Bugs, Mud and Disease: The World’s Dirtiest Cruise Ships Named and Shamed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States’ national public health agency, has released a disturbing list of the top 10 dirtiest cruise ships of 2024 based on health inspections conducted on 114 ships.

The results showed unsanitary conditions with mud, bugs and other health risks. It was found that these ships, which were intended to provide tourists with a relaxing vacation, had serious hygiene issues that could lead to disease outbreaks.

When making cruise reservations, the CDC advises guests to review the ship’s health inspection records. To protect the safety and well-being of passengers and to avoid any unpleasant setbacks during vacation, these inspections are crucial.

The CDC The findings were released on the CDC’s Ship Cleanliness Program, which rates cruise ships on a scale of 0 to 100 for cleanliness in an effort to prevent gastrointestinal illnesses. Ten of these ships scored worse than 89. A score of 85 or lower is considered “not satisfactory,” according to the organization.

According to the CDC, traveling on cruise ships exposes people to new environments and large numbers of people, including other passengers. This exposure can pose a risk of illness through contaminated food or water or, more commonly, person-to-person contact. The agency helps the cruise ship industry prevent and control gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses on cruise ships.