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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays a vital role in maintaining health standards aboard cruise ships through its Vessel Sanitation Program. This program conducts random inspections to ensure cleanliness and prevent outbreaks of stomach viruses, particularly norovirus. With no prior warning, the CDC inspects various areas on cruise ships, including kitchens, hot tubs, and children’s activity centers, and then assigns a score between 0 and 100. A score of 85 or below is deemed unacceptable. told by Business Insider.
As of 2024, the CDC has inspected 119 cruise ships, with most vessels earning high scores. “Most vessels in 2024 have scored 95 out of 100,” noted a CDC spokesperson. However, 11 ships have scored 89 or lower, raising concerns about onboard hygiene. One of the lowest scores, 62, was given to Hanseatic Inspiration, a ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, during a September inspection.
The CDC’s inspections are designed to reduce the spread of highly contagious viruses like norovirus, which has caused 10 bacterial and viral outbreaks on cruise ships in 2024 alone. These outbreaks spread quickly through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain, which can quickly ruin a passenger’s vacation.
In response to the low scores, several cruise lines have taken action. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the operator of Hanseatic Inspiration, conducted an internal investigation and offered “intensive training sessions with external and internal trainers” following the CDC’s inspection. A spokesperson stated that the company plans to submit a corrective report on time and emphasized that the low score does not reflect the company’s usual standards.
Similarly, Crystal Cruises, whose ship Crystal Serenity received a score of 89 in February, has addressed the violations through “harmonization of procedures and additional training.” MSC Cruises, whose MSC Magnifica also scored 86, has implemented an “improvement plan,” according to a company spokesperson. They stated that many issues were addressed immediately and required only minor changes. MSC believes the ship’s score “is not a true reflection of the ship as it is today” and welcomes any future inspections. report from MSN.
Despite the lower scores on some vessels, most cruise ships have performed well in the CDC’s random inspections. Nineteen vessels received perfect scores, and many others consistently achieved above 90. However, the recent low scores highlight the importance of maintaining strict sanitation standards to ensure passenger safety.
