I know a lot of people don’t want to go on a cruise because they think they’re claustrophobic and like petri dishes. I used to feel the same way until I went on one. Since that first time in the 1990s, I’ve been on over three dozen. During the pandemic, I thought the cruise industry was done, but boy was I wrong. Since then, I’ve taken my wife and two young children (now ages 6 and 9) on four Princess cruises. Two in the Mediterranean and two in the Caribbean, including one just two months ago.
We all love cruising since it’s so relaxing. It’s a great way to see multiple places, you don’t need to keep packing and unpacking, and most importantly, it’s a fantastic value since food and entertainment are included.
So if you are planning a cruise this year, I bet cleanliness is high on your checklist. A new analysis based on inspection data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compiled by Squaremouth, reveals which cruise lines are leading the industry in sanitation, and the results may surprise you.
https://www.squaremouth.com/travel-advice/cleanest-cruise-ships-and-cruise-lines
The Cleanest Cruise Lines of 2025 (Ranked)
Based on average sanitation scores across fleets, here are the top 10 cleanest cruise lines in 2025:
- Viking Ocean Cruises II Ltd. – 99.00
- Viking Expedition Operations – 99.00
- Crystal Cruises LTD – 99.00
- Oceania Cruises – 98.40
- P&O Cruises – 98.00
- Japan Grace – 98.00
- Virgin Voyages – 97.67
- Norwegian Cruise Lines – 97.13
- Celebrity Cruises – 97.13
- Royal Caribbean International – 97.12
Viking stands out in particular, with two separate brands tying for first place. This reinforces its reputation for consistently high standards across different types of voyages. I’ve been on multiple Viking Ocean and River cruises and loved them too, but they don’t allow kids, so I haven’t been on one in 10 years.
Perfect Scores and a Surprising Trend
In 2025, 21 ships earned a perfect score of 100, representing about 13 percent of all inspected vessels. Major operators like Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises had multiple ships on the list.
One of the most interesting takeaways is that ship age does not seem to matter. Older vessels, some more than 20 years old, performed just as well as brand-new ships when it came to sanitation.
The Cleanest Cruise Companies Overall
When grouping cruise lines under their parent companies, the rankings shift slightly:
#1: Viking – 98.75
#2: Virgin – 97.67
#3: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings – 97.39
#4: Disney – 97.00
#5: Royal Caribbean Group – 96.74
#6: Carnival Corporation – 94.82
The key insight here is that independent brands tend to outperform large cruise conglomerates, though all major players still score highly overall.
Clean Ships but Rising Illness Cases
Despite strong sanitation scores, cruise ships still face a persistent challenge. Illness outbreaks are rising.
The CDC recorded 23 gastrointestinal outbreaks in 2025, a 28 percent increase over 2024. Most were linked to norovirus, which spreads easily in close quarters.
The data also shows no clear connection between sanitation scores and outbreaks. Even ships with perfect scores reported cases, proving that cleanliness alone cannot eliminate risk.
What Travelers Should Take Away
What Travelers Should Take AwaySo what does this mean for your next cruise? I think you should take these results with a grain of salt. I really think it’s best to constantly wash your hands, especially when walking into the buffet, after you touch the buffet utensils, and then again afterward.
But choosing a top-ranked cruise line can’t hurt.
- Check recent inspection scores and look at individual ships
- Stay aware of health risks, especially in crowded environments
- Consider travel insurance for added protection
The Bottom Line
Cruise ships are cleaner than ever, and inspection failures are now rare. But as this latest data shows, cleanliness does not guarantee protection from illness.
Using these rankings as a guide, along with a few practical precautions, can help you plan a cruise that is both enjoyable and safer from a health perspective.
