CDC reveals list of cleanest cruise ships of 2024

Cruise ships face heightened scrutiny when it comes to cleanliness and hygiene.

Unlike hotels and airplanes, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) randomly inspects and scores cruise ships to prevent the spread of stomach viruses.

The agency, which conducts sanitary inspections on ships throughout the year, has released the latest results from its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).

The goal of the VSP is to “[help] the cruise industry prevent and control the spread of GI [gastrointestinal] illness,” writes the CDC.

According to the agency, 10 outbreaks of bacteria and viruses (mainly norovirus) have been recorded on board cruise ships this year.

Ships with perfect scores

In its ranking, a “100” score is perfect – and a majority of ships on the water, this year, have scored an impressive 95, the CDC says.

Inspections, which can take six to eight hours, include checking common spaces like kitchens, pools, and children's activity centres. They are random and unannounced, says the CDC.

This year, the CDC has so far inspected 119 cruise ships. Which ones have received perfect scores? Here’s the agency’s clean list:

•           Carnival Spirit — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected September 3)

•           Viking Orion — Viking Ocean Cruises (inspected August 18)

•           Seabourn Odyssey — Seabourn Cruise Line (inspected August 16)

•           Norwegian Jewel — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected July 24)

•           Oceania Regatta — Oceania Cruises (inspected July 24)

•           Radiance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected July 21)

•           MSC Meraviglia — MSC Cruises (inspected July 9)

•           Norwegian Bliss — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected June 22)

•           MSC Seashore — MSC Cruises (inspected May 26)

•           Norwegian Sky — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected May 23)

•           Brilliance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected May 16)

•           Viking Polaris — Viking (inspected April 2)

•           Celebrity Equinox — Celebrity Cruises (inspected February 25)

•           Norwegian Breakaway — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected February 25)

•           Norwegian Escape — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 27)

•           Explora I — MSC Cruises (inspected January 25)

•           Disney Fantasy — Disney Cruise Line (inspected January 24)

•           Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises (inspected January 7)

•           Norwegian Gem — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 2)

This time last year, 29 ships had achieved 100. By the end of 2023, 34 vessels achieved a perfect rating.

Then there’s the ships that have some work to do. In the VSP system, anything below an “85” score is considered unacceptable and must be rectified immediately.

According to the VSP website, “ships are responsible for correcting all violations. They must correct certain critical violations immediately.”

For noncritical violations, vessels have up to two weeks to submit corrective action reports to the CDC.

The lowest score this year was “62,” which was given to Hanseatic Inspiration of  Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, inspected Sept. 29. 

It is considered a tie with Rederij Clipper Stad Amsterdam’s Stad Amsterdam for the sixth-lowest CDC score in the history of the VSP.

According to J.P. Morgan, this year sees strong demand in the cruise industry, with nearly 36 million passengers expected by the end-of-year.

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