If you’re planning to set sail from Galveston, you may want to take a look at your ship’s latest sanitation inspection score before you go.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts unannounced inspections of cruise ships that call on U.S. ports, grading them on a 100-point scale. A score of 86 or higher is considered satisfactory, while 85 or lower is considered unsatisfactory.
Recommended Videos
Several cruise lines currently sail from the Port of Galveston, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and MSC Cruises.
Here’s how the Galveston-based ships that have received CDC inspections so far in 2026 scored:
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Jubilee — 100
The Carnival Jubilee received a perfect score during its March inspection. CDC inspectors still noted more than two dozen violations involving areas such as hand washing, food labeling, and food temperatures, but none were considered significant enough to lower the score.
Carnival Breeze — 86
The Carnival Breeze had the lowest score among the Galveston ships inspected so far this year, but it still passed.
The ship received an 86 during its May inspection, the lowest possible passing score. Inspectors found about three dozen violations, including multiple food-safety issues and improper bromine levels that resulted in a whirlpool spa being closed.
The ship corrected the violations within 10 days, according to a follow-up report.
What’s notable: The Carnival Breeze had received a perfect 100 in January, just months before its 86.
Carnival Dream — 98
The Carnival Dream received a 98 during its January inspection. The ship lost points over issues involving soil and disrepair on counters, hot plates, decks, and a cold well.
MSC Cruises
MSC Seascape — 100
The MSC Seascape received a perfect 100 during its March inspection.
Inspectors did find 18 violations, but none were serious enough to result in a point deduction.
Royal Caribbean International
Mariner of the Seas — 99
The Mariner of the Seas received a 99 during its January inspection.
The ship lost one point over surfaces that were in disrepair, including refrigerator doors and chipped or peeling service trays.
Symphony of the Seas — 98
The Symphony of the Seas received a 98 during its February inspection. Dishwasher issues kept the ship from receiving a perfect score.
What about other ships sailing from Galveston?
The Port of Galveston currently lists Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian, Princess and MSC among the cruise lines sailing from the port.
Not every ship currently sailing from Galveston has a 2026 CDC inspection score available in the data reviewed for this story, so travelers should check the CDC’s database for the most recent score for their specific ship.
The Port of Galveston also recommends checking its cruise schedule because arrival and departure information can change.
What do the scores actually mean?
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program looks at much more than whether a passenger’s cabin is clean.
Inspectors examine areas including food preparation and dining spaces, drinking water systems, pools and whirlpools, medical facilities, ventilation, housekeeping, cabins and children’s activity areas.
And a lower score doesn’t necessarily mean a ship is currently unsafe.
The score is a snapshot of what inspectors found during that particular inspection, and ships can improve their scores by correcting violations.
The Carnival Breeze is a good example: It went from a perfect 100 in January to an 86 in May after inspectors identified numerous violations, then corrected those issues.
So if you’re cruising out of Galveston, it’s worth checking the CDC’s inspection database before you book, and again before you sail, to see the latest information for your ship.
Check your cruise ship’s latest CDC inspection score: CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection database
Check upcoming Galveston cruise departures: Port of Galveston cruise schedule