Cruise Ship Inspection Scores
Compare CDC inspection scores and health ratings for over 140+ cruise ships.
Does your cruise ship pass CDC health code standards? We've aggregated 30 years of official CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) data to give you a clear look at how your favorite cruise lines perform behind the scenes. From kitchen cleanliness to water safety, explore the latest scores, track historical performance trends, and compare ships across every major line.
Norwegian Encore â Inspection History
Inspection History
Understanding CDC Cruise Ratings
Cruise ships docking in U.S. ports are subject to unannounced, rigorous CDC inspections roughly twice per year. Inspections are scored on a 100-point scale.
- Gold standard: 100 is a perfect inspection.
- Passing grade: 86 or higher is considered satisfactory.
- Red flag: 85 or lower is not satisfactory and requires corrective action documentation.
Why history matters: A single score is only a snapshot â trends reveal whether a ship is improving or declining over time.
CDC inspection scores and reports are published by the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP). Gangwaze aggregates public records for informational purposes.
đ Perfect Score: Ships That Scored 100
These ships earned a flawless 100 on their most recent CDC inspection.
Adventure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Carnival Luminosa
Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Cruise Line
Celebrity Eclipse
Celebrity Millennium
Celebrity Silhouette
Celebrity Solstice
Icon of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
MS Nieuw Statendam
Holland America Cruise Line
MS Rotterdam
MS Westerdam
MSC Lirica
Mariner of the Seas
Norwegian Encore
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Gem
Ovation of the Seas
Utopia of the Seasâ ī¸ Lowest Scoring Ships
The 5 ships with the lowest scores on their most recent CDC inspection.
| Ship | Cruise Line | Score | Status | Last Inspected | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MSC Meraviglia |  MSC Cruise Line | 86 | Satisfactory | December 9, 2025 | |
 Carnival Magic |  Carnival Cruise Line | 86 | Satisfactory | November 24, 2025 | |
 Carnival Pride | Carnival Cruise Line | 86 | Satisfactory | July 13, 2025 | |
 MSC Magnifica | MSC Cruise Line | 86 | Satisfactory | May 17, 2024 | |
 MSC Poesia | MSC Cruise Line | 87 | Satisfactory | March 2, 2013 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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 â 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.