Around 90 percent of cruise ships pass the unannounced hygiene inspections of the US health authority CDC in 2024 with good results.
The CDC's regulations are considered extremely strict, and ships that want to call at U.S. ports must meet these requirements. Of the 119 inspections in 2024, 20 cruise ships received the maximum score, while two ships, including the German Hanseatic Inspiration, did not reach the minimum score of 86. The Hanseatic Inspiration scored the lowest with 62 points. Inspectors found 44 deficiencies during the September inspection.
The shipping companies affected, such as Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, emphasize that the health of passengers is the highest priority and that measures have already been initiated to correct deficiencies. A working group is monitoring the improvements in order to meet future inspections.