Norwegian Dawn fails CDC health inspection with score of 84

The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program released 2026 inspection scores for cruise ships in U.S. ports, revealing seven vessels with the lowest marks. Norwegian Dawn failed its March inspection with an 84, falling below the required 86-point threshold. Carnival Breeze received a perfect 100 earlier in the year before scoring 86 in a later review. Other low-scoring ships included Kydon, National Geographic Sea Lion, Sun Princess, MSC Meraviglia, and Amadea. Inspectors examined medical facilities, water systems, pools, dining areas, and common spaces. Meanwhile, 42 ships achieved perfect scores, including Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas and Disney Dream. Experts emphasized that strong sanitation practices prevent illness spread in shared cruise environments.