MSC CRUISES CANCELS CARIBBEAN SAILING AFTER COAST GUARD DETAINS SHIP

MSC Cruises has cancelled an 11-night Caribbean sailing by MSC Poesia after the US Coast Guard detained the ship at the Port of Miami. MSC Poesia had been due to depart on Sunday 1 November but was held during a pre-departure Port State Control Examination. The Coast Guard said it had identified "deficiencies with systems on board the vessel" that were being addressed with MSC. The sailing was cancelled on Tuesday 3 November, two days after the scheduled departure. MSC Cruises said guests would receive a full refund of their cruise fare and assistance with alternative travel arrangements, including getting home.

Captain Frank Florio, commander of US Coast Guard Sector Miami, said: "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." MSC said a regulatory matter had arisen before departure that it was unable to resolve in time for the sailing to proceed. The cancelled itinerary had been due to call at ports in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize. Accounts of passenger numbers aboard differ, ranging from more than 2,000 to the ship's stated capacity of over 2,550 in one account and above 3,000 in another.

MSC Poesia remained detained at the Miami port until cleared for departure by the Coast Guard. Passengers were permitted to stay aboard until Thursday 5 November while arranging onward travel. MSC apologised for the disruption to guests' holidays and said it recognised their disappointment. The ship is next due to leave Miami on 12 November for a separate 10-night Eastern Caribbean round trip.