Coast Guard Detains MSC Poesia in Miami Over Deficiencies; Caribbean Cruise Canceled, Guests Get Refunds

The U.S. Coast Guard has detained the cruise ship MSC Poesia at the Port of Miami after an inspection turned up deficiencies with systems on board, and MSC Cruises has canceled the ship’s 11-night Caribbean sailing. Passengers who boarded on Sunday, Nov. 1, never left port.

In a press release on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Coast Guard said a Sector Miami Port State Control team detained the ship on Sunday “after identifying deficiencies during an inspection.” The vessel stays detained “until the deficiencies are corrected and it is cleared for departure,” the agency said.

What the Coast Guard said

Capt. Frank Florio, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, said in the release: “The Coast Guard cannot currently comment on the specifics of an ongoing Port State Control Examination, but we have identified deficiencies with systems on board the vessel that we are addressing with MSC.”

Neither the Coast Guard nor MSC has said publicly which systems are involved or what triggered what the Miami Herald described as an “expanded examination.” Cruise Hive noted that this was not a health inspection under the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which is run by a different agency.

Under its Port State Control program, the Coast Guard inspects foreign-flagged commercial ships visiting U.S. ports to check that they meet safety, security and environmental rules. When it finds substantial noncompliance, it can hold a ship until the problems are fixed.

Why the cruise was canceled

MSC Cruises told CBS News, the Miami Herald and Cruise Hive that “a regulatory matter arose” before departure. “Despite our efforts to address the matter, we were unable to resolve it in time for the sailing to proceed,” the company said.

“We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our guests, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to their holiday,” MSC added.

According to Cruise Hive, the ship was due to leave PortMiami at 5 p.m. Sunday and should have reached its first stop, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on Tuesday morning. Instead, guests were told shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday that the voyage was off. The Miami Herald reported the itinerary included stops in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize, with a planned return on Nov. 12.

A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that more than 2,000 people were on board. MSC says the ship can carry more than 3,200 passengers and over 1,000 crew members.

What passengers are getting

• Full refund: MSC said guests will get a full refund of their cruise fare and help getting home.
• Extra compensation: Cruise Hive reported that the captain also told guests about a future cruise credit and additional compensation, with details delivered to cabins.
• Time to leave: Per Cruise Hive, guests may stay on board until noon on Thursday, Nov. 5, with free Wi-Fi to arrange travel.

Exact compensation amounts have not been published.

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