Cleanest Cruise Lines Exposed in CDC Surprise Inspections

Indi Tech Update

Mar 17, 2026

The Cleanest Cruise Ships Revealed in a Surprising Study

A new study has unveiled the cleanest cruise ships based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) annual health and hygiene inspections. The findings might come as a surprise to many cruise lovers, highlighting that some of the top-performing lines are not necessarily the largest or newest.

The study, conducted by Florida-based Squaremouth Travel Insurance, analyzed the sanitation scores of various cruise lines. According to the research, independent brands tend to outperform large conglomerates. Additionally, the age of the ship does not seem to impact its ability to achieve a perfect score.

Cruise ships were evaluated on a 100-point scale, with a passing score of 86 or higher. Viking Ocean Cruises II Ltd., Viking Expedition Operations, and Crystal Cruises tied for the highest score, each earning a 99 out of 100. This demonstrates that even older vessels can maintain high standards of cleanliness.

The federal government’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), established in 1975, plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and safety of passengers, crew, and the destinations visited by cruise ships. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, an infection prevention expert and epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of this program in protecting travelers.

Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Japan Grace, Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International completed the top 10 list of the cleanest cruise lines. All of these ships scored above 97.12, showcasing their commitment to maintaining high hygiene standards.

One notable example is the Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas, which premiered in 2001. Despite its age, it ranked highly in the CDC's list, proving that age is not a determining factor in cleanliness.

According to the study, Viking, Virgin, and Norwegian ranked among the top corporations, with sanitation scores of 98.75, 97.67, and 97.39 respectively. Disney came in fourth with an average score of 97, while Royal Caribbean and Carnival had average scores of 96.74 and 94.82.

Cruise ships are often affected by norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses. In 2025, the CDC reported 23 onboard outbreaks. However, the study found no correlation between the number of viral outbreaks and sanitation scores, suggesting that even the cleanest ships can experience outbreaks due to the nature of shared environments.

Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications at the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C., explained that cruise ships are shared spaces where thousands of people touch the same surfaces daily. Without strong cleaning and hygiene practices, germs can spread quickly, increasing the risk of illness among passengers and crew.

Despite the challenges, the CDC implements strict cleaning protocols for all vessels. Macgregor-Skinner noted that cruise lines are unique in the travel sector for routinely reporting illnesses to the federal government. He also emphasized that the availability of health data should not be mistaken for a higher incidence rate of illness compared to other travel settings like restaurants, hotels, and planes.

Overall, the study suggests that the cruise industry is actually cleaner than other travel sectors. However, Sansoni pointed out that inadequate cleaning can allow viruses and bacteria to linger on high-touch surfaces such as railings, elevator buttons, and bathroom fixtures. When cleaning protocols fail, those germs can spread rapidly in close quarters.