Cruise Cleanliness and the CDC: Ranking the Best (and Worst) Ships of 2024

Exotic ports, endless buffets, and the open sea make cruises a dream escape for many. But while you’re eating, exploring, or just kicking back relaxing, microbes may pose a hazard behind the scenes. It’s fair to ask: Just how clean is this ship? Are those shiny handrails truly spotless, or smeared with sweat and sneezes?

With close quarters and high traffic, cruise ships can quickly become a breeding ground for germs. But not all ships are created equal in their battle against the bacteria and viruses that could spoil your vacation.

The CDC’s Role in Monitoring Ship Hygiene

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) takes cruise ship sanitation seriously. Even though official COVID-19 restrictions ended in 2022, the CDC has continued its surprise inspections to ensure each vessel is prepared for the microscopic threats that thrive in these confined, high-traffic spaces. Inspections are part of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which meticulously checks each vessel for cleanliness and proper hygiene practices.

This year, 19 ships out of the 119 inspected managed to receive perfect scores from the CDC, or 100/100, making them some of the cleanest floating resorts in 2024.

The Cleanest Cruise Ships in 2024: CDC’s Top Performers

These vessels met every requirement of the CDC’s VSP inspection process and earned a perfect score:

1. M/V Carnival Spirit — Carnival Cruise Line, Inspected on September 3
2. M/V Viking Orion — Viking Ocean Cruises, Inspected on August 18
3. M/V Seabourn Odyssey — Seabourn Cruise Line, Inspected on August 16
4. M/V Norwegian Jewel — Norwegian Cruise Line, Inspected on July 24
5. M/V Oceania Regatta — Oceania Cruises, Inspected on July 24
6. M/V Radiance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International, Inspected on July 21
7. M/V MSC Meraviglia — MSC Cruises, Inspected on July 9
8. M/V Norwegian Bliss — Norwegian Cruise Line, Inspected on June 22
9. M/V MSC Seashore — MSC Cruises, Inspected on May 26
10. M/V Norwegian Sky — Norwegian Cruise Line, Inspected on May 23
11. M/V Brilliance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International, Inspected on May 16
12. M/V Viking Polaris — Viking Cruises, Inspected on April 2
13. M/V Celebrity Equinox — Celebrity Cruises, Inspected on February 25
14. M/V Norwegian Breakaway — Norwegian Cruise Line, Inspected on February 25
15. M/V Norwegian Escape — Norwegian Cruise Line, Inspected on January 27
16. M/V Explora I — MSC Cruises, Inspected on January 25
17. M/V Disney Fantasy — Disney Cruise Line, Inspected on January 24
18. M/V Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises, Inspected on January 7
19. M/V Norwegian Gem — Norwegian Cruise Line, Inspected on January 2

The Not-So-Clean: Cruise Ships That Fell Short

At the other end of the spectrum, several ships received concerningly low scores in their CDC inspections. Here are the lowest-rated ships of 2024:

1. M/V Hanseatic Inspiration — Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Inspected on September 29, Score: 62
2. M/V Kydon — Ro-Ro Ferry Class, Inspected on September 4, 2023, Score: 86
3. M/V Evrima — Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Inspected on February 9, Score: 86
4. M/V Caribbean Princess — Princess Cruises, Inspected on March 20, Score: 86
5. M/V Carnival Breeze — Carnival Cruise Line, Inspected on March 21, Score: 86
6. M/V MSC Magnifica — MSC Cruises, Inspected on May 17, Score: 86
7. M/V Carnival Miracle — Carnival Cruise Line, Inspected on April 21, Score: 88
8. M/V National Geographic Sea Bird — Lindblad Expeditions, Inspected on July 25, Score: 88
9. M/V Adventure of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International, Inspected on January 23, Score: 89
10. M/V Aurora — P&O Cruises (Adult Only), Inspected on September 18, 2023, Score: 89
11. M/V Carnival Elation — Carnival Cruise Line, Inspected on March 14, Score: 89
12. M/V Le Boreal — Compagnie du Ponant, Inspected on April 19, 2023, Score: 89
13. M/V Crystal Serenity — Crystal Cruises, Inspected on February 3, Score: 89

Why Cleanliness Matters

Cruise ships have long struggled with outbreaks of illness, particularly norovirus—a contagious bug known to spread through contaminated food, water, surfaces, and close human contact. This year, 10 outbreaks have been reported, mostly of norovirus, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Royal Caribbean’s M/V Radiance of the Seas was hit especially hard this year, suffering from both norovirus and a salmonella outbreak. Even high-ranking ships can struggle to keep every corner spotless, especially in busy areas with frequent contact.

CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program conducts unannounced inspections, scrutinizing all aspects of cruise hygiene. They examine kitchen temperatures, pool disinfection, food preparation and storage, even details like lint filters in pools and the temperatures of dishwashers. With these thorough checks, the CDC aims to ensure that cruise passengers enjoy a safe, healthy journey.

What’s Next for Cruise Sanitation?

Only 19 ships have achieved a perfect score this year, down from 29 by the same time last year. This could be the result of more rigorous inspections, rather than a decline in hygiene, as the majority of the ships scored above 95. Either way, choosing a cruise ship with top-notch cleanliness is a smart move. Checking the CDC’s scores can help you avoid being confined to your cabin, battling a bug that could have been avoided.

So, next time you’re tempted by the open sea, don’t just think about the itinerary—think about the ship’s sanitation record. Choosing one of the CDC’s top-rated ships means setting sail with a bit more confidence, knowing you’re on one of the cleanest vessels on the ocean.

We at the Herd Law Firm are proud to fight for seamen, maritime workers and passengers in all types of personal injury and death claims. As maritime personal injury attorneys (and sailors ourselves!) located in northwest Houston, we never waver in our commitment to help these maritime workers, passengers, and their families when they are injured or mistreated.

11/1/2024

Image Credit: Royal Caribbean, Unsplash

Read more about the CDC Cruise Ship Vessel Sanitation Program Cruise Ship Scores here.