The Norwegian Dawn received the lowest score in the latest round of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program inspections, failing with a score of 84 out of 100. The inspection, conducted on March 29, found the ship to be below the 86-point passing threshold. Several other vessels also scored low, including Carnival Breeze, Kydon, and National Geographic Sea Lion, all of which earned a passing score of 86. The Sun Princess, MSC Meraviglia, and Amadea each received a score of 89.
While the Norwegian Dawn was the only ship to officially flunk the inspection, its score was just two points shy of the passing grade. The Carnival Breeze, despite technically passing with an 86, represented a significant drop from its perfect score of 100 earlier in the year during a January inspection. It received its lower score on May 14.
The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program conducts surprise inspections at U.S. ports to evaluate hygiene, food safety, and overall compliance with federal health standards. Ships must score 86 or higher to pass, leaving little room for error between a satisfactory and failing grade.
According to infection-prevention expert Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, the program, established in 1975, aims to protect the health of travelers, crew, and the destinations cruise ships visit. Ships with 13 or more passengers on international voyages that stop at U.S. ports are subject to unannounced inspections twice a year, with additional reinspections as needed. Inspectors examine eight key areas, including medical facilities, potable water systems, pools and whirlpools, food preparation and dining areas, children's activity centers, cabins, ventilation systems, and common areas.
However, a low score does not necessarily indicate an unsafe vessel, and inspectors' findings reflect conditions observed at the specific time of inspection. A ship's score can fluctuate significantly between inspections. Following the Norwegian Dawn inspection, Norwegian Cruise Line submitted a corrective-action report to the CDC outlining the steps taken to address the findings.
Macgregor-Skinner also cautioned against equating the availability of cruise health data with a higher incidence of illness compared to other travel settings like restaurants, hotels, or airplanes. The CDC's data provides a snapshot of a ship's sanitation status at a particular moment.
In contrast to the lower-scoring ships, 42 cruise vessels earned perfect scores of 100 in 2026, according to CDC data. Notable ships with perfect scores include Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, Carnival Celebration, Celebrity Apex, Disney Dream, Norwegian Viva, and Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. Passengers planning a cruise are encouraged to check the CDC's inspection database for the most current sanitation scores.