The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) runs the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) that protects passenger and crew health by minimizing the risk of gastrointestinal illness aboard cruise ships. VSP accomplishes this mission through sanitation inspections, disease surveillance and investigations, onsite inspections of new ship construction and renovation and reviewing construction plans for new ships. VSP also trains crew in proper public health techniques including food handling and preparation, drinkable water system management, and pool and spa operation and maintenance.

VSP staff members inspect cruise ships with a foreign itinerary that call on US ports and that carry 13 or more passengers. Cruise ships are subject to inspections twice a year.  The inspections are to ensure that vessels are maintaining adequate levels of sanitation and to provide guidance to vessel staff when needed. 

Some of the inspection criteria include the following:

--Water supply—storage, distribution, protection, and disinfection

--Spas and pools—filtration and disinfection

--Food—protection during storage, preparation, and service

--Employee hygiene practices

--General cleanliness and physical condition of the ship—cleanliness and absence of insects and rodents

--Training programs—environmental and public health practices

Cruise ships earn a score based on the criteria listed above. Each of these items is assigned point(s); inspections are based on a point system out of 100. Vessels earn a score which is dependent on a ship’s sanitation level. Vessels that earn an 86 or higher have a satisfactory sanitation level. Vessels that earn an 85 or below have an unsatisfactory sanitation level and will be re-inspected, normally within 30-45 days to determine if sanitation levels have improved. In general, the lower the score, the lower the level of sanitation; however, a low score does not necessarily imply an imminent risk for gastrointestinal illness. Since the program began, the number of disease outbreaks on ships has declined even though the number of ships sailing and the number of passengers carried has increased significantly.

VSP posts inspection scores and outbreak information on the VSP Website on what is called the Green Sheet, which is updated monthly. To find out how your cruise ship rates, visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov/vsp/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/InspectionGreenSheetRpt.aspx Ships must score from 86 to 100 to pass public health sanitation codes*.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based in Atlanta, Georgia, started the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) in the early 1970s because of several disease outbreaks on cruise ships.  VSP was established to protect the health of passengers and crew by minimizing the risk of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships.  The program assists the cruise ship industry to develop and implement comprehensive sanitation programs.  For more information, please contact: vsp@cdc.gov.  

*Please note that two ships—NCL America’s US-flagged Pride of Aloha and Pride of America are not listed because their itineraries are confined only to US waters. Therefore, their sanitary inspection falls under the jurisdiction of the US FDA Interstate Travel Program that looks at transportation vessels involved in interstate travel. The ships will be inspected by the FDA and the Hawaii Health Department.

All other US-flag vessels with international itineraries— Spirit of Columbia, Spirit of Endeavour, Yorktown Clipper, Nantucket Clipper, Arabella, Sea Bird, Sea Lion, Grande Mariner, Niagra Prince, & Safari Spirit — are inspected by VPS.