The 5 cleanest cruise lines you can book in 2026

Cruise lines are subject to some of the most rigorous inspections in the travel industry. No similar federal inspection system applies to hotels, airlines or restaurants. According to US News and World ReportShips docking at U.S. ports are subject to unannounced inspections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ship Sanitation Program. Cruise lines voluntarily join this program. Inspectors look at eight areas: onboard medical facilities, drinking water, kitchens and dining rooms, swimming pools and hot tubs, housekeeping, pest control, children’s activity centers and HVAC systems. Each inspection lasts six to eight hours and results in a score out of 100. Ships with a score of 85 or less are unsatisfactory. Ships may be inspected twice a year.

Passengers are less likely to get sick on a cruise than on land. Gastrointestinal illnesses affect approximately 1 in 5,500 cruise passengers, compared to 1 in 15 on land. This difference shows how often cruise lines clean and disinfect their ships. Around 95% of illnesses on board are treated without a hospital visit. Every cruise line has a medical facility on every ship. Staff are equipped to handle the most common conditions on board, such as influenza, gastrointestinal illnesses and COVID-19. For serious cases, staff arrange medical treatment at the nearest port or emergency transport by helicopter or boat.

For travelers weighing their options, health standards are a significant variable. Cruise lines that consistently score well on multiple unannounced inspections report something beyond a single good day. They report the systems. A high average across multiple visits reflects cleaning protocols that hold up not only on the day of inspection, but throughout the entire trip. This list highlights the five cleanest cruise lines for 2026, ranked by average VSP scores collected between April 2023 and July 2025.