Whenever a passenger ship sails out of a U.S. port, even under a foreign flag, it must pass U.S. Coast Guard inspection standards, which are some of the highest in the world. This is even true of a ship that spends most of its time in Europe, but spends a season sailing the Caribbean out of a U.S. port. For it to be here, it must meet U.S. requirements. You’ll want to be more cautious if your ship doesn’t sail from a U.S. port. If it does not, you will want to check into that Cruise Line’s reputation for safety and that particular ship’s safety precautions before you book your cruise.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s, Sanitation Inspection of International Cruise Ships web page. This site contains links to the CDC’s published inspection scores of international cruise ships. Any ship that carries 13 or more passengers and sails from a U.S. port at anytime during the year is subject to two, yearly unannounced sanitation inspections. The ships can also be re-inspected at anytime if necessary. The inspections are made as part of the Vessel Sanitation Program of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A maximum score of 100 points is possible, with a score of 86 or higher judged as acceptable. If you do investigate the ship’s scores, remember that anyone can have a particularly good or bad day. To get the best overall picture of a ship’s sanitation record, you should evaluate several of the ship’s scores over a long period of time.  

The inspectors evaluate the ship in the following areas.

• Water supplies, distribution and storage.
• Food storage, preparation and service.
• Potential for contamination of food and water.
• Practice and personal hygiene of employees.
• General cleanliness and physical condition.
• Training program in environmental and public health concerns.

• Check to make sure there are enough life jackets in your cabin for everyone, if you need more ask your cabin steward to provide them.
• Attend and pay attention to the ship’s lifeboat drill. Learn the best route from your cabin to the lifeboats and fire exits.
• Always use the handrails, decks can be slick and it takes a while to get your sea legs.
• Sure, you want to party a little, but wait until you get used to the ship’s motion before you start enjoying those adult beverages. The sea can have the same effect on your equilibrium as alcohol and you don’t want to get hit by a double whammy.
• If you smoke, don’t throw your cigarette butts off the ship’s deck, they can blow right back onto a lower veranda or open window and start a fire.

• Always lock your cabin door.
• Use the ship’s safety deposits boxes or cabin safe for your valuables.
• Never leave cash in your room.
• If you have bunk beds in your cabin, be sure to use the ladder they provide.
• Make sure you always know how to contact your cabin steward.
• Don't give out your cabin number to strangers.