Published on : 04 Nov 2026
MSC Cruises has cancelled an 11-night Caribbean sailing on MSC Poesia after the US Coast Guard detained the ship at PortMiami for an inspection that kept it at the dock for two days with passengers already on board.
Guests boarded on Sunday, November 1, for a 5pm departure, but the ship never left. On Tuesday morning, November 3, just after 10am — about the time the ship should have arrived at its first port, Ocho Rios, Jamaica — the captain told passengers over the public address system that the cruise was cancelled. MSC said a “regulatory matter” that arose before departure could not be resolved in time.
MSC has promised a full refund of the cruise fare, a future cruise credit and additional compensation, and is helping guests get home. Guests can stay on board until noon on Thursday, November 5. It is the second disruption for MSC in under a week, after last-minute cancellations for passengers on MSC Opera. Here is what is known, what isn’t, and what affected travellers should do.
Published: November 4, 2026 — Wednesday Ship: MSC Poesia, a Musica-class ship with capacity for about 2,550 guests Port: PortMiami, Florida Sailing cancelled: 11-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruise, Sunday, November 1 to Thursday, November 12 Original itinerary: Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize Cause: A US Coast Guard inspection and what MSC calls a “regulatory matter”; no details of the findings have been made public Not a health inspection: The Coast Guard’s action is separate from the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program What MSC promises: Full fare refund, future cruise credit, additional compensation and help getting home Staying aboard: Guests may remain on board until noon on Thursday, November 5, with free WiFi to make travel arrangements Next sailing: A 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami on Thursday, November 12; MSC has not announced any change, but says it depends on the outcome of the inspection
MSC Poesia was due to sail from PortMiami at 5pm on Sunday, November 1. Passengers boarded as planned, but the ship stayed in port. According to local reports, US Coast Guard Sector Miami detained the vessel for an inspection to verify compliance with US regulations and international standards. The Coast Guard said its priority is the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel and the environment.
On Monday, MSC arranged shuttles for guests to travel from the ship to the Bayside area, and postponed the ship’s Gala Night. Dining, entertainment and other amenities stayed open on board. At 8:40pm on Monday — more than 27 hours after the planned departure — the captain told guests that the team was working closely with the Coast Guard and hoped to receive clearance. If that happened, a revised itinerary would have been announced; if not, the voyage would be cancelled with a refund and extra compensation.
The cancellation came the next morning. Neither MSC nor the Coast Guard has said what the inspection found.
| When | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 1, before 5pm | Passengers board MSC Poesia at PortMiami for the 11-night cruise |
| Sun, Nov 1, 5pm | Scheduled departure; the ship stays at the dock |
| Mon, Nov 2 | Shuttle buses take guests into Miami; Gala Night is postponed; amenities stay open |
| Mon, Nov 2, 8:40pm | Captain says the team is working with the Coast Guard and hopes for clearance |
| Tue, Nov 3, 9am | Time the ship should have arrived in Ocho Rios, Jamaica |
| Tue, Nov 3, just after 10am | Captain announces the cruise is cancelled |
| Thu, Nov 5, noon | Guests must have left the ship |
| Thu, Nov 12 | Next scheduled departure: a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise |
| Item | What Has Been Said |
|---|---|
| Refund | Full refund of the cruise fare |
| Future cruise credit | Promised by the captain |
| Additional compensation | Promised; details to be delivered to guests’ staterooms on Tuesday |
| Journey home | MSC says it is providing support; free WiFi on board for making arrangements |
| Time on board | Until noon on Thursday, November 5 |
| Flights and hotels you booked yourself | Not addressed in the statements I found |
| Value of the credit and compensation | Not published |
| Next sailing (Nov 12) | No change announced, but MSC has not ruled one out |
A cruise contract and insurance policy will decide what else you can claim. Keep the written confirmations MSC gives you.
| If You Are… | What to Do |
|---|---|
| On board now | Read the paperwork delivered to your stateroom, confirm refund and credit terms in writing, and arrange travel before noon on Thursday |
| Booked on the November 12 sailing | Check your email and MSC’s website; monitor for any itinerary or cancellation notice |
| Holding flights, hotels or transfers tied to this cruise | Contact the airline, hotel and transfer companies right away; ask about changes or refunds |
| Booked through a travel agent or tour operator | Contact them first; they may handle the refund and any extra costs |
| Holding travel insurance | Check whether it covers cruise cancellation by the operator and any non-refundable flights or hotels; keep receipts |
| Paid by credit card | Check whether your card offers protection if a cruise is cancelled |
MSC’s problems are not limited to this ship. Cruise Hive reported that passengers booked on MSC Opera got last-minute cancellation texts after a separate technical problem in Europe. Other recent MSC headlines include an itinerary change for MSC Virtuosa in Southampton and a cancelled Le Havre call for MSC Preziosa because of a French strike. Those cases are unrelated to the Poesia detention, and MSC has not linked any of them.
MSC has not said what the Coast Guard found or whether MSC Poesia can sail again on November 12. The Coast Guard’s inspection outcome will decide whether future departures are affected. We’ll update this article as MSC or the Coast Guard release more information.
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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