MSC cruise ship detained by Coast Guard amid 'expanded examination' - USA Today

Authorities detained an MSC Cruises ship in Miami over the weekend as part of an “expanded examination of the vessel,” the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The incident took place on Nov. 1. MSC Poesia was scheduled to depart that day on a round-trip cruise with stops in Jamaica, Colombia, Costa Rica and more, according to CruiseMapper.

“The Coast Guard is tasked with verifying safe and secure commerce,” the Coast Guard told USA TODAY in an email. “It is the Captain of the Port's priority to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel, and the environment. USCG teams are verifying the cruise ship's compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations.”

MSC confirmed it canceled the current sailing after it was unable to resolve a “regulatory matter” in time for departure. The cruise line and the Coast Guard did not provide additional specifics. 

Impacted guests will receive full refunds of their cruise fares and assistance with their trips home. “We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our guests, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to their holiday,” MSC said in an emailed statement.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.