The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published their list of the top 10 dirtiest cruise ships of 2024, following inspections of 114 vessels. The health assessments revealed alarming conditions, including sludge, maggots, and various other health hazards on board, raising serious concerns about hygiene standards. These ships, meant to offer tourists a relaxing vacation, instead posed significant health risks that could lead to disease outbreaks.
The CDC strongly recommends that travellers review a ship's health inspection records before booking a cruise. These inspections, part of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Programme (VSP), play a crucial role in ensuring passenger safety and preventing unpleasant experiences during vacations. The programme scores ships on a cleanliness scale from 0 to 100, with scores below 85 considered “not satisfactory.” Ten ships were found to have hygiene scores lower than 89, highlighting unsanitary conditions.
The CDC warns that cruise ships expose travellers to new environments and large groups of people, increasing the risk of illness from contaminated food, water, or person-to-person transmission. The VSP aims to help the cruise industry control gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses, a common issue on such vessels, and ensure healthier conditions for all passengers.