An 11-night Caribbean cruise aboard the MSC Poesia was abruptly canceled after the U.S. Coast Guard detained the vessel in Miami due to identified system deficiencies. The ship was scheduled to depart on November 1 and return on November 12, with planned stops in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize.
More than 2,000 passengers were aboard when the MSC Poesia was detained at the port. The U.S. Coast Guard announced the detention on November 3, stating that deficiencies with systems on the ship required resolution before it could depart. Captain Frank Florio, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami, confirmed the detention in a press release, noting that the Coast Guard had identified issues that were being addressed with MSC.
An MSC Cruises spokesperson expressed regret for the disruption, stating, "We have made the difficult decision to cancel the current sailing." The company acknowledged the disappointment and frustration for the guests and offered a full refund of the cruise fare, along with assistance for their journey home.
The Coast Guard's Port State Control program is responsible for inspecting foreign-flagged commercial vessels docking in U.S. ports to ensure compliance with safety, security, and environmental standards. According to maritime attorney Alex Perez, it is rare for a cruise ship with passengers on board to be detained rather than cited, indicating that the identified deficiencies were significant.
"The fact that this cruise ship was detained with passengers on board when [it was] about to embark on its voyage tells you the Coast Guard found something significant enough to warrant a detention," Perez told Fox News Digital. He added that while cruise ships are frequently inspected, the Coast Guard's authority extends to foreign-flagged vessels in U.S. ports.
Passengers affected by the cancellation are reportedly concerned about the costs of additional airfare, accommodations, and lost work time. According to MSC USA's booking conditions, passengers waive their right to participate in class-action lawsuits, meaning individual claims may be the only recourse for seeking compensation.