Cruise Ship Inspection Scores

Virgin Voyages currently leads with an average score of 97.7 across 3 ships, based on each ship's most recent CDC inspection.

A score of 86 or higher out of 100 is considered satisfactory by the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program. Ships scoring 85 or below are required to submit corrective action documentation and may face re-inspection.

Cruise ships that dock at U.S. ports are subject to unannounced CDC inspections approximately twice per year. These inspections cover areas like water safety, food preparation, hygiene practices, and general cleanliness.

Currently, 18 cruise ships hold a perfect score of 100 on their most recent CDC inspection. You can see the full list in the "Perfect Score" section above.

Ships scoring below 86 receive a 'Not Satisfactory' rating and must provide corrective action reports to the CDC. The ship may be re-inspected to verify the issues have been addressed. Inspection details and corrective action reports are publicly available through the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program.

Not necessarily. CDC inspections focus primarily on sanitation and hygiene — food handling, water systems, and cleanliness. A lower score indicates areas that need improvement but doesn't mean the ship is unsafe to sail. However, consistent low scores or a declining trend may indicate systemic maintenance issues.

Cunard Cruise Line currently has the lowest average at 90.7. Note that all major cruise lines maintain passing averages (86+), and individual ship scores can vary significantly within a fleet.

The data on this page includes approximately 30 years of CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection records, allowing you to track long-term trends for individual ships and entire cruise lines.