Cruise vacations offer incredible experiences, but close quarters can sometimes lead to the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses like norovirus. Fortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) to help prevent the spread of illnesses on ships.
What Is the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program?
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) regularly inspects cruise ships that sail to U.S. ports, ensuring they meet strict sanitation standards. The program also investigates outbreaks and offers training to cruise ship supervisors, all aimed at keeping passengers and crew healthy. The CDC’s inspection reports are publicly available, allowing travelers to review the sanitation scores of specific ships.
Cruise Ship Sanitation Scores Explained
Cruise ships are scored on a 100-point scale based on how well they comply with the CDC’s sanitation guidelines. A score of 86 or above is considered satisfactory, while anything below 86 is considered failing. You can view these scores and inspection reports on the CDC’s website, narrowing results by ship, cruise line, inspection date, and score category.
2024 Cruise Ship Inspection Scores
As of 2024, only two ships have failed CDC inspections. Several others, however, have scored close to the passing threshold. For instance:
- Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Breeze – 86 (March)
- Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess – 86 (March)
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima – 86 (February)\
- MSC Cruises’ MSC Magnifica – 86 (May)
Cruise Ships That Failed Inspection
In September, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Inspiration scored 62, falling well below the satisfactory range. Among the cited violations were inadequate food preparation supervision and improper food storage at incorrect temperatures.
A U.S. cruise ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, scored 83 in May but improved to 92 by July. Common violations included broken appliances, no soap at handwashing stations, and overcrowding in the whirlpool.
Cruise Ships Scoring a Perfect 100
While no ship is entirely risk-free, achieving a perfect score on a CDC inspection shows a high commitment to sanitation. In 2024, 20 ships have earned perfect scores, including:
- Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit in September
- Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Ascent in January
- Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox in February
- Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy in January
- Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam in August
- MSC Cruises’ Explore I in January
- MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia in July
- MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore in May
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss in June
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway in February
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape in January
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem in January
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel in July
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky in May
- Oceania Cruises’ Regatta in July
- Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas in May
- Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas in July
- Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Odyssey in August
- Viking Expeditions’ Viking Polaris in April
- Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Orion in August
However, it’s important to note that even ships with perfect scores, like **Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas**, which scored 100 in July, have still experienced outbreaks. This ship had both norovirus and salmonella outbreaks earlier in the year.
How to Stay Healthy on a Cruise
While sanitation scores provide a great indicator of a ship’s cleanliness, passengers should still take precautions. The CDC recommends:
– Washing hands frequently with soap and water
– Reporting any signs of illness to cruise staff immediately
– Staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest if you become ill
Norovirus outbreaks are rare, but they can occur. In 2024, at least seven ships have reported norovirus outbreaks, but no active outbreaks are currently listed.
Conclusion
When booking a cruise, checking a ship’s CDC sanitation score can give you peace of mind about the cleanliness and safety of the ship. For the latest inspection reports, visit the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
