MSC Grandiosa: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Look, we don't hand out perfect scores around here — the sea is chaos, buffet lines are lawless, and the average CDC score across the fleet hovers around a respectable-but-not-perfect 95. So when MSC Grandiosa waltzes in with a 99 on her latest CDC inspection from December 2025, we're going to acknowledge it. Grudgingly. Through gritted teeth. With a standing ovation we were not expecting to give an MSC ship.
And then there's the food safety score: a flat 100. As in, the inspectors found nothing. Not a lukewarm shrimp, not a questionable cutting board, not a suspicious puddle near the salad station. A "Spotless Galley" rating is the culinary equivalent of a white glove test at your grandmother's house — except grandmother didn't have to feed 6,000 people rotating through a 24/7 buffet. MSC Grandiosa somehow pulled it off, and honestly, the kitchen staff deserves a trophy and a nap.
Who it's for: Germaphobes who still want a vacation. Anyone who has ever side-eyed a cruise ship buffet sneeze guard and thought, "but is it really clean?" — this is your ship. Also great for MSC loyalists who've been defending the brand at family dinners for years. Hand them these numbers. Let them win one. Who should skip it: Anyone who needs their cruise ship to have a dramatic backstory. MSC Grandiosa is, by the data, boringly excellent — and if you came here looking for receipts, you're going to be disappointed.
MSC Grandiosa at a Glance
MSC Grandiosa is a Meraviglia Plus-class ship in the MSC fleet, built in 2019 and refurbished in 2024. It carries 4,888 passengers and measures 181,541 gross tons. MSC Grandiosa has 39 sailings on the schedule through March 2027, mostly from Port Canaveral (38) and Funchal (1), most often on 7-night voyages (trips run 7 to 14 nights). The next departure is November 3, 2026 from Funchal.
Its most recent CDC inspection scored 99 out of 100 on December 6, 2025. A trend needs at least two inspections, so we will add one when the next result is published.
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- MSC Grandiosa Autumn 2026: Caribbean & Bahamas Guide Oct 25, 2026
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Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the MSC Grandiosa.
Outbreak history for this ship is not currently available from the CDC.
Environmental Rating: B
Making Effort
Score Breakdown
Friends of the Earth Report Card
USCG Environmental Compliance
✓ Clean environmental compliance record — no MARPOL deficiencies on file.
Spotless Galley
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 | 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 | -0 | 50 | ||
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 MSC treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the MSC fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.8Based on 301 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
MSC Grandiosa is registered under a Paris MOU Grey List flag state — average performance on port state inspections. Flag State Score: 50/100
Upcoming Sailings
| Voyage | Departs | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 10 nights, one-way from Funchal to Miami | Nov 3 | 10N |
| 14 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Nov 14 | 14N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Nov 14 | 7N |
| 14 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Nov 21 | 14N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Port Canaveral, USA | Nov 21 | 7N |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the MSC Grandiosa is 99/100 as of December 6, 2025.
No, the MSC Grandiosa has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the MSC Grandiosa has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The MSC Grandiosa has a latest CDC sanitation score of 99/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the MSC Grandiosa has a food safety score of 100/100 ("Spotless Galley"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The MSC Grandiosa was last inspected by the CDC on December 6, 2025.