MSC Cruises has been hit by two major disruptions in less than a week, affecting passengers on ships operating thousands of miles apart.
One vessel has been detained by the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami, leaving passengers facing an unexpected change to their Caribbean vacation. Meanwhile, a separate technical issue in Europe has caused last-minute cancellations and changes to embarkation plans aboard another MSC ship.
With passengers left dealing with the consequences, the incidents have raised questions about what went wrong and what happens next.
MSC Poesia Cruise Canceled After Two Days in Miami
Passengers aboard MSC Poesia have had their 11-night Caribbean cruise canceled after the ship was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard at PortMiami.
The ship was supposed to depart Miami at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Instead, passengers spent the next two days onboard while MSC Cruises worked with authorities to resolve a regulatory issue that prevented the vessel from leaving port.
The cruise was scheduled to visit Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize before returning to Miami. Guests had already boarded and were expecting to begin their vacation when the delay was announced.
By Monday evening, the situation was still unresolved. The captain informed passengers that MSC Cruises was continuing its efforts to secure permission to depart but warned that the entire voyage could be canceled if the ship wasn’t cleared by Tuesday.
Shortly after 10 a.m. on November 3, the captain announced that the cruise would not be going ahead.
“It is with very deep regret that I must inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel our cruise,” the captain told passengers.
He explained that the company had continued working to address the regulatory matter but had been unable to resolve it in time.
The cancellation meant passengers would miss every destination on their planned Caribbean itinerary. The ship had originally been scheduled to arrive in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at 9 a.m. that same morning, but it remained docked in Miami.
Passengers Offered Refunds and Extra Time Onboard
MSC Cruises has promised affected passengers a full refund of their cruise fare, along with future cruise credit and additional compensation following the cancellation.
The company also told guests that further details about the arrangements would be delivered to their cabins on Tuesday, November 3. The exact terms of the additional compensation have not yet been confirmed publicly.
Rather than requiring everyone to leave the ship immediately, MSC Cruises is allowing passengers to remain aboard MSC Poesia until noon on Thursday, November 5. This gives guests an additional two days to arrange flights, hotels, or alternative transportation home.
Complimentary Wi-Fi has also been made available so passengers can contact airlines, travel agents, and family members without paying for an internet package.
During the two-day delay, guests continued to have access to the ship’s restaurants, entertainment, and other onboard facilities, despite remaining docked in Miami.
For travelers who flew into Miami specifically for the cruise, the cancellation could mean additional expenses beyond the cost of the sailing itself. Those who booked nonrefundable flights, hotels, or excursions may need to contact their travel providers or insurers to find out whether those costs are covered.
MSC Cruises has not publicly confirmed whether all independently booked travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Coast Guard Has Not Explained Why Ship Was Detained
The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that MSC Poesia was detained at PortMiami on Sunday, November 1, while officials carried out an expanded inspection of the vessel.
According to Coast Guard Sector Miami, the inspection is intended to determine whether the ship complies with U.S. regulations and international maritime safety standards.
In a statement provided to CBS News, the Coast Guard said:
“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.”
However, the agency has not explained what prompted the inspection or whether inspectors discovered any specific problems onboard. Officials have also not disclosed what MSC Cruises needs to address before the ship can receive permission to sail again.
The inspection is separate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which focuses on preventing the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses aboard cruise ships.
MSC Cruises confirmed that it was cooperating with the Coast Guard throughout the inspection. Following the cancellation, the company acknowledged that an unresolved regulatory matter had prevented the ship from departing, but offered no further explanation.
Will MSC Poesia’s Next Cruise Go Ahead?
MSC Poesia is scheduled to depart Miami again on Thursday, November 12, 2026, for a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. The itinerary includes stops in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
As of November 3, MSC Cruises has not announced any changes or cancellations affecting that sailing. However, the ship will need to receive clearance from the U.S. Coast Guard before it can resume operations.
It’s currently unclear how long the inspection process will take or whether additional work will be required before the vessel can leave port.
Passengers booked on upcoming departures should monitor communications from MSC Cruises and their travel agents for any changes to their itineraries or embarkation arrangements.
MSC Opera Passengers Also Hit by Last-Minute Cancellations
The disruption involving MSC Poesia comes just days after another MSC Cruises ship experienced problems that forced last-minute cancellations in Europe.
On Wednesday, October 28, passengers booked aboard MSC Opera received text messages informing them that their cruises had been canceled for technical reasons. Some were due to board the ship in Civitavecchia, Italy, the following day, leaving them with very little time to change their travel plans.
The 2,658-passenger ship had been undergoing maintenance in dry dock in Valletta, Malta, earlier in October. It was scheduled to resume passenger operations on October 29, with Mediterranean sailings and a transatlantic repositioning voyage planned, including embarkation opportunities in Genoa and Livorno.
However, not every passenger received the same instructions. While some were told their cruises had been canceled, others reported being given revised arrangements to board in Livorno on October 31 instead.
One passenger already in Genoa said they had been offered a complimentary hotel stay, transportation to Livorno, and onboard credit as part of the revised arrangements.
According to the cancellation notices, MSC Cruises offered affected guests full refunds, along with reimbursement for eligible travel and accommodation expenses.
The cruise line has not publicly identified the technical issue or confirmed whether it was connected to the ship’s dry dock maintenance. There has also been no confirmation that every sailing associated with MSC Opera‘s planned repositioning voyage was canceled.
There is no evidence that the technical problems affecting MSC Opera are connected to the regulatory issue involving MSC Poesia. The operational status of MSC Opera remains unclear, while MSC Poesia is still awaiting clearance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
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