Hold onto your deck chairs, cruise enthusiasts—the annual CDC inspection results are in, revealing which cruise ships sailed smoothly through health checks and which ones might need a bit of a scrub down.
In the realm of cruise vacations, the CDC’s 2024 inspection results might sway your choice more than you think. While the unsettling news might be that stomach illness rates hit a record high since 2012, affecting only a minuscule fraction of the nearly 20 million passengers who embarked from U.S. ports, the chance of you catching that cruise bug remains minute.
Among the ships soaring above their peers, Royal Caribbean’s ‘Wonder of the Seas’ pulled in a dazzling score of 100. Yet, the focus isn’t solely on stomach issues; respiratory illnesses are reported to be three to four times more common on these floating hotels. This shouldn’t deter possible passengers, as cruise lines are stepping up their game, implementing strict hygiene protocols and regular sanitization practices to keep travelers healthy.
Every year, the CDC undertakes detailed inspections—163 ships were evaluated in 2024 alone. Ranking these vessels provides a snapshot of their health status, though these figures can vary based on the frequency of inspections each line undergoes. On average, the inspection score hovers around a robust 95.9. Luxurious lines like Viking fall above average, but some deluxe providers like Cunard dip below, proving that a high ticket price doesn’t always ensure a spotless deck.
Parent companies, or the big three—Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian—represent a significant chunk of the cruising market. Interestingly, outcomes within these brands can wildly fluctuate. Carnival’s Seabourn, for example, boasts a commendable score of 98.5, while Cunard, under the same umbrella, slumps to 91. Smaller brands on the list, like Windstar, have moments of glory, achieving perfect scores, contrasting sharply with others like Hapag-Lloyd, which has a worrying 75.5.
In a surprising twist, there’s no definitive link between low inspection scores and the frequency of outbreaks. The randomness factor seems to play a leading role—certain ships like the Queen Mary 2, despite scoring lower, faced outbreaks, whereas ships with excellent ratings did, too. This pattern underscores that major outbreaks are rare and influenced by various factors beyond what’s captured in an inspection report.
So, should potential cruisers fret over these scores? Not necessarily. While worrying about illness might not be a top concern for everyone, the CDC inspection scores offer a peek into a ship’s hygiene practices, which could be comforting for some. Although an outbreak’s occurrence remains low, ships with top hygiene ratings probably handle these situations more effectively. The majority of lines meet the CDC’s ‘satisfactory’ score threshold, further reassuring would-be travelers.
Though CDC inspection scores may not predict every onboard ailment, they do provide an informative glance into cruise ship hygiene, helping travelers make better-informed choices. Most lines score well enough, reassuring passengers of safe and pleasant voyages. So, while you pack your sunscreen and swimsuit, remember to peruse the latest health scores to ensure smooth sailing.
Source: Forbes
