MSC Cancels Poesia Sailing After U.S. Coast Guard Detains Ship in Miami

MSC Cruises has cancelled a sailing aboard MSC Poesia after the ship was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard at the Port of Miami over safety and regulatory concerns.

The cruise line confirmed the cancellation to CBS News on Tuesday (Nov. 3), citing a regulatory issue that emerged before the vessel’s scheduled departure and could not be resolved in time.

More than 2,000 people were reportedly on board the ship, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to CBS News.

“We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our guests, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to their holiday,” MSC said in a statement to the outlet.

Affected passengers will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, while MSC Cruises is also assisting guests with arrangements to return home.

The disruption follows an inspection by the Coast Guard’s Miami sector, which detained the vessel on Sunday (Nov. 1) to assess its compliance with international maritime safety standards and U.S. regulations.

On Tuesday, Capt. Frank Florio, commander of the Coast Guard’s Miami sector, confirmed that inspectors had uncovered issues requiring corrective action.

The Coast Guard “identified deficiencies with systems on board the vessel that we are addressing with MSC,” Florio said in a statement.

The ship will remain in port until “the deficiencies are corrected and it is cleared for departure,” the Coast Guard added.

Authorities have not publicly specified which onboard systems were affected.

In an earlier statement, the Coast Guard emphasized that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority.

“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,” the agency said.

MSC has said it is fully cooperating with authorities as efforts continue to resolve the outstanding issues.

According to the cruise line, MSC Poesia can accommodate more than 3,200 passengers and over 1,000 crew members.