MSC Cruises faced an operational setback this weekend as a technical issue aboard the MSC Sinfonia forced the cruise line to cancel embarkation for over 1,000 guests scheduled to board in Bari for an 8-day Mediterranean itinerary. The cancellation came less than 12 hours before departure, with affected guests receiving a message from the cruise line.

“Important: The MSC Sinfonia cruise from Bari tomorrow has been cancelled due to technical issues. Our team will be in touch shortly to assist you with any arrangements. You will receive a full refund of your cruise fare and a 100% future cruise credit. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

The late notice left many guests, who had already packed and taken leave from work, scrambling to rearange 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 stems from a technical issue that started 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 did reduce the vessel’s speed significantly.

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 is docked in Bari, where it is 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, pushing back the ship’s turnaround and future sailings.