Cruise Canceled After Coast Guard Detains Ship in Miami
Passengers aboard MSC Cruises' MSC Poesia are reporting that their 11-night Caribbean cruise has been canceled after the ship remained detained at PortMiami for two days.
The cancellation news surfaced on social media Tuesday, Nov. 3, after passengers waited for an update on whether the ship would receive clearance to leave port.
"Cruise has been canceled. We have until noon on Thursday to disembark," one passenger wrote in a Reddit thread about the situation shortly after an update was delivered to passengers on board at 10 a.m. Nov. 3. The passenger also noted that guests would receive a full refund and a future cruise credit for the inconvenience.
MSC Cruises Confirms Cancellation of MSC Poesia Sailing
MSC Cruises confirmed the cancellation in a statement to TravelHost.
"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 cruise line said.
MSC Cruises attributed the cancellation to an unresolved regulatory matter.
"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," MSC said.
"Guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, and we are providing support to assist with their journey home."
MSC did not provide additional details about the regulator matter or clarify whether other MSC Poesia sailings could be affected.
The ship was originally scheduled to depart Miami on Sunday, Nov. 1 for an 11-night sailing visiting Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize.
However, the U.S. Coast Guard detained MSC Poesia on Sunday, preventing its departure while officials conducted an inspection. The ship remained in port with passengers aboard as the cruise line worked with authorities to obtain clearance.
According to an earlier announcement from Captain Michele Tuvo, passengers would receive a definitive update Tuesday morning, Nov. 3. He explained that if the ship could not receive permission to sail, the cruise would be canceled, with passengers receiving a full refund and additional compensation.
MSC Poesia homeports in Seattle during its Alaska cruise season. MSC Cruises
Coast Guard Inspection Was Not a Health Inspection
One important distinction about the situation is that the Coast Guard inspection was not a cruise ship health inspection. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have different responsibilities when it comes to cruise ships.
The Coast Guard told CBS News that its teams were verifying the ship's compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations. Neither the Coast Guard nor MSC Cruises has publicly disclosed what prompted the inspection or any specific deficiencies or violations involving the ship.
"The Coast Guard is tasked with verifying safe and secure commerce," the Coast Guard said in a statement. It added that passenger, crew, vessel, and environmental safety are priorities for the Captain of the Port.
The CDC, meanwhile, conducts cruise ship sanitation inspections through its Vessel Sanitation Program. According to published CDC records , MSC Poesia received a score of 97 out of 100 during its most recent sanitation inspection in April 2026. The CDC considers scores of 86 or higher satisfactory.
That inspection score does not address the separate regulatory issues being examined by the U.S. Coast Guard.
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MSC Poesia Just Began Its Winter Season From Miami
The cruise cancellation comes shortly after MSC Poesia transitioned to its winter deployment from Miami after completing MSC Cruises' first-ever Alaska cruise season .
The ship sailed seven-night Alaska itineraries from Seattle during summer 2026 and is scheduled to return to the region for the cruise line's 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Before its Alaska deployment, MSC invested in upgrades to the vessel, including the addition of specialty restaurants Butcher's Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar, along with the MSC Yacht Club luxury ship-within-a-ship experience.
Related: I've Cruised With My Kids on 5 Lines. MSC Cruises Surprised Me
The ship was scheduled to spend the winter sailing longer Caribbean and Central America itineraries from Miami.
For passengers who boarded expecting an 11-night vacation, however, the immediate priority has shifted from visiting those destinations to making arrangements to get home.
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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
