Norwegian Dawn: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Norwegian Dawn walked into her November 2025 CDC inspection and came out with a 96 — one point above the fleet average, which in the world of cruise ship sanitation is the equivalent of your coworker who always does their job correctly and never lets you forget it. The real showstopper, though, is that food safety score: a perfect 100. Not 98. Not 99 with a little asterisk. A hundred. The kind of number that makes you think maybe, just maybe, the buffet eggs aren't going to ruin your shore excursion in Cozumel.
For a ship that launched in 2002 and has been sailing these seas long enough to remember when free-at-sea packages weren't a thing, Norwegian Dawn is holding it together impressively well. She's not the flashiest vessel in the Norwegian fleet — no go-karts, no laser tag, no one telling you to "experience the ship within the ship" — but she keeps her kitchens cleaner than most ships half her age. If cleanliness is your love language, Dawn is speaking it fluently.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants to board with genuine confidence that the food safety situation is genuinely handled, not just technically passing. Also ideal for cruisers who prefer a mid-size ship where you can find a chair at the pool without a towel-reservation arms race. Who should skip it: Thrill-seekers who need a rock-climbing wall and a sixteen-story waterslide to feel like they're getting their money's worth. Norwegian Dawn delivers on sanitation; she is not here to impress you with spectacle.
Norwegian Dawn at a Glance
Norwegian Dawn is a Dawn-class ship in the Norwegian fleet, built in 2002 and refurbished in 2016. It carries 2,340 passengers and measures 92,250 gross tons. Norwegian Dawn has 49 sailings on the schedule through July 2027, mostly from Jacksonville (31) and Lisbon (8), most often on 5-night voyages (trips run 4 to 15 nights). The next departure is September 20, 2026 from Lisbon.
Its most recent CDC inspection scored 84 out of 100 on March 29, 2026, a failing score (the CDC passing mark is 86). 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 Norwegian Dawn.
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 3 inspections 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 Norwegian treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Norwegian fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.5Based on 2,027 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Norwegian Dawn 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, one-way from Lisbon to Barcelona | Sep 20 | 7N |
| 7 nights, one-way from Barcelona to Tarragona | Sep 27 | 7N |
| 7 nights, one-way from Tarragona to Barcelona | Oct 4 | 7N |
| 7 nights, one-way from Barcelona to Lisbon | Oct 11 | 7N |
| 7 nights, one-way from Lisbon to Barcelona | Oct 18 | 7N |
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Should You Book?
Good For You If...
Proceed With Caution If...
- The latest score (84/100) is below the passing threshold
- This ship has failed 1 inspection in its history
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Norwegian Dawn is 84/100 as of March 29, 2026.
Yes, the Norwegian Dawn has failed 1 CDC inspection (scoring below 86/100).
No, the Norwegian Dawn has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Norwegian Dawn has a latest CDC sanitation score of 84/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Norwegian Dawn 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 Norwegian Dawn was last inspected by the CDC on March 29, 2026.