NEW Report Reveals Cruise Ship Failed CDC Sanitation Inspection

A residential cruise ship recently failed a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sanitation inspection, according to USA Today.

The Villa Vie Odyssey received a score of 81 after a July 9th inspection, and cruise ships need at least an 86 to pass.

A report on the CDC’s website indicates there were violations in a range of areas, including potable water, food safety, and housekeeping. The inspection found a waffle iron that was “soiled with grease and black debris” stored with clean equipment in a galley, and water pooled beneath a fridge in a wine cellar.

In addition, three dead fruit flies were found in a light cover near a refrigerator in a pantry, and the report notes that “Both swimming pools did not have safety signs, prominent depth markers in feet and meters, nor did the safety rings have an attached rope that was at least 2/3rds of the pool width.”

In a statement emailed to USA Today, Villa Vie Residences founder Mikael Petterson said, “It’s important to emphasize that the majority of the noted deficiencies were not related to food safety, but rather to structural and design elements reflective of the ship’s age and original construction – long before current U.S. public health standards were in place.”

“Unlike modern vessels designed specifically for regular U.S. operations, the Odyssey was not originally built for this market, making direct comparisons somewhat unfair,” he continued.

Prior to being purchased by Villa Vie in 2023, the Odyssey sailed as Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ MS Braemar. Petterson said the ship had not been to the United States in over 23 years and said it had passed other health inspections since departing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October.

“That said, we’ve taken the inspection feedback seriously, made the necessary adjustments, and are confident that a follow-up inspection would result in a passing score,” Petterson said.

The Odyssey was scheduled to embark on a 3 ½-year cruise in May 2024, but had several setbacks. After updating all certifications, the ship is now considered “new,” where all machinery and equipment must work as if new.

So where does Disney score on that, you may ask? The Disney Wish has the LOWEST score of 95 with its last inspection done on May 27th, 2024 (which is intriguing since this is one of the newer ships, having set sail on July 14th, 2022). The highest score, however, is a perfect 100 made by the Disney Fantasy (which set sail on March 31st, 2012) on its last inspection date, January 24th, 2024. The remaining three ships land between 96 and 99.

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In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest cruise and travel updates you need to know about. Stay tuned to AllEars so you don’t miss any important news!

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