Abstract
This study examines the characteristics and outcomes of Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspections conducted on cruise ships operating in U.S. waters in 2024. It assesses public health trends and areas for improvement by analyzing the risk categories applied during inspections, cited deficiencies, and awarded scores.
A total of 197 inspections were conducted across 150 cruise ships between January 1 and December 31, 2024. Inspection scores ranged from a high of 100 to a low of 62, with a mean of 96.1 out of 100. Inspectors identified 5,929 violations, averaging 30.1 per inspection. Notably, 71% (n=4,232) of all violations were concentrated in just 10 item categories, which remained the most frequently cited areas of noncompliance from previous years.
Violations of critical item standards—those posing the highest risk to public health—accounted for 21% of all citations and 40% of total point deductions. Only three vessels passed inspection without a single violation of VSP-designated critical standards.
This study highlights that while inspection scores offer a broad measure of sanitation performance, they do not fully reflect public health conditions aboard cruise ships. A detailed analysis of cited deficiencies provides a more accurate assessment of compliance, helping to identify trends and prioritize areas for corrective action.