ORLANDO, Fla — Millions of Americans board cruise ships every year expecting a relaxing vacation, plenty of food and a clean place to stay. But a Channel 9 investigation into federal cruise ship inspections found that not every vessel is meeting the government’s sanitation standards.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts unannounced sanitation inspections of cruise ships, generally twice a year, looking for everything from food safety violations to problems with drinking water, cleaning procedures and conditions that could contribute to the spread of illness.
While most ships receive passing grades, 9 Investigates found several cruise ships failed inspections in 2026, with inspectors documenting problems ranging from contaminated food to dirty equipment.
And for some longtime cruisers, those findings may not come as a surprise.
Elizabeth Peralta is no stranger to cruising.
“I’ve been cruising for 33 years,” she told Channel 9.
Peralta and Gladys Morales had just returned to Port Canaveral aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas when they shared their disappointment with the experience.
“This is my 36th cruise with Royal Caribbean. I’m a diamond and we are really like so disappointed,” Peralta said. “We did Princess last year and much cleaner. The place is dirty. It’s not the same.”
Peralta said she cruises three or four times a year and believes the experience has changed significantly.
“It was a whole different ballgame. We just cruise. We cruise three or four times a year, and it’s just getting worse and worse and worse,” she said.
She added that she isn’t sure she’ll cruise with the company again.
A review of CDC inspection records for Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas shows the ship received a score of 89 during its June 2026 inspection.
That’s just three points above the CDC’s failing threshold of 85.
According to the inspection report, inspectors documented problems involving food storage, temperature controls and the presence of flies.
The score was also the ship’s lowest since September 2017. We reached out to the Royal Caribbean but they did not respond.
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program evaluates ships on a 100-point scale. A score of 86 or higher is considered satisfactory, while a score of 85 or below is failing.
Inspectors look at food preparation areas, water systems, swimming pools, spas, medical facilities and other areas where sanitation problems could put passengers and crew at risk.
Three ships fail CDC inspections
Channel 9 reviewed CDC inspection data showing more than 150 inspections conducted in 2026 through the period examined.
Of those, three resulted in failing scores.
One was Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn, which received an 84 during a March inspection.
The inspection report identified several food service violations, including what inspectors described as “critical public health risks.”
Among the findings:
- Ice machine surfaces that came into contact with food were excessively dirty with black debris.
- Contaminated cheese had been removed from its original packaging and stored inside a walk-in refrigerator.
- Hair was found inside a coffee urn.
The Norwegian Dawn has received significantly better scores in the past, including perfect scores during eight of the previous 23 years.
In a statement to Channel 9, a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said the company has historically ranked among the cleanest cruise lines in the industry. Adding, “Last year, the entire fleet received a passing score by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with all ships receiving a score above 93 out of 100, and this year, seven vessels have been given a 100-score ranking with a recorded average score of 96.2 for the entire fleet.” Saying, “Earlier this year, we took immediate action to address the findings of the most recent inspection report of one of our vessels and are continuously reviewing the onboard protocols to ensure the ship meets our standards,” the spokesperson said.
The company added that it remains focused on strengthening sanitation procedures to protect guests and crew.
Two more cruise ships receive failing grades
Two additional ships received failing CDC inspection scores in October 2026.
The Emerald Princess received a score of 78, a significant drop from the 99 it earned during an inspection in May.
According to the inspection history reviewed by Channel 9, it was the ship’s first failing grade.
Many of the violations involved food safety issues.
Princess Cruises told Channel 9 that inspection results across its fleet have generally been strong but acknowledged the disappointing findings aboard the Emerald Princess.
“We are thoroughly reviewing the inspection findings and have already begun implementing corrective actions to address the identified deficiencies,” the company said.
Another ship, Le Lyrial, also received a failing inspection score.
Can poor sanitation lead to norovirus outbreaks?
Cruise ship sanitation has become an increasing concern for passengers, particularly as reports of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks continue to make headlines.
But a low inspection score does not necessarily mean a ship will experience an outbreak.
Dr. Cindy Prins, a professor at the University of Central Florida, said cleanliness remains an important part of preventing illness.
“Cleanliness does matter,” Prins told Channel 9.
According to the CDC data reviewed by 9 Investigates, there were nine documented gastrointestinal illness outbreaks aboard cruise ships in 2026, five of which were confirmed as norovirus.
Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread through contaminated food, water, surfaces and direct contact with an infected person.
On a cruise ship, where thousands of people share dining areas, elevators, bathrooms and other common spaces, the virus can spread quickly.
Prins said buffet-style dining can present additional challenges because passengers repeatedly touch the same serving utensils.
That creates opportunities for germs to move from one passenger to another.
Even with frequent cleaning, norovirus can survive on surfaces and potentially infect additional passengers.
Most cruise ships pass inspections
Despite the violations uncovered by 9 Investigates, CDC records show most cruise ships inspected in 2026 received satisfactory scores.
More than 40 ships inspected through August earned perfect scores of 100, according to the data reviewed by Channel 9.
The CDC’s sanitation inspections are designed to identify and reduce public health risks, not predict whether passengers will become sick.
What passengers can do before boarding
Health experts say passengers can take precautions to reduce their risk of getting sick while cruising.
Frequent handwashing with soap and water is especially important before eating, after using the bathroom and after touching shared surfaces.
Passengers using buffets should also wash their hands before eating, particularly after handling serving utensils used by other guests.
The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water because hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus.
Passengers can also review a ship’s sanitation inspection history before booking a cruise.
The CDC makes inspection scores and detailed reports publicly available, allowing travelers to see whether their ship has had recent violations and what problems inspectors identified.
You can check your cruise ship’s latest inspection score and review the findings through the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
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