Travel Cruise Health, Ship Ratings, Tips & Advice

Cruise Ship Health & Safety

Travel cruise ship We've all probably read about cruises that begin as dream vacations - only to end as a 'Ship of Fools' excursion to hospital rooms - when passengers fall ill due to improper health and safety checks onboard.

In the U.S., you might be happy to know that every passenger vessel that has a foreign itinerary is subject to twice-yearly inspections. Tests include water quality, food holding and potential contamination, along with general cleanliness, storage and repairs.

Based on this criteria, cruise ships earn a score which is published every month in the Summary of Sanitation Inspections of International Cruise Ships, commonly referred to as the Green Sheet.

The ship's level of sanitation is acceptable to CDC if the ship earns 86% or higher during the inspection. Before you embark on that dream cruise, make sure you know the recent health history of the ship you'll be sailing on!

Vessels that scored 100 on recent inspections:

Cruise Ship	Cruise Line	Date	Score
Disney Dream	Disney Cruise Lines	2/27/2011	100
Norwegian Dawn	Norwegian Cruise Lines	2/25/2011	100
Freedom Of The Seas	Royal Caribbean International	1/16/2011	100
Amsterdam	Holland America Line	1/5/2011	100
Celebrity Century	Celebrity Cruises	1/3/2011	100
Carnival Dream	Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.	12/18/2010	100
MV Explorer	V. Ships Leisure U.S.A.	12/13/2010	100
Westerdam	Holland America Line	12/3/2010	100
Norwegian Gem	Norwegian Cruise Lines	11/22/2010	100
Inspiration	Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.	11/20/2010	100
Celebrity Eclipse	Celebrity Cruises	11/17/2010	100
Ruby Princess	Princess Cruises	10/28/2010	100
Aurora	P&O Cruises	10/26/2010	100
Carnival Victory	Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.	10/25/2010	100
Oriana	P&O Cruises	10/13/2010	100
Costa Atlantica	Costa Crociere S.P.A.	10/12/2010	100
Jewel Of The Seas	Royal Caribbean International	10/11/2010	100
Norwegian Spirit	Norwegian Cruise Lines	10/10/2010	100
The World	ResidenSea	10/8/2010	100
Carnival Valor	Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.	10/3/2010	100
Carnival Liberty	Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.	10/2/2010	100
Diamond Princess	Princess Cruises	9/14/2010	100
Norwegian Epic	Norwegian Cruise Lines	8/18/2010	100
Sapphire Princess	Princess Cruises	8/3/2010	100
Ocean Princess	Princess Cruises	7/13/2010	100
Celebrity Solstice	Celebrity Cruises	7/11/2010	100
Oasis Of The Seas	Royal Caribbean International	6/26/2010	100
Oosterdam	Holland America Line	6/16/2010	100
Norwegian Pearl	Norwegian Cruise Lines	6/15/2010	100
Zuiderdam	Holland America Line	6/14/2010	100
Radiance Of The Seas	Royal Caribbean International	6/13/2010	100
Carnival Freedom	Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.	5/22/2010	100
Noordam	Holland America Line	5/5/2010	100
Caribbean Princess	Princess Cruises	5/3/2010	100
Norwegian Sun	Norwegian Cruise Lines	4/26/2010	100
Emerald Princess	Princess Cruises	4/4/2010	100

More facts & information about cruise ship safety around the Web:

Cruise Help Tips from CDC

Health Canada - Travel Health

Cruise Ship Illness - Is Your Cruise Ship Sick?