Emerald Princess receives failing draft score in CDC sanitation inspection
The Princess Cruises ship scored 78 in an October 16, 2026, inspection in Long Beach, below the Vessel Sanitation Program’s passing mark of 86.
Emerald Princess received a failing draft score of 78 during a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sanitation inspection in Long Beach, California, on October 16, 2026. Ships inspected through the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program must score at least 86 out of 100 to pass.
Inspectors reported that nearly all cold foods on the portside buffet lines lacked required markers indicating when they should be discarded. The affected items, including deli meats, cheeses, sandwiches, grilled vegetables, salads and dressings, were discarded, according to the inspection report.
The report also documented moldy or rotten produce. Inspectors found three affected oranges on a crew mess serving line, along with mold on peppers, a cucumber and several previously washed avocados elsewhere aboard the ship.
Additional findings included dirty or blocked dishwashing spray nozzles, dishes and cookware that remained soiled after cleaning, and black, brown and pink debris in several ice-machine water trays.
Inspectors also recorded a drinking-water monitoring and communication issue following a blackout. Manual tests detected chlorine, meaning the finding did not establish that disinfectant was absent. The ship was directed to submit a corrective action statement, but the document contained neither a completed statement nor a reinspection result.
