Cruise travel has become one of the main ways for families to travel around the world. Riding on a luxury cruise not only allows you to visit multiple countries but also indulge in delicious cuisine. It’s no wonder that cruises are often referred to as floating resorts or floating hotels.
However, cruises are not always known for their ultra-cleanliness. With limited space on board and people gathering together, bacteria and viruses can easily spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States conducts random hygiene inspections on cruises throughout the year.
As of 2024, inspection results have shown that 19 cruise ships have received a perfect score. On the other hand, there have been 10 reported outbreaks of bacteria and virus incidents on cruises since the beginning of this year, mainly involving the norovirus. Half of these incidents occurred on ships operated by the Royal Caribbean Group and its Celebrity Cruises subsidiary. Overall, the number of outbreaks so far this year is less than in 2023 when there were a total of 14.
The highly contagious norovirus, also known as stomach flu, is the most common virus to infect cruise ships. These often crowded floating hotels provide an ideal environment for the rapid spread of this highly contagious virus, which is typically transmitted through contaminated water, food, surfaces, and person-to-person contact.
Getting infected with a virus while on a cruise can ruin your vacation. The four main symptoms of norovirus infection are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. In an effort to mitigate the spread of viruses on cruises, the CDC implements regular inspections and scoring (ranging from 0 to 100) under their Vessel Sanitation Program.
Inspections by the CDC focus on public spaces onboard cruise ships, including kitchens, swimming pools, and children’s activity centers. These inspections are random and conducted without prior notice. Results have shown that pests and improperly stored food are major factors in virus transmission. Inspectors also pay attention to finer details such as the disinfection frequency of hair and lint filters in pools or the water temperature of dishwashers.
In 2024, the CDC has inspected 116 cruise ships, with the majority scoring above 95 points. 19 cruise ships have received a perfect score, making them the cleanest in the world. Here are some of these cruise ships and their CDC inspection dates:
– Carnival Spirit operated by Carnival Cruise Line, inspected on September 3.
– Viking Orion operated by Viking Ocean Cruises, inspected on August 18.
– Seabourn Odyssey operated by Seabourn Cruise Line, inspected on August 16.
– Norwegian Jewel operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, inspected on July 24.
– Oceania Regatta operated by Oceania Cruises, inspected on July 24.
– Radiance of the Seas operated by Royal Caribbean International, inspected on July 21.
– MSC Meraviglia operated by MSC Cruises, inspected on July 9.
– Norwegian Bliss operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, inspected on June 22.
– MSC Seashore operated by MSC Cruises, inspected on May 26.
– Norwegian Sky operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, inspected on May 23.
– Brilliance of the Seas operated by Royal Caribbean International, inspected on May 16.
– Viking Polaris operated by Viking Cruises, inspected on April 2.
– Celebrity Equinox operated by Celebrity Cruises, inspected on February 25.
– Norwegian Breakaway operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, inspected on February 25.
– Norwegian Escape operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, inspected on January 27.
– Explora I operated by MSC Cruises, inspected on January 25.
– Disney Fantasy operated by Disney Cruise Line, inspected on January 24.
– Celebrity Ascent operated by Celebrity Cruises, inspected on January 7.
– Norwegian Gem operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, inspected on January 2.