detained the vessel at PortMiami, leaving passengers aboard for more than two days.
A passenger currently onboard confirmed to Cruise Radio that the cancellation was announced around 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 3.
Guests have been told they can remain aboard until noon Thursday, November 5, and will receive full refunds for the canceled voyage.
The ship was originally scheduled to depart Miami Sunday evening on an 11-night Caribbean cruise, with stops planned in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize.
However, the vessel never left the dock.
Coast Guard Confirms Ship Detention
According to CBS News, Coast Guard Sector Miami detained MSC Poesia on Sunday, November 1, while officials inspected the vessel.
In a statement Monday, the Coast Guard said inspectors “are verifying the cruise ship’s compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations.”
Officials also emphasized that their priority is protecting passengers, crew, the vessel, and the environment.
The Coast Guard has not publicly identified the specific circumstances that prompted the detention or whether it found anything.
MSC Cruises confirmed the inspection in a statement to CBS News, saying it was fully cooperating with federal authorities and keeping passengers informed about the delay.
Passengers Allowed to Remain Onboard
MSC Poesia (Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises)
The situation continued through Monday, with guests remaining aboard as the ship sat docked in Miami.
According to Crew Center, Captain Michele Tuvo informed passengers Monday evening that the sailing could be canceled if the ship did not receive clearance to depart.
He said a final decision would be announced Tuesday morning, with either a revised itinerary or cancellation and refunds.
That decision came around 10 a.m., when passengers were informed that the cruise would not proceed.
A guest told Cruise Radio that passengers would be fully reimbursed and could remain aboard until noon on Thursday.
The passenger said no additional explanation was provided during the cancellation announcement.
What’s Next for MSC Poesia?
MSC Poesia recently completed its Alaska sailing season before repositioning to Miami for its winter Caribbean deployment.
The ship carries more than 3,200 passengers and over 1,000 crew members, although the number aboard the canceled sailing has not been confirmed.
It remains unclear what prompted the Coast Guard detention, when the ship will be cleared to depart, or whether upcoming sailings will be affected.
Cruise Radio has contacted MSC Cruises for additional information.