Nearly every cruise ship passed CDC inspections. One didn't.

Most cruise ships inspected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year received passing scores , agency reports show.

Among 153 inspections conducted in 2026, only one resulted in a failing grade so far. Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn received a score of 84 in March.

Cruise ships must receive a score of at least 86 to pass.

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Eye-tracking study reveals the top 20 most stunning cruise ports

From ports decorated with centuries-old architecture to sunlit turquoise bays, a new eye-tracking study revealed the world's most beautiful cruise ports, with three Caribbean spots making the top 20.

The research, conducted by travel insurance experts at AllClear, used eye-tracking technology to measure which of the world's travel hotspots are the most impressive to arrive at by sea. They measured which cruise ports caught people's attention first, and held it the longest, revealing the world's most captivating coastal arrivals.

1. Valletta Cruise Port, Malta

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, our study's most beautiful cruise port is a masterpiece in harbour aesthetics. Its combination of golden limestone reflecting off the glistening water provides the ultimate, jaw-dropping arrival into this exciting Mediterranean city, and with the longest fixation time of any port in the study, Malta certainly earned its place as our number one. What cruisers will love: Walk into the historic town in just 15 minutes and explore St. John's Co-Cathedral with its Baroque artwork, or head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views of the harbour itself.

Violations onboard Norwegian Dawn included a coffee urn "soiled with a long strand of hair on the food-contact surface inside the urn," a fly resting on bread during the crew's lunch service, and an ice machine "excessively soiled with greater than a day's accumulation of black and pink debris," according to the inspection report .

The cruise line submitted a subsequent report detailing a range of corrective actions , from rewashing coffee urns to discarding the tray of bread where the fly was found.

"The health and safety of our guests and crew is our top priority," Norwegian told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "As such, we strive to operate at the very highest public health and sanitation standards."

The cruise line noted that it has historically "been ranked one of the cleanliest cruise lines in the industry," and that its ships received scores of at least 93 in 2025.

"Earlier this year, we took immediate action to address the findings of the most recent inspection report of one of our vessels and are continuously reviewing the onboard protocols to ensure the ship meets our standards," the statement continued. We remain focused on continuously strengthening our sanitation procedures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our guests and crew."

Cruise ships within the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program's jurisdiction are usually inspected twice a year while in U.S. ports, according to its website .

"If a ship sails outside of the United States for an extended period, it may not be inspected twice a year, but it will be inspected again when it returns to the United States," the agency said. The inspections cover a variety of onboard operations and facilities, from the galleys to potable water systems to pest management procedures.

This story has been updated to add new information and refresh headlines.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nearly every cruise ship passed CDC inspections. One didn't.