Key Aspects:
- All MSC Poesia guests will receive a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit for the now-cancelled November 1, 2026 sailing.
- The ship has been unable to depart Miami due to an undisclosed “regulatory matter” and the cancellation was announced on Tuesday, November 3.
- Free WiFi access is being provided and guests can submit claims for reimbursement for changed post-cruise travel plans.
Guests onboard MSC Poesia have now received letters outlining their options for compensation following the cancellation of the ship’s Sunday, November 1, 2026 sailing.
While guests were able to board the ship in PortMiami on Sunday for what was to have been an 11-night Southern and Western Caribbean itinerary, MSC Poesia did not depart at 5 p.m. that day as planned.
Instead, the ship was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard as an inspection was underway. While the nature of that inspection was not publicly disclosed, announcements made onboard confirmed it was not related to a health or safety issue.
Guests were finally informed just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3 that their sailing was unfortunately cancelled.
“Despite our team’s continuous effort to solve the regulatory matter that delayed our departure, we unfortunately have to cancel,” the captain announced to guests.
The nature of the “regulatory matter” was not disclosed and as of Tuesday night, Cruise Hive’s ship tracker shows MSC Poesia still docked in Miami.
Few further details were provided in the compensation letter, which has been posted on Facebook, but the “regulatory matter” was mentioned and the cruise line did express regret for the situation.
“We sincerely apologize for the limited information we were able to share throughout this process,” the letter began. “On Sunday evening prior to departure, a regulatory matter arose that required resolution and unfortunately, the resources necessary to address this matter have not been available in time to meet the sailing schedule.”
Refunds and Credits Offered to Guests
Following the morning announcement of the cancellation, which also confirmed guests could remain onboard the ship until noon on Thursday, November 5, letters began to be delivered to guests’ staterooms with complete compensation details.
First, all guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and eligible prepaid purchases, such as beverage packages, specialty dining, internet use, and shore tours booked through MSC Cruises. That refund will be returned to the original form of payment within 14 days.
All guests will also receive a future cruise credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid. That credit can be used on any MSC sailing but must be redeemed by “confirming a booking by November 2, 2027.”
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This means that not only are guests receiving a refund for the now-cancelled cruise, but they will also receive a significant credit that can be used toward another sailing in the future: in effect, double compensation.
Guest reactions to this offer have generally been positive.
“I would say that’s more than fair,” one commenter responded on Facebook. “Glad to see MSC takes care of their customers.”
“I think this is very reasonable from MSC,” another commenter added. “They have clearly tried to resolve it but with no success so this is more than reasonable.”
In the meantime, WiFi access has been made complimentary for all guests onboard the ship so they can adjust their post-cruise travel plans as needed.
MSC Cruises will also reimburse eligible change fees and transportation charges, so long as the new arrangements are “in the same category of service, including the same destination as your originally booked journey.”
Reimbursement will also be provided for hotel accommodations if guests are unable to arrange return travel on the day they disembark MSC Poesia. All reimbursement claims must be submitted for review.
