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Cruise ships that pull into U.S. ports get health inspections from the CDC. So which ships scored a perfect 100?

4 hours ago

Updated: May 21, 2026, 11:36 am EDTPublished: May 20, 2026, 9:23 am EDT

These Cruise Ships Earned Perfect CDC Sanitation Scores

If recent headlines have you a little anxious about taking a cruise this spring or summer, it might be reassuring to know that the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention regularly inspects ships that pull into U.S. ports.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program evaluates ships in eight areas including drinking water, pest management, housekeeping, swimming areas and a ship’s medical centers.

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The surprise inspections happen twice a year, if the ship returns to the United States. The agency notes that if a ship sails internationally for an extended time, that twice a year check may not occur.

Ships that score an 86 or higher are considered “satisfactory”, but there are more than three dozen ships that earned a perfect score, and we’ve rounded them up for you.