How is sanitation on cruise ships monitored?

Cruise ships are inspected by the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) of the CDC. They do surprise inspections twice a year. Inspections focus on the water supply, the health of pools and spas, food, and the risk for contamination of food and water. They also check the cleanliness and condition of the ship. This includes the hygiene of the staff. They will also check the ships ventilation systems, common areas of the ship, child activity centers, and medical facilities.

If a ship fails inspection, it will generally be reinspected within 30 to 45 days. But if there is a possible health risk, the VSP may recommend that the ship not sail. 

Before you set sail, check the CDC for important safety information:

• VSP cruise ship inspection

• CDC green sheet report. This is a listing of all current inspection scores for active vessels in the program.

• CDC cruise ship information

Does a low VSP score mean poor sanitation?

Generally, the lower the score, the lower the level of sanitation. But a low score doesn't mean passengers will get sick. Ships are required to keep an illness report for each cruise. They must report the number of cases of illnesses by dates of onset and total numbers of people affected.

The VSP may investigate if at least 3% or more of the passengers or crew members have gastrointestinal illness on a given cruise.

How prevalent is gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships?

The rate of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships is very low given how many people enjoy cruises each year. But norovirus outbreaks continue to occur. Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness. It is spread by contaminated food and contact with an object or others who are infected.