Cruise Ship Health Inspection Scores
The one public, objective cruise ship rating, and how to read it.
Ask a Cruise ExpertMost cruise ratings are opinions. One is not. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention runs the Vessel Sanitation Program, whose inspectors visit cruise ships calling at U.S. ports and score them on a 100-point scale. It is the closest thing the industry has to an objective, public rating, and anyone can look it up with CDC’s inspection search tool.
What the Inspectors Check
Water
Potable water systems, treatment and testing.
Food
Galleys, food storage, temperatures, handling and crew hygiene.
Pools and spas
Recreational water facilities and their treatment.
Housekeeping and pests
Cleaning practices and integrated pest management.
Outbreak prevention
How the ship monitors and responds to gastrointestinal illness.
Records
Logs and documentation that show routines are followed.
Reading an Inspection Score
A ship needs 86 or more to pass; 85 or lower is not satisfactory. Most ships score well above the line, so differences between, say, the mid-90s and a perfect 100 are small. More useful is the pattern: a ship that repeatedly scores near the line deserves a closer look, while a single dip followed by strong scores usually means problems were fixed.
The inspection reports list the specific deficiencies found, and the ship’s corrective action statement shows what was done about them. Reading one report teaches you a great deal about what “clean” means on a ship.
Health scores are one layer of the picture; for broader safety and health questions, see Cruising Is Safe. U.S. News also folds health results into its rankings, which is one reason we list it among the expert sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a passing CDC cruise ship inspection score?
Inspections are scored out of 100. A score of 85 or lower is considered not satisfactory; 86 and above is satisfactory.
Which ships does the CDC inspect?
The Vessel Sanitation Program covers cruise ships that call at U.S. ports as part of international itineraries. Ships that never visit the United States are not in its records.
Does a low score mean a ship is unsafe now?
Not necessarily. A score is a snapshot of one inspection, and ships correct problems and are re-inspected. Look at the trend across several inspections and at the corrective action report.
Looking Up a Ship
The CDC’s search tool lets you look up a ship by name or browse by cruise line. Each entry shows the inspection date and score, and you can open the full report. Ships that do not sail to U.S. ports will not appear, so an empty result is not a warning sign in itself. When comparing ships, look at their last several inspections rather than one score, and read the comments on any item marked as a deficiency to see whether it was minor or significant.
Questions About a Ship’s Record?
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can help you read a ship’s inspection history before you book.
Ask a Cruise Expert