Key Aspects:
- For the first time since entering service in 2007, Emerald Princess has received a failing score on a CDC Vessel Sanitation program inspection.
- The ship scored 78 on her October 16, 2026 inspection, and any score of 85 or lower is considered failing.
- Previously, the ship received a score of 99 on her May 12, 2026 inspection, and has received seven perfect 100 scores in her service life.
Emerald Princess has received her first-ever failing score on an inspection from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program. Ships are scored out of 100 total points, and any score of 85 or lower is considered failing. On her October 16, 2026 inspection while docked in Long Beach, Emerald Princess scored just 78.
A total of 39 violations were listed in the inspection report, covering everything from how illness cases onboard were documented to the labeling of food for proper discard times to soiled surfaces to improper mop storage. The overall points of an inspection score depend on the severity, not the total, of recorded violations.
Some issues were relatively minor, such as “a small piece of black debris, similar to black debris from a carbon filter, was on a piece of ice” at an entrance station on the port side of the galley on Deck 5. Another seemingly small violation was a broken handwashing station faucet handle in the bakery, also part of the Deck 5 galley, though water could still be activated.
Of greater concern were issues with improper food storage, raw meat being stored above cooked foods, improper cooling of food to safe temperatures, and multiple galley drains clogged with food debris.
Another violation detailed the presence of 33 flies in food areas, including various galleys, the staff mess, the officer mess, bar pantries, dishwashing stations, and several areas of the World Fresh Market on Deck 15.
Along with the list of inspection violations, each item includes a recommendation for correction. For the presence of flies, for example, the recommendation is that effective pest control be used to minimize insects, rodents, and pests in food areas.
Some corrective actions are very simple, such as moving items to a different area so they are stored properly or separated from other items as needed, or discarding contaminated food. Plumbing systems should be in good repair, cleaning schedules should be maintained, and equipment surfaces should be kept free of any accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris.
The crew of Emerald Princess will be able to submit a corrective report noting what actions were taken to address the inspection report’s violations, but no report is yet available following the October 16, 2026 inspection.
In comparison, the ship’s May 12, 2026 inspection with a score of 99 listed 28 violations, including flies and ants in food preparation and garbage areas, soiled surfaces, rusty equipment, malfunctioning temperature gauges, and some incorrect inspection paperwork.
To correct those earlier violations, actions were taken such as treating areas for pests, additional crew training on correct sanitation procedures, repairing equipment, and discarding contaminated food.
Despite corrections, a new inspection score is not issued until a cruise ship is re-inspected at a future date.
Previous Emerald Princess Scores
The October 16 score of 78 is the lowest ever for the 3,090-guest Emerald Princess. The ship entered service in April 2007, and her very first CDC inspection was on November 26, 2007 with a perfect 100 score. This does not mean there were no violations noted (on that occasion the report detailed eight violations), only that they were not severe enough to reduce the ship’s overall score.
Emerald Princess has received seven perfect scores on inspections over the years. In addition to her November 2007 perfect score, she also received scores of 100 in April 2008, November 2009, April 2010, October 2012, March 2016, and May 2018.
On other inspection dates, the ship’s scores have ranged from as high as 99 on several occasions to as low as 87 in July 2017, the previous lowest score before the failure of this most recent inspection.
