Planning a cruise? You might be wondering which ships are the cleanest and safest to choose for your spring break getaway. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only a select few cruise ships achieve the highest standards of sanitation and hygiene. But here's where it gets controversial... not all cruise ships are inspected by the CDC, and some of the cleanest ships might surprise you. Let's dive into the top-rated cruise ships that scored a perfect 100 on CDC health inspections in 2025, and explore why some ships might be overlooked.
The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) plays a crucial role in preventing and controlling public health issues, including gastrointestinal illnesses, on cruise ships. The program uses a 100-point scale to evaluate key areas such as food safety, water systems, housekeeping, medical center procedures, and ventilation. Hygiene and sanitation scores of 86 or above are considered satisfactory, while scores of 85 or lower are failing.
In 2025, 24 cruise ships received a perfect score of 100, ranking as the cleanest ships operating in American waters. This represents about 13% of the 191 ships inspected by the CDC. Here's the list of the cleanest cruise ships in 2025, according to the CDC:
Cruise Ship Cruise Line Inspection Date Score
Norwegian Gem Norwegian Cruise Lines 12/12/2025 100
Seven Seas Grandeur Regent Seven Seas 12/4/2025 100
Oceania Vista Oceania Cruises 12/3/2025 100
Seabourn Encore Seabourn Cruise Line 12/2/2025 100
Celebrity Apex Celebrity Cruises 11/15/2025 100
Explora I MSC Cruise Management (UK) Ltd 11/12/2025 100
Rotterdam Holland America Line 10/26/2025 100
Viking Polaris Viking Epedition Operations 10/6/2025 100
Oceania Allura Oceania Cruises 9/28/2025 100
Norwegian Encore Norwegian Cruise Lines 9/28/2025 100
Crystal Serenity Crystal Cruises LTD 9/27/2025 100
Jewel of the Seas Royal Caribbean International 9/12/2025 100
Norwegian Star Norwegian Cruise Lines 8/7/2025 100
Viking Orion Viking Ocean Cruises II Ltd. 7/12/2025 100
Ovation of the Seas Royal Caribbean International 7/1/2025 100
Icon of the Seas Royal Caribbean International 6/4/2025 100
Adventure of the Seas Royal Caribbean International 6/3/2025 100
National Geographic Venture Lindblad Expeditions 5/24/2025 100
Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Cruises 5/22/2025 100
Westerdam Holland America Line 5/18/2025 100
Carnival Luminosa Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. 5/1/2025 100
Viking Neptune Viking Ocean Cruises II Ltd. 4/22/2025 100
Disney Wish Disney Cruise Lines 4/18/2025 100
Viking Sea Viking Ocean Cruises II Ltd. 3/31/2025 100
Disney Magic Disney Cruise Lines 3/2/2025 100
Valiant Lady Virgin Voyages 2/28/2025 100
But here's the catch: not all cruise ships are inspected by the CDC. Ships that meet the criteria must carry 13 or more passengers and have an international itinerary with port stops in the U.S. This means that some of the cleanest ships might not be inspected, and their hygiene and sanitation scores might be overlooked.
So, the next time you're planning a cruise, keep in mind that a perfect score of 100 on CDC health inspections is a rare and impressive achievement. But don't be surprised if some of the cleanest ships are not on the list. And this is the part most people miss... the CDC's inspection criteria might not cover all cruise ships, and some ships might have excellent hygiene and sanitation practices that are not reflected in their inspection scores.
What do you think? Do you think the CDC's inspection criteria are comprehensive enough? Or do you think there are other factors that should be considered when evaluating the cleanliness and safety of cruise ships? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
