The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a list of the cruise ships that received the lowest scores in its latest round of health and sanitation inspections. The findings come from the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which carries out periodic, unannounced checks on cruise ships docking at US ports to assess hygiene and safety standards on board. The rankings matter to travellers because low scores can flag issues such as poor food handling, inadequate cleaning or pest control problems that increase the risk of illness outbreaks at sea.

The VSP inspections examine a range of onboard conditions, including galleys, water systems and general cleanliness, before assigning each vessel a score out of 100, with anything below the standard threshold typically considered a failing or concerning result. The article highlights which specific ships scored worst in the 2026 inspection cycle, offering prospective passengers a way to check a vessel's sanitation record before booking a cruise.