Carnival Sunshine Comes Shockingly Close to Failing CDC Inspection

Carnival Sunshine narrowly avoided failing its most recent health inspection, earning a score of 89 out of 100 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This inspection, which took place on March 8, 2025, followed a two-week dry dock renovation in Marseille, France.

While a score of 85 or below is considered a failure, Carnival Sunshine’s score was just four points higher. The ship received a total of 26 violations during the inspection, ranging from minor issues like burned-out lightbulbs and open ice machine doors to more concerning matters.

Among the more serious infractions was an incident in December 2024, where a food employee exhibiting symptoms of gastroenteritis continued to work for several hours before seeking medical attention.

While the ship has not reported any outbreaks of norovirus or other illnesses since at least 2019, the CDC noted this as a potential risk to passenger health.

Another notable violation was the presence of “numerous insects” in food service areas, including two ‘small’ cockroaches and nine fruit flies across five different spots, including the Lido buffet.

While these pests were minimal, they still raised concerns regarding sanitation.

(But seriously, I’m no expert, but there’s never just ‘two cockroaches…’ Where there’s two, there’s two hundred)

Despite these violations, many of the required corrective actions are relatively simple, such as cleaning spills, replacing broken equipment, and ensuring proper hygiene practices.

Carnival Cruise Line is expected to address these issues swiftly, and the CDC will monitor compliance through follow-up inspections.

This inspection is part of a broader trend in the cruise industry, where ships often score in the 90s, with some achieving perfect scores.

However, Carnival Sunshine’s score of 89 is the second-lowest of 2025 so far, trailing behind Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which scored 86 in February.

While this incident raises some concerns about health and cleanliness standards, it is worth noting that most Carnival ships, including Carnival Conquest, Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Sunrise, have all received higher scores this year, with Carnival Freedom and Carnival Sunrise earning near-perfect ratings of 99.

For now, Carnival Sunshine will be required to submit corrective action reports to the CDC, and future compliance will be closely monitored. The cruise line’s swift action in addressing the violations will be critical in maintaining passenger trust and safety aboard the ship.