In the early hours preceding an anticipated Mediterranean voyage, MSC Cruises canceled a scheduled voyage on MSC Sinfonia due to a technical malfunction. The cancellation affected 1,000+ passengers slated to board in Bari (Italy) on April 12th for an 8-day roundtrip itinerary.
The notification, dispatched less than 12 hours before departure, informed passengers of the voyage's cancellation due to technical issues. The cruise line assured affected guests of a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit, while expressing sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
The late notice left many guests, who had already packed and taken leave from work, scrambling to rearrange their plans. Some initially questioned the legitimacy of the message, suspecting a system error or cyber interference, until confirmation came from MSC’s official channels.
The disruption originated from a technical issue that began in Corfu during the previous sailing. MSC Sinfonia had completed visits to Istanbul, Izmir, Athens, and Corfu, where the ship experienced an engine room-related malfunction. While the issue did not compromise onboard safety, it significantly reduced the vessel’s speed. After an initial engine check in Corfu failed to resolve the problem, the ship resumed course at a limited speed under escort—first by a tugboat and later, in Italian waters, by a vessel from the Italian Coast Guard.
MSC Sinfonia remained docked in Bari, undergoing a comprehensive technical inspection to determine the root cause. Port authorities estimate that findings may not be available until at least the following day, potentially delaying the ship’s turnaround and subsequent sailings.
For more MSC Sinfonia incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.