Caribbean Princess: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Let's talk about the Caribbean Princess, a 2004-built Princess Grand-class ship that clearly did not coast into her 2022 refurb and call it a day. One CDC inspection on the books, dated February 9, 2026, and it came back a 93. That's not just passing the 86-point bar, that's clearing it with room to spare, and the food safety side backs it up with a 94.0 and a "Clean Kitchen" grade. For a ship pushing two decades old, that's the kind of report card that makes you wonder if the galley crew has something to prove.
Now, before anyone starts printing "spotless record" merch, a reality check: this is a single inspection, which the data itself flags as insufficient for a trend read, so we're not going to pretend we know whether this ship is climbing, coasting, or due for a wobble. And on the outbreak front, the CDC's outbreak data is currently unreachable, so consider that column blank rather than clean. A 93 on one visit is a genuinely good sign for a Fincantieri-built veteran in the Princess Grand class, but "good first date" isn't the same as "proven track record," and Ship Tea isn't in the business of promising you something the numbers haven't earned yet.
Who it's for: Passengers who want a mid-size (3,138-guest, 112,894-ton) classic Princess experience with a freshly refurbed feel and a genuinely strong inspection result to point to. Who should skip it: Anyone who needs a long, multi-year inspection history before they'll set foot on a gangway — with just one data point on file, the Caribbean Princess hasn't had the chance to prove consistency yet, even though its opening move is a strong one.
Caribbean Princess at a Glance
Caribbean Princess is a Princess Grand-class ship in the Princess fleet, built in 2004 and refurbished in 2022. It carries 3,138 passengers and measures 112,894 gross tons. Caribbean Princess has 48 sailings on the schedule through January 2028, mostly from Fort Lauderdale (23) and Copenhagen (11), most often on 12-night voyages (trips run 6 to 28 nights). The next departure is September 20, 2026 from Port Canaveral.
Its most recent CDC inspection scored 93 out of 100 on February 9, 2026. A trend needs at least two inspections, so we will add one when the next result is published.
Princess Grand-Class Sister Ships
Caribbean Princess has 2 sister ships in the Princess Grand class. Here is how their latest CDC scores compare.
| Ship | Line | Latest CDC score | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Princess | Princess | 99 | Jul 21, 2026 |
| Grand Princess | Princess | 93 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Caribbean Princess.
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 | -3 | 5 |
| #14 | Employee Appearance | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #15 | Food Sources & Receiving | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #16 | Food Temperature & Time Control | Critical | 0 | 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 | -3 | 50 | ||
⚠ 3 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: Fair Passage
This score reflects how Princess treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Princess fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.4Based on 1,439 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Caribbean Princess 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 Port Canaveral, USA | Sep 20 | 7N |
| 14 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Sep 20 | 14N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Sep 27 | 7N |
| 14 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Sep 27 | 14N |
| 14 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Oct 4 | 14N |
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- You want a ship with a passing CDC score (93/100)
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Caribbean Princess is 93/100 as of February 9, 2026.
No, the Caribbean Princess has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Caribbean Princess has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Caribbean Princess has a latest CDC sanitation score of 93/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Caribbean Princess has a food safety score of 94/100 ("Clean Kitchen"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The Caribbean Princess was last inspected by the CDC on February 9, 2026.