Nobody wants to sail on a nasty cruise ship, so the CDC routinely inspects ships to ensure a safe, healthy environment for passengers and crew members. Each year, they release their findings, and in 2024, they reported that out of 151 inspected vessels, 27 received a perfect score.
The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) conducts random inspections to ensure cruise lines meet health standards, rating ships from 0 to 100. Like restaurant and grocery store inspections, the goal is to minimize the risk of illness for passengers and crew.
All ships that receive a score of 86 or higher are considered satisfactory, while ships scoring 85 or lower are flagged as unsatisfactory. When that happens, the vessel must undergo a follow-up inspection and take corrective actions to address the health and safety issues.
For example, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise received an 83 when inspected in May with violations ranging from several out-of-order applications to crowded hot tubs and no soap at a hand-washing station. A few months later, the ship scored a 93 once it corrected the named issues.
29 cruise ships scored a perfect 100 in 2024, ranging from the 11-year-old Jewel of the Seas to the new Celebrity Ascent. This is up from the 24 vessels with a perfect score in 2023.
Read more: These were the 9 cleanest Carnival cruise ships this year, according to the CDC
Norwegian Gem
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 2)
Launched: 2004
Gross tonnage: 93,530
Length: 965ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,394
Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Cruises (inspected January 7)
Launched: 2023
Gross tonnage: 140,600
Length: 1,073ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 3,260
Disney Fantasy
Disney Cruise Line (inspected January 24)
Launched: 2012
Gross tonnage: 130,000
Length: 1,115ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 4,000
Explora I
Explora Journeys (inspected January 25)
Launched: 2023
Gross tonnage: 63,900
Length: 813ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 922
Norwegian Escape
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 27)
Launched: 2015
Gross tonnage: 164,998
Length: 1,069ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 4,266
Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Cruises (inspected February 25)
Launched: 2009
Gross tonnage: 122,000
Length: 1,041ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,852
Viking Polaris
Viking Cruises (inspected April 2)
Launched: 2023
Gross tonnage: 30,150
Length: 205ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 646
Brilliance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International (inspected May 16)
Launched: 2002
Gross tonnage: 90,090
Length: 962ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,142
Norwegian Sky
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected May 23)
Launched: 1999
Gross tonnage: 77,104
Length: 848ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,004
MSC Seashore
MSC Cruises (inspected May 26)
Launched: 2021
Gross tonnage: 169,400
Length: 1,112ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 5,632
Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected June 22)
Launched: 2018
Gross tonnage: 168,028
Length: 1,094ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 4,004
MSC Meraviglia
MSC Cruises (inspected July 9)
Launched: 2016
Gross tonnage: 171,598
Length: 1,036ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 5,642
Radiance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International (inspected July 21)
Launched: 2001
Gross tonnage: 90,090
Length: 926ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,143
Norwegian Jewel
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected July 24)
Launched: 2005
Gross tonnage: 93,502
Length: 965ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,376
Oceania Regatta
Oceania Cruises (inspected July 24)
Launched: 1998 (for Renaissance Cruises)
Gross tonnage: 30,277
Length: 593.7ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 670
Seabourn Odyssey
Seabourn Cruise Line (inspected August 16)
Launched: 2009
Gross tonnage: 32,000
Length: 650ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 458
Viking Orion
Viking Ocean Cruises (inspected August 18)
Launched: 2018
Gross tonnage: 47,800
Length: 745ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 930
Zuiderdam
Holland America Line (inspected August 24)
Launched: 2002
Gross tonnage: 81,769
Length: 936ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 1,964
Carnival Spirit
Carnival Cruise Line (inspected September 3)
Launched: 2001
Gross tonnage: 88,500
Length: 963ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,610
Serenade of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 10)
Launched: 2003
Gross tonnage: 90,090
Length: 962ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,143
Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected September 22)
Launched: 2013
Gross tonnage: 145,655
Length: 1,068ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 3,963
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 28)
Launched: 2004
Gross tonnage: 90,090
Length: 962ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,191
Star Pride
Windstar Cruises (inspected September 29)
Launched: 1988 (for Seabourn Cruise Line)
Gross tonnage: 12,995
Length: 522ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 312
Carnival Magic
Carnival Cruise Line (inspected October 13)
Launched: 2011
Gross tonnage: 130,000
Length: 1,004ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 3,690
Norwegian Jade
Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected October 21)
Launched: 2006
Gross tonnage: 93,558
Length: 965ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,402
Seven Seas Grandeur
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (inspected October 23)
Launched: 2023
Gross tonnage: 55,500
Length: 735ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 746
Disney Wish
Disney Cruise Line (inspected November 8)
Launched: 2022
Gross tonnage: 144,000
Length: 1,119ft
Passenger capacity (maximum occupancy): 4,000
Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Cruises (inspected November 10)
Launched: 2020
Gross tonnage: 129,500
Length: 1,004ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,910
Koningsdam
Holland America Line (inspected November 17)
Launched: 2016
Gross tonnage: 99,863
Length: 975ft
Passenger capacity (double occupancy): 2,650
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
