US Coast Guard Detains MSC Poesia in Miami; Cruise Canceled

The U.S. Coast Guard has detained MSC Cruises' MSC Poesia with passengers on board at PortMiami, forcing the line to cancel an 11-night Western and Southern Caribbean cruise that was scheduled to depart Sunday afternoon.

As of Tuesday morning the ship remained moored at MSC's Terminal AA at PortMiami, described in the source report as the Cruise Capital of the World. Neither the Coast Guard nor MSC Cruises has disclosed the specific regulatory matter behind the detention.

What happened on board?

The captain announced the cancellation over the ship's PA system, telling guests that the crew is making a continuous effort to resolve the regulatory issue keeping the vessel in port. Passengers may remain on board until noon on Thursday, November 5. MSC has made ship-wide WiFi available free of charge to all guests.

Guests will receive letters in their staterooms detailing compensation and disembarkation steps. The package includes:

• A 100% refund of cruise fares
• A future cruise credit (a voucher toward a later booking)
• Additional compensation, unspecified by the line
• Support to assist passengers with their journeys home

What are the authorities saying?

The Coast Guard confirmed the detention in a statement, saying it "are verifying the cruise ship's compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations." The agency added that ensuring the safety of everyone on board — passengers, crew and the environment — is its priority.

MSC Cruises said it is cooperating with the inspection. A spokesperson told Cruise Fever: "We have made the difficult decision to cancel the current sailing. We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our guests, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to their holiday."

The spokesperson added: "Prior to departure, a regulatory matter arose that required resolution. Despite our efforts to address the matter, we were unable to resolve it in time for the sailing to proceed."

What itinerary was scrapped?

The canceled 11-night sailing was scheduled to call at six ports across five countries:

• Ocho Rios, Jamaica
• Cartagena, Colombia
• Colon, Panama
• Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
• Roatan, Honduras
• Belize City, Belize

What comes next for the ship?

MSC Poesia's next scheduled cruise departs November 12, 2026 — a 10-night Eastern Caribbean voyage. The line has not said whether that sailing is at risk, and the Coast Guard has given no timeline for completing its inspection.

The refund, cruise credit and additional compensation will land squarely on MSC's books, but the bigger commercial question for sellers of the brand is whether the undisclosed regulatory issue is resolved before the November 12 departure.