With the primary quarter of 2025 behind us, we determined to check out all of the cruise ship inspections performed by the CDC this 12 months.  We analyzed all 48 inspection scores throughout 16 cruise traces and located a median rating for every cruise line.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) conducts routine shock inspections of cruise ships arriving at U.S. ports as a part of its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).
These inspections look over a spread of hygiene and sanitation practices. This text summarizes the outcomes of those inspections performed from January 1, 2025, to the present date, categorized by cruise line, highlighting common scores, good scores, and people ships that narrowly met the passing threshold of 86.
There have been latest stories that the CDC might cease inspecting cruise ships after an obvious lack of assets, however we are going to wait till there’s extra data on that for affirmation.
Cruise Line Common CDC Scores in Q1:
Under is a breakdown of the inspection outcomes by cruise line, ordered by common rating (highest to lowest), together with the variety of inspections performed and the typical rating for every line. That is just for inspections that passed off in 2025.
Take into account that some cruise traces had a number of inspections whereas others with smaller fleets might have had just one or two, impacting the typical scores.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean have had probably the most ship inspections by far this 12 months.
| Cruise Line | Â # of Insp. | Avg. Rating | # of 100s | 86-90 Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explora Journeys | 1 | 100 | 1 | 0 |
| Disney Cruise Line | 3 | 98.7 | 2Â | 0 |
| Virgin Voyages | 3 | 98.7 | 1Â | 0 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 2 | 98.5 | 1Â | 0 |
| Margaritaville at Sea | 2 | 98 | 0 | 0 |
| Holland America Line | 2 | 98 | 1 | 0 |
| MSC Cruises | 1 | 97 | 0 | 0 |
| Saga | 1 | 96 | 0 | 0 |
| Carnival Cruise Line | 9 | 95.6 | 3 | 0 |
| Silversea | 2 | 95.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Princess Cruises | 6 | 95.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Cunard Line | 2 | 95 | 0 | 0 |
| Royal Caribbean | 8 | 94.5 | 0 | 2 |
| Movie star Cruises | 3 | 94 | 0 | 0 |
| Ritz-Carlton Yacht C. | 2 | 93.5 | 0 | 1Â |
| Azamara Cruises | 1 | 91 | 0 | 1Â |
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Explora Journeys
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Ships Inspected: 1
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Common Rating: 100
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Rating: Explora I (100)
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Notes: A single inspection earned an ideal 100, inserting Explora Journeys on the prime, although it’s a small pattern measurement little doubt.
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Disney Cruise Line
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Ships Inspected: 3
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Common Rating: 98.7
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Scores: Disney Dream (96), Disney Magic (100), Disney Treasure (100)
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Notes: Two good 100s and a lowest rating of 96 safe a powerful second place.
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Virgin Voyages
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Ships Inspected: 3
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Common Rating: 98.7
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Scores: Resilient Girl (98), Scarlet Girl (98), Valiant Girl (100)
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Notes: Tied with Disney at 98.7, due to Valiant Girl’s good 100.
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Norwegian Cruise Line
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Ships Inspected: 2
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Common Rating: 98.5
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Scores: Norwegian Escape (100), Norwegian Prima (97)
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Notes: Norwegian Escape’s good 100 helped get a near-top-tier common.
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Margaritaville at Sea
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Holland America Line
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Ships Inspected: 2
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Common Rating: 98
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Scores: Nieuw Amsterdam (99), Zaandam (97)
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Notes: Nieuw Amsterdam’s 99 almost hits perfection.
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MSC Cruises
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Saga Cruises
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Carnival Cruise Line
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Ships Inspected: 9
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Common Rating: 95.6
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Scores: Carnival Conquest (96), Carnival Elation (96), Carnival Firenze (92), Carnival Freedom (99), Carnival Glory (99), Carnival Horizon (93), Carnival Mardi Gras (95), Carnival Dawn (99), Carnival Sunshine (91)
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Notes: Three ships at 99 spotlight robust efficiency; no rating under 91. Whereas many latest stories mentioned Carnival Sunshine obtained an 89 in its newest rating, CDC’s web site reveals a 91 on March 8, 2025.
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Silversea
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Ships Inspected: 2
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Common Rating: 95.5
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Scores: Silver Moon (95), Silver Shadow (96)
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Notes: Regular mid-90s outcomes.
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Princess Cruises
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Ships Inspected: 6
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Common Rating: 95.3
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Scores: Caribbean Princess (95), Coral Princess (94), Discovery Princess (96), Emerald Princess (94), Grand Princess (97), Sky Princess (96)
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Notes: Grand Princess (97) with the highest rating.
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Cunard Line
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Ships Inspected: 2
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Common Rating: 95
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Scores: Queen Anne (94), Queen Victoria (96)
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Notes: A balanced displaying.
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Royal CaribbeanÂ
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Ships Inspected: 8
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Common Rating: 94.5
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Scores: Journey of the Seas (94), Brilliance of the Seas (95), Liberty of the Seas (99), Oasis of the Seas (98), Serenade of the Seas (97), Symphony of the Seas (86), Utopia of the Seas (90), Marvel of the Seas (97)
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Notes: Liberty of the Seas (99) excels, however Symphony of the Seas (86) and Utopia of the Seas (90) pull the typical down.
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Movie star Cruises
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Ships Inspected: 3
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Common Rating: 94
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Scores: Movie star Equinox (92), Movie star Reflection (98), Movie star Summit (92)
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Notes: Movie star Reflection’s 98 contrasts with two 92s.
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Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment
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Ships Inspected: 2
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Common Rating: 93.5
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Scores: Evrima (94), Ilma (93)
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Notes: First rate however not standout.
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Azamara Cruises
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Ships Inspected: 1
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Common Rating: 91
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Rating: Azamara Onward (91)
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Notes: The bottom common, although nonetheless safely passing.
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Excellent Scores: The Elite
5 ships achieved an ideal 100:
- Explora I (Explora Journeys) – February 9, 2025
- Disney Magic (Disney Cruise Strains) – March 2, 2025
- Disney Treasure (Disney Cruise Strains) – January 11, 2025
- Norwegian Escape (Norwegian Cruise Strains) – January 6, 2025
- Valiant Girl (Virgin Voyages) – February 28, 2025
Barely Handed: Ships on Skinny Ice
Two ships scored pretty low whereas nonetheless passing the 85 threshold:
- Symphony of the Seas scored an 86 (February 9, 2025). This was only one level above a failing rating.
- Utopia of the Seas scored a 90 (February 14, 2025)
Royal Caribbean obtained numerous undesirable consideration after Symphony of the Seas scored the bottom mark of any cruise ship within the first quarter of 2025. There have been 44 violations, together with unreported vomiting and diarrhea amongst younger cruisers, poor lighting in galleys, plumbing leaks, damaged handwashing stations, and improper meals storage, whereas Utopia of the Seas scored a 90, underperforming relative to the cruise line’s requirements.
The cruise line lately responded to this inspection report by issuing an in depth 8-page corrective report outlining the precise actions taken to handle the problems recognized through the Symphony of the Seas’ inspection.