Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise FAQs

What You Should Know About Cruise Ship Inspections

Justin Gibson

The phrase “cruise ship inspection” may bring to mind rows of uniformed crew members standing at attention for review by their captain: however, a cruise ship inspection is something quite different.

It’s a detailed check of a ship’s ability a ship to provide you with a travel experience that safeguards your health and well-being, conducted by inspectors from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What is really involved in a cruise ship inspectionCruise lines place primary importance on protecting your health while you’re on board, as well as the health of your fellow guests and the crew members who serve you. They follow numerous and strict regulations designed to assure cleanliness, disinfection and food safety.

Cruise ships that operate from U.S. ports must follow the rules and regulations of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, or VSP. This program helps prevent illnesses from being introduced to a ship; if an illness does come on board, the program helps to keep it from spreading. VSP inspectors conduct random, unannounced inspections, so ships must always be prepared.

[su_note note_color=”#afd1e2″]In addition to these official CDC inspections, Cruise Specialists has opportunities to inspect ships as well.

Our inspections focus on ship features – staterooms, restaurants, spas, theaters, pool decks, etc. – and the type of cruise experience they’ll provide. That’s part of how our team offers you insider knowledge of popular ships![/su_note]

Here’s more detail on the cruise ship safety inspections conducted by the CDC:

How often are ships inspected?
Twice a year. Ships that sail outside the U.S. for an extended period may not receive two inspections each year, but are inspected as soon as they return to the U.S. Ships do not receive any advance notice of inspections.

Who performs the inspections?
A team of qualified inspectors from the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There may be one to four inspectors, depending on the size of the ship. Each inspection takes five to eight hours to complete.

What do they inspect?

  • Medical facilities, including medical logs and documentation of surveillance for gastrointestinal illness
  • Water supply, including disinfection and distribution processes
  • Pools and spas, including filtration and disinfection systems, general maintenance and safety
  • Food provisioning, storage, preparation and service areas, including evaluation of employee health and personal hygiene
  • Child care centers, including diaper changing stations, toilets, hand washing stations, disinfection systems, and infection control procedures
  • Staterooms, including cleaning and infection control procedures
  • Ventilation systems, including air handling systems
  • Common areas of the ship, including pest management measures

What is involved in a cruise ship inspection and how it keeps you safeWhat happens after the inspection?
The cruise line is required to correct any and all violations of the Vessel Sanitation Program. Some violations can or must be corrected immediately, while others may take place within a reasonable amount of time. If necessary, VSP inspectors have the authority to keep a ship in port until serious violations are corrected.

What’s considered to be a passing score?
To pass an inspection, a ship must receive a score of 85 points or higher. Each inspection begins with a score of 100; points are deducted for any violations of Vessel Sanitation Program criteria.

Has a ship ever received a perfect score?
Yes, many ship inspections result in a perfect score of 100!

Can I see current cruise ship inspection scores?
Yes, scores are posted on the Vessel Sanitation Program’s website.

Do other countries have cruise ship inspection programs?
Yes, there are similar programs in Canada, Brazil and throughout the European Union.

Is there anything I can do to make sure I stay healthy on a cruise?
Absolutely! Follow the same common-sense practices that can help you stay healthy all the time:

  • Wash your hands often
  • Drink plenty of water to keep yourself well-hydrated
  • Don’t overindulge in food or alcohol (delicious as it may be)
  • Get enough rest, which will help your immune system (if you stay up late dancing, make time for a nap the next day)

Finally, if you don’t feel well during a cruise, talk with the ship’s medical staff and follow their recommendations. Chances are that you’ll feel shipshape again in no time.

More from my site

  • A Gradual Path Forward for CruisingA Gradual Path Forward for Cruising
  • Four Things We Like About Older Cruise ShipsFour Things We Like About Older Cruise Ships
  • Cruising Solo: You’re Never Truly AloneCruising Solo: You’re Never Truly Alone
  • Holland America’s Zaandam and Zuiderdam: What Are the Differences?Holland America’s Zaandam and Zuiderdam: What Are the Differences?

Cruise FAQs, Cruise Specialists Benefits

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter