Regal Princess: Sanitation Record & Health Report

Look, we don't hand out gold stars around here just because a ship managed to keep the buffet line free of listeria, but the Regal Princess has genuinely earned a moment of begrudging respect. A CDC score of 97 — two whole points above the fleet average — puts her in the top tier of ships that have figured out that "sanitation" is not, in fact, optional. Her most recent inspection in July 2025 held up that reputation, and a food safety score of 96.0 with a Spotless Galley designation means Princess Cruises is doing something right in whatever kitchen meeting they hold before every voyage. For a ship that regularly packs thousands of people into buffet lines like a very upscale sardine can, that is not nothing.

That said, let's be real: a 97 today means they were sweating a little somewhere to earn it, and "Spotless Galley" is a grade, not a personality. The Regal Princess is a Royal-class ship, which means she's enormous, she's busy, and she comes with all the crowds and corporate polish you'd expect from a Princess mega-ship. She's not the scrappy underdog with a surprising inspection record — she's the overachiever who also happens to have a balcony stateroom in every price tier. Points for consistency, though. The inspectors clearly didn't find any reason to write home about her, and in this context, that is a compliment.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a large-ship experience without playing roulette with their digestive system. Families, first-timers, and anyone who considers "clean kitchen, no outbreak history" a non-negotiable baseline rather than a bonus feature. Who should skip it: Travelers who want a boutique, intimate experience, or who break out in hives at the sight of a Lido deck with a wait time. Also anyone who finds it deeply suspicious when a ship scores this cleanly — your paranoia is valid, but probably misplaced here.