Saturday, December 28, 2024 In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 13 bacterial and viral outbreaks on cruise ships, primarily caused by norovirus. Despite this, many cruise vessels have maintained excellent health standards, with the CDC awarding perfect sanitation scores to 27 ships. Norovirus, commonly referred to as the stomach flu, is the most frequent illness affecting cruise passengers.
Its highly contagious nature allows it to spread rapidly in crowded environments like cruise ships, often through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or direct human contact. The virus can cause significant discomfort, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain, potentially derailing vacations. To address such risks, the CDC operates the Vessel Sanitation Program, which conducts routine, unannounced inspections of cruise ships.
These inspections score ships on a scale from zero to 100, focusing on high-traffic areas such as pools and children’s activity centers. Inspectors check for obvious issues like vermin or improperly stored food, as well as behind-the-scenes details such as dishwasher water temperatures and the frequency of pool maintenance. In 2024, the CDC carried out 151 inspections, including repeat assessments on 23 ships.
Most vessels scored above 95, with 27 earning perfect scores. This achievement underscores the industry’s commitment to maintaining high sanitation standards. Notably, these inspections are rando.