The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program plays a key role in preventing GI illnesses on cruises by assessing ships, managing outbreaks, providing training for staff, and more.

This year has seen only two cruise ships fail inspections, although several others nearly missed the mark. Here’s how to access sanitation reports for vessels visiting the U.S.

How are Ships Rated?

Ships receive a score out of 100 based on their adherence to the VSP Operations Manual standards, along with guidance for corrections of any identified issues.

A score of 86 or above is deemed acceptable, while scores below that indicate a failure.

This year, three ships from U.S. cruise lines scored exactly 86:

• Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Breeze in March
• Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess in March
• Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima in February

In addition, MSC Cruises’ MSC Magnifica achieved the same score in May. Based in Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the third-largest cruise company globally, following Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.

Ships That Failed Inspections

The Hanseatic Inspiration from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises received a low score of 62 in September. The CDC’s VSP report highlighted issues such as supervisors not adequately monitoring critical food processes, leading to unsafe food preparation practices, and inappropriate food storage temperatures.

“Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has a long history of meeting strict hygiene standards with excellent results,” stated Karen Schmidt, senior communications manager for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “We sincerely regret that the HANSEATIC Inspiration did not meet the required score this time. This inspection result does not represent our high standards.”

Schmidt noted that the cruise line promptly initiated an investigation and addressed operational faults, engaging both internal and external experts to implement improvements. They’re also enhancing staff training and updating hygiene practices across their fleet.

“We intend to use this situation to refine our processes and ensure that our ships provide the exceptional experience our guests expect,” Schmidt added.

Just one U.S. cruise line vessel fell below an 86 score this year. Margaritaville at Sea Paradise recorded an 83 in May but improved to 92 in July. Some violations in May included malfunctioning appliances, a lack of soap at a handwashing station, and overcrowding in the whirlpool.

How to Check a Ship’s Score

VPS inspection reports are accessible to the public and can be found in a searchable database on the CDC’s website.

You can filter results by ship, cruise line, inspection date, and score category.

Have Any Ships Achieved a 100 Score?

This year, twenty ships earned a flawless score of 100:

• 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

It’s important to remember that achieving a perfect score does not eliminate the risk of illness. For example, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas got a 100 in July, but experienced a norovirus outbreak in April and a salmonella incident in September.

Which Ships Experienced Norovirus Outbreaks?

Currently, no ships have reported norovirus outbreaks, but at least seven vessels faced such incidents this year, alongside others dealing with different outbreaks, as per the CDC VSP.

Norovirus cases included:

• Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation, Jan. 3 – 12
• Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit, May 24 – 31
• Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria, Jan. 22 – Feb. 6
• Holland America Line’s Koningsdam,
• P&O Cruises’ Arcadia, September 3 – October 3
• Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess, April 5 – May 7
• Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas, April 8 – 22

Other Health Issues

• Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas, May 20 – 24 – Unknown illness
• Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas, September 20 – 27 – Salmonella outbreak
• Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova, March 31 – April 16 – E. coli outbreak

Tips for Preventing Norovirus on Cruise Ships

The CDC advises frequent handwashing. If you witness someone becoming ill, it’s best to vacate the area and inform the cruise crew.

Travelers who feel unwell should immediately contact the ship’s medical team, adhere to their guidelines, and prioritize hydration and rest.

This article has been revised with the latest information.