Not so ship-shape: These cruise ships barely passed CDC inspections — and one even flunked

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a few less glamorous details to consider.

The Vessel Sanitation Program makes surprise inspections of cruise ships stopping at U.S. ports, checking everything from hygiene to food safety to see if they meet federal health standards.

Ships are graded on a 100-point scale, with 86 or higher passing and 85 or below failing — so there’s not much wiggle room between smooth sailing and a sanitation fail.

And several vessels have come dangerously close to — or actually dipped below — that line in 2026.

According to the latest 2026 CDC inspection data, Norwegian Dawn, Carnival Breeze, Kydon, National Geographic Sea Lion, Sun Princess, MSC Meraviglia and Amadea landed among the lowest-scoring vessels.

The biggest black mark went to Norwegian Dawn, which scraped in at 84 during a March 29 inspection — the only ship on the list to actually flunk the CDC’s 86-point passing grade.

Meanwhile, Carnival Breeze, Kydon and National Geographic Sea Lion each scored 86, while Sun Princess, MSC Meraviglia and Amadea each earned 89.

For Carnival Breeze, an 86 may technically pass, but it was a dramatic drop from its perfect 100 earlier in the year. CDC records show the ship scored 100 in January before receiving an 86 on May 14.

But before passengers start canceling their Caribbean getaways, there’s an important caveat: a low score does not necessarily mean a ship is unsafe. 

The grades reflect the conditions inspectors observed at the time of that particular inspection, and a vessel’s score can change considerably from one inspection to the next.

As per Cruise Fever, Norwegian Cruise Line also submitted a corrective-action report to the CDC five days after the Norwegian Dawn inspection outlining steps taken in response to the findings.

It’s not simply a matter of whether your cabin bathroom looks sparkling.

The CDC’s inspection program, according to its website, examines eight areas, including medical facilities, potable water systems, pools and whirlpools, food preparation and dining areas, children’s activity centers, cabins, ventilation systems and common areas.

As infection-prevention expert Gavin Macgregor-Skinner told Fox News Digital, the federal government’s Vessel Sanitation Program was established in 1975 to “work with the cruise industry to protect travelers’ health, is critical for the health and safety of passengers, staff and the locations that cruise ships visit.”

Ships carrying 13 or more passengers on international voyages that stop at U.S. ports are subject to twice-yearly unannounced inspections, as well as reinspections when necessary.

Macgregor-Skinner said inspectors have a particularly broad remit, covering everything from medical records and crew health procedures to food areas, water systems and passenger facilities.

The CDC grades are a snapshot — not a crystal ball.

A ship that receives a lower score during one inspection can clean up its act and score much higher the next time around. Carnival Breeze is a prime example: it went from a perfect 100 to an 86 within months.

And Macgregor-Skinner cautioned against assuming that the availability of cruise-health data means cruise ships necessarily have more illness than other types of travel.

“It is very important not to confuse the wider availability of cruise health data with a higher incidence rate on cruise ships compared to settings like restaurants, hotels and planes,” he told the outlet. 

For every cruise ship flirting with the bottom of the leaderboard, plenty are sailing at the top.

According to the latest CDC data, 42 cruise ships earned perfect scores of 100 in 2026, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Carnival Celebration, Celebrity Apex, Disney Dream, Norwegian Viva and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. The CDC’s rolling 12-month list includes numerous ships that earned 100s during 2026.

So if you’re planning your next floating vacation, the takeaway isn’t necessarily to abandon ship — but it may be worth checking the CDC’s inspection database before you set sail.

After all, “all-inclusive” should include cleanliness.