Key Aspects:
- Norwegian Dawn has submitted a corrective report following the failed health and sanitation inspection.
- Every one of the 48 items of concern has been addressed in some way, many with multiple steps.
- The ship’s overall score will not be adjusted until her next inspection in a few months, as is standard practice.
Just six weeks after failing a health and sanitation inspection by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the crew aboard Norwegian Dawn has taken extensive steps to correct issues and submitted a corrective report to the CDC.
The 34-page report notes all the actions that help fix problematic concerns that caused the ship to receive a score of 84 during the March 29, 2026 Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspection.
For reference, a score of 86 on the 100-point scale is required to be considered passing. Ships can receive lower scores for many different violations of varying degrees.
Cruise Hive previously reported on the failed inspection, including the fact that crew members were actively addressing issues even as inspectors noted concerns during their visit.
Specific concerns included high food storage temperatures, cleanliness issues for food storage and preparation equipment, and flies in food serving areas.
According to the corrective report, crew members took steps such as adjusting daily cleaning schedules to pay better attention to previously neglected areas, deep cleaning floors, sanitizing drains and equipment, discarding rusted utensils, rewashing dishes, replacing tiles, and more.
Supervisor monitoring schedules have also been adjusted to ensure the concerning issues are not repeated. Similarly, additional training has been implemented for select crew members to keep everyone updated on all cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance requirements.
Some items cannot be immediately corrected, but steps are being taken as necessary. For example, light intensity in some food preparation areas was determined to be too dim. New, brighter lights have been ordered, and the order has been followed up on to expedite delivery so the lighting can be corrected as soon as possible.
In total, 48 items of concern were noted in the inspection, and every single one has been addressed in some way. Most of the issues were addressed with multiple steps, including immediate corrective action, re-training, or schedule adjustment as appropriate.
Cruise Ship Score Not Changed Even After Corrections
It should be noted that Norwegian Dawn‘s score for the latest inspection will not be adjusted.
“VSP requires all ships to submit corrective action statements for deficiencies found during inspections,” the CDC explains with the report. “VSP does not verify that the deficiencies have been corrected until the next vessel inspection or reinspection.”
This is standard procedure for these inspections and is not a reflection on Norwegian Dawn‘s current condition. Guests set to embark on the ship during her Mediterranean season this summer should not be concerned. She will return to the US to homeport from Jacksonville beginning in November, offering 4- and 5-night Bahamas itineraries.
Most ships are inspected 1-2 times per year. Before the most recent inspection, Norwegian Dawn had been inspected in November 2025 with a score of 96.
Since the 92,250-gross-ton ship entered service in 2002, she has been inspected dozens of times. Never before has Norwegian Dawn failed an inspection, and in fact, the ship has received eight perfect scores in her inspection history.
Do Cruise Ship Inspection Scores Matter?
With growing concern about cruise ship sanitation following the hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition ship Hondius, travelers are naturally wary about reports of a ship failing a sanitation inspection.
Many of the issues that can cause a ship to get a lower score are often very minor and easily correctable. For example, item #40 on Norwegian Dawn‘s failing inspection was found at the Garden Cafe on Deck 12.
“No serving utensil was provided for the container of pork sausage on the self-service buffet,” the report noted.
The lack of a serving utensil could lead to cross-contamination if nearby utensils were moved for serving. Tongs were immediately positioned for use with the sausage, which fully corrects the issue. Nevertheless, the oversight is still part of the initial report.
These inspections do, however, give cruisers insights into individual ships and how they are maintained. While a failing score can be a concern, recognizing that crew members take immediate corrective action can give guests peace of mind as they make plans for their next cruise vacation.
