MSC Poesia November 1 departure from Miami has been delayed by a U.S. Coast Guard inspection, leaving passengers awaiting a decision on whether their cruise will proceed.
The ship was scheduled to begin an 11-night voyage on Sunday. Instead, guests remained docked as inspections continued, with the captain later warning that cancellation was possible if the vessel could not depart the following day.
MSC Poesia voyage from PortMiami could be cancelled if the ship does not receive clearance from the United States Coast Guard, Captain Michele Tuvo told passengers in a late-evening announcement on November 2.
The captain said a definitive decision would be provided at approximately 10 a.m. on November 3. If cleared, the ship would depart on a revised itinerary, with details announced after permission to sail was received. If clearance was not granted, the voyage would be cancelled, with MSC Cruises offering a full refund and additional compensation.
Apologizing for the late message, Tuvo said the onboard team was continuing to work closely with the Coast Guard and hoped to receive the necessary clearance. His announcement set out two possible outcomes for passengers still waiting to learn whether their holiday would proceed.
It was the captain’s second announcement that evening. In the earlier message, shared on Facebook, he reassured guests that there were no safety concerns related to the delay and said the wellbeing of passengers and crew remained the priority. That reassurance came from the captain; it did not constitute confirmation of Coast Guard clearance.
Tuvo also appealed to passengers not to direct their frustration at crew members or officers. He explained that the ship’s team could respond to authorities’ requests but could not speed up the process or depart before receiving authorization.
The Coast Guard said its inspection concerned compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations. MSC confirmed it was cooperating with authorities, while saying it could not provide further information during the ongoing process. The published statements did not identify specific deficiencies or explain why the inspection was taking so long.
MSC arranged shuttle transportation to Bayside on Monday, while Gala Night was postponed. In his later announcement, Tuvo encouraged guests to enjoy the evening’s dining and entertainment as the onboard team continued working toward a decision.
The original itinerary included Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize. However, the captain’s latest message made clear that any departure would follow a revised schedule. At the time of his announcement, neither clearance nor cancellation had been confirmed.
Photo credit Ben Johnson
