Gastrointestinal illnesses like the norovirus can make people quite ill, especially on cruise ships. These illnesses spread easily if sanitation protocols aren’t adhered to.
To stop this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Vessel Sanitation Program to check cruise ships. They inspect the ships, help stop outbreaks, and teach the staff how to keep things clean.
This year, only two cruise ships have failed the inspection, but a few others came close.
Cruise ships are rated on a 100-point scale based on how well they follow health and safety rules from the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) Operations Manual. If a ship scores 86 or higher, it passes. Anything below 86 is considered a failing score.
This year, three US cruise ships barely passed with a score of 86. They include:
- Carnival Breeze in March
- Caribbean Princess in March
- Evrima in February
Ships failed the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Inspiration received a score of 62 in September, far below the passing mark. According to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program report, supervisors failed to properly oversee key food safety procedures.
This left room for unsafe practices in food preparation areas. Additionally, several food items were found stored at the wrong temperatures, adding to the violations.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has maintained strong hygiene standards for many years, often exceeding the required minimum, according to senior communications manager Karen Schmidt.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Schmidt expressed regret over the HANSEATIC Inspiration failing to meet the required score for the first time. She emphasized that the inspection result does not reflect the company’s usual high standards.
Schmidt stated that the German cruise line quickly launched an investigation to address the operational issues. They brought in both internal and external experts to help implement new corrective measures.
Ships scored 100 in CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program
This year, 20 cruise ships have achieved a perfect score of 100 on their health inspections. These ships include:
- Carnival Spirit (Carnival Cruise Line) in September
- Celebrity Ascent (Celebrity Cruises) in January
- Celebrity Equinox (Celebrity Cruises) in February
- Disney Fantasy (Disney Cruise Line) in January
- Zuiderdam (Holland America Line) in August
- Explore I (MSC Cruises) in January
- MSC Meraviglia (MSC Cruises) in July
- MSC Seashore (MSC Cruises) in May
- Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line) in June
- Norwegian Breakaway (Norwegian Cruise Line) in February
- Norwegian Escape (Norwegian Cruise Line) in January
- Norwegian Gem (Norwegian Cruise Line) in January
- Norwegian Jewel (Norwegian Cruise Line) in July
- Norwegian Sky (Norwegian Cruise Line) in May
- Regatta (Oceania Cruises) in July
- Brilliance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) in May
- Radiance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) in July
- Seabourn Odyssey (Seabourn Cruise Line) in August
- Viking Polaris (Viking Expeditions) in April
- Viking Orion (Viking Ocean Cruises) in August
