2026 has been a record-breaking year for the cruise industry, as more cruise ships than ever have scored perfect 100s during surprise health inspections in the first five months of the year.
So far, 38 cruise ships have aced their health inspection through the end of May. What makes this number even more impressive is that most years the cruise industry only sees 25-35 perfect 100s for the entire year.
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is responsible for inspecting cruise ships, and they have released inspection data through May 25, 2026. It normally takes four to eight weeks after an inspection for the report to be published on the CDC’s website. That’s why we don’t have any data for June or July yet.
Cruise lines that have shone so far in 2026 are Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Regent Seven Seas Cruise, and Margaritaville at Sea.
Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line, has led the way with seven ships scoring a perfect 100 so far. Carnival Cruise Line, the second-largest line, and Norwegian Cruise Line had five. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has had three, which represents half of their fleet. Finally, Margaritaville at Sea, a small cruise line with two ships in their fleet, has had both of their ships ace their health inspection.
Here is a look at every cruise line (in alphabetical order) and their ships that have aced their surprise health inspections by scoring a perfect 100.
Carnival Cruise Line
- Carnival Celebration
- Carnival Jubilee
- Carnival Legend
- Carnival Sunrise
- Carnival Breeze
Celebrity Cruises
- Celebrity Xcel
- Celebrity Apex
- Celebrity Beyond
- Celebrity Silhouette
Cunard
- Queen Elizabeth
Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Dream
- Disney Magic
- Disney Treasure
Holland America Line
- Noordam
- Koningsdam
Margaritaville at Sea
- Margaritaville at Sea Islander
- Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
MSC Seascape
- MSC Seascape
Norwegian Cruise Line
- Norwegian Viva
- Norwegian Aqua
- Norwegian Luna
- Norwegian Joy
- Norwegian Bliss
Oceania Cruises
- Oceania Riviera
- Oceania Allura
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Seven Seas Explorer
- Seven Seas Grandeur
- Seven Seas Splendor
Royal Caribbean
- Star of the Seas
- Explorer of the Seas
- Icon of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Vision of the Seas
- Enchantment of the Seas
- Grandeur of the Seas
Viking
- Viking Polaris
Virgin Voyages
- Resilient Lady
- Valiant Lady
About Cruise Ship Inspections
All cruise ships that sail from a U.S. port or visit a U.S. port are subject to two unannounced health inspections each year. Cruise lines pay for each inspection, and results are posted on the CDC’s website for the public to view.
During the inspections, the following eight areas of cruise ships are inspected: Medical center, drinking water, galleys and dining rooms, swimming pools and hot tubs, housekeeping, pest and insect management, child activity centers, and HVAC systems.
A score of 86 or higher is required to pass. If a cruise ships fail and scores an 85 or below, the vessel will be reinspected soon after to ensure that corrective actions have fixed areas of the ship that failed.
After every inspection, even on ships that scored a perfect 100, cruise lines are required to file a Corrective Action Report that can be seen on the CDC’s website.
The Corrective Action Report addresses all health violations, even if they were minor and didn’t deduct a point from the ship’s score. For instance, on Disney Treasure’s February 17 inspection, one screw was missing from an anti-entrapment drain cover at Trixie’s on Deck 12. The screw was replaced during the inspection.
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