Queen Elizabeth: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Let's address the elephant in the room: a ship named after the actual Queen Elizabeth is, at 2026, sailing around at a 100 on its latest CDC inspection, and honestly, that tracks. This is Cunard, the line that still makes you dress for dinner and considers "casual" a fighting word, so a spotless galley isn't exactly a plot twist. The catch is we've only got one inspection on the books (2026-04-02), which is why the trend reads as insufficient data rather than "flawless forever" — one gold star is a great start, not a track record. Compare that to the 162-ship fleet average of 96.7 and median of 98, and a single 100 already has this ship punching above the pack, even if the sample size means we're grading on a "so far, so good" curve rather than a victory lap.
The food safety score is where things get slightly more interesting: a 90.0 lands it a "Clean Kitchen" grade, which is solid but noticeably a notch below that pristine CDC 100 — like acing the health inspection but leaving a few points on the table in the galley audit. Also worth noting: outbreak history for this ship isn't available from CDC data right now, so we can't tell you it has a spotless record on that front — just that the inspection data we do have looks good. Built in 2010 and freshly refurbished in 2025, this is a Cunard classic that's had its facelift, and at 90,901 tons with just over 2,000 passengers, it's refreshingly not one of the floating cities its mega-ship cousins have become — crew nearly matches half the guest count, which on paper means more hands per passenger than you'll find on the big Caribbean barges.
Who it's for: passengers who want ocean liner tradition over waterslide chaos, don't mind a ship that takes its heritage (and its name) seriously, and appreciate that Miami, Southampton, and even Seattle sailings mean this isn't confined to one hemisphere. Who should skip it: anyone hunting for splashy mega-ship amenities, or the data purist who wants five years of inspection history before fully trusting a single 100 — right now this ship has earned a gold star, just not yet a report card.
Queen Elizabeth at a Glance
Queen Elizabeth is a ship in the Cunard fleet, built in 2010 and refurbished in 2025. It carries 2,081 passengers and measures 90,901 gross tons. Queen Elizabeth has 50 sailings on the schedule through June 2027, mostly from Miami (18) and Southampton (15), most often on 21-night voyages (trips run 5 to 40 nights). The next departure is September 17, 2026 from Seattle.
Its most recent CDC inspection scored 100 out of 100 on April 2, 2026. A trend needs at least two inspections, so we will add one when the next result is published.
Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Queen Elizabeth.
Outbreak history for this ship is not currently available from the CDC.
Environmental Rating: C
Room to Improve
Score Breakdown
Friends of the Earth Report Card
USCG Environmental Compliance
✓ Clean environmental compliance record — no MARPOL deficiencies on file.
Clean Kitchen
Food Safety Sub-Score based on 1 inspection with item-level data.
Food Inspection Breakdown
Item-level deductions from the most recent inspection with detailed data.
| Item | Category | Type | Deducted | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #11 | Employee Health & Illness Management | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #12 | Employee Cleanliness & Handwashing | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #13 | Food Safety Management & Knowledge | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #14 | Employee Appearance | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #15 | Food Sources & Receiving | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #16 | Food Temperature & Time Control | Critical | -5 | 5 |
| #17 | Food Protection & Prep Practices | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #18 | Cross-Contamination Prevention | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #19 | Food Storage & Handling | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #20 | Food Display & Service | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #24 | Food-Contact Surface Cleaning | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #25 | Wiping Cloths Cleanliness | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #26 | Equipment Sanitization | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| Total Food Deductions | -5 | 50 | ||
⚠ 5 points deducted from critical food safety items.
How Is This Calculated?
The Food Safety Sub-Score extracts deductions from 13 food-specific CDC VSP inspection items (items 11-20 and 24-26) covering employee hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination, food storage, and equipment sanitation. The maximum possible food deduction is 50 points. Score = 100 × (1 - food deductions / 50).
Crew Treatment: Crew's Choice
This score reflects how Cunard treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Cunard fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.5Based on 312 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Queen Elizabeth is registered under a Paris MOU White List flag state — the highest safety and compliance tier. Flag State Score: 100/100
Upcoming Sailings
| Voyage | Departs | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 7 nights, round-trip from Seattle, USA | Sep 17 | 7N |
| 40 nights, one-way from Seattle to Miami | Sep 17 | 40N |
| 28 nights, one-way from Seattle to Miami | Sep 17 | 28N |
| 33 nights, one-way from Seattle to Miami | Sep 24 | 33N |
| 21 nights, one-way from Seattle to Miami | Sep 24 | 21N |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Queen Elizabeth is 100/100 as of April 2, 2026.
No, the Queen Elizabeth has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Queen Elizabeth has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Queen Elizabeth has a latest CDC sanitation score of 100/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Queen Elizabeth has a food safety score of 90/100 ("Clean Kitchen"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The Queen Elizabeth was last inspected by the CDC on April 2, 2026.