Discovery Princess: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Discovery Princess showed up to its first CDC inspection and pulled a 96, which is exactly what you'd hope for from a ship that's barely out of the shipyard and got a mid-life polish just last year anyway. One inspection is a sample size of one, so calling it a trend would be making things up — but a 96 out of the gate, with a "Clean Kitchen" 94 on food safety, is a strong first impression for a Princess Royal-class ship still smelling like fresh paint from Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard.
Here's the honest caveat: with a single inspection on the books, we genuinely don't know if 96 is this ship's floor, ceiling, or a lucky Tuesday. We also can't tell you anything about its outbreak history right now — CDC's outbreak data is unreachable at the moment, so treat that as an open question rather than a clean bill of health. That's not a knock on the ship, it's just us refusing to guess.
Who it's for: West Coast cruisers doing Alaska out of Los Angeles, Vancouver, or Whittier who want a newer mega-ship (145,281 tons, 18 decks, nearly 3,700 guests) with the kitchen inspection to back it up. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a long inspection track record before they'll set foot on a ship — Discovery Princess simply hasn't racked up enough visits yet to prove consistency, even though the one data point it has is a good one.
Discovery Princess at a Glance
Discovery Princess is a Princess Royal-class ship in the Princess fleet, built in 2022 and refurbished in 2025. It carries 3,668 passengers and measures 145,281 gross tons. Discovery Princess has 48 sailings on the schedule through August 2027, mostly from Los Angeles (28) and Vancouver (14), most often on 7-night voyages (trips run 5 to 14 nights). The next departure is November 7, 2026 from Los Angeles.
Its most recent CDC inspection scored 96 out of 100 on May 26, 2026. A trend needs at least two inspections, so we will add one when the next result is published.
Princess Royal-Class Sister Ships
Discovery Princess has 3 sister ships in the Princess Royal class. Here is how their latest CDC scores compare.
| Ship | Line | Latest CDC score | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Majestic Princess | Princess | 99 | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Regal Princess | Princess | 98 | Jun 19, 2026 |
| Enchanted Princess | Princess | 93 | Jan 6, 2026 |
Stories That Mention Discovery Princess
More Princess Stories
- The Cruise App: How to Use It and Why It’s Actually Essential Now Feb 20, 2026
- Every New Cruise Ship Launching in 2026: The Complete Guide Feb 20, 2026
- Cruise Price Drops After Booking: How to Get Your Money Back Feb 20, 2026
- Cruise Ship Entertainment: What’s Good, What’s Cringe, What’s Changed Feb 20, 2026
- Harbor Pilot Plunges Into 12-Foot Seas Trying to Board Princess Cruise Ship in Hawaii Feb 8, 2026
- Quiz: Which Cruise Line Actually Matches Your Personality? Jan 21, 2026
- Cruise Ship Tipping Guide: Who Gets What (And When to Tip Extra) Dec 16, 2025
Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Discovery Princess.
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.
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
Discovery 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 Los Angeles, USA | Nov 7 | 7N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Los Angeles, USA | Nov 14 | 7N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Los Angeles, USA | Nov 21 | 7N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Los Angeles, USA | Nov 28 | 7N |
| 7 nights, round-trip from Los Angeles, USA | Dec 5 | 7N |
Sailing on Discovery Princess?
Join the Roll Call and connect with fellow passengers before you board.
Find Your Roll Call →How This Ship Compares
Should You Book?
Good For You If...
- You want a ship with an excellent latest score (96/100)
Proceed With Caution If...
Find Current Prices for Discovery Princess
Compare deals across booking sites and find the best cabin for your trip.
Search SailingsProtect Your Trip
Even on the cleanest ships, travel insurance gives you peace of mind. Compare plans from top providers.
Compare Travel InsuranceBefore you book Discovery Princess, read this.
Free 14-page Cost Cheat Sheet (every hidden fee). Plus we'll email when new inspection or outbreak data lands for this ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Discovery Princess is 96/100 as of May 26, 2026.
No, the Discovery Princess has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Discovery Princess has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Discovery Princess has a latest CDC sanitation score of 96/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Discovery 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 Discovery Princess was last inspected by the CDC on May 26, 2026.