Noordam: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
The Noordam is a 2006-built Vista-class ship that got a 2024 refurb, and whatever HAL did to it worked — a perfect 100 on its latest CDC inspection, dated May 7, 2026. That's the only inspection on the books for this ship, so there's no trend to brag about yet (the data's calling it "insufficient" for a reason, and we're not going to pretend otherwise), but a debut 100 is still a 100. Food safety lands at 86.0, which earns a "Clean Kitchen" grade and clears the passing bar, even if it's the one number here that isn't shouting from the rooftops.
At 82,897 tons carrying just under 2,000 passengers with an 820-person crew, the Noordam is on the smaller, more human-scaled end of things — no rock-climbing walls or bumper cars, just a well-run ship that apparently knows how to pass an inspection with zero notes. One inspection isn't a track record, it's a single data point, so treat this as "off to a strong start" rather than "proven champion." We also don't have outbreak data available for this ship right now — not because anything's wrong, but because the CDC's outbreak feed is currently unreachable on our end, so we're simply not going to speculate one way or the other.
Who it's for: travelers who want a mid-size, classically-styled HAL ship with a freshly renovated feel and a spotless first inspection to its name — good for those who care more about a well-kept ship than a waterpark. Who should skip it: anyone who wants a long inspection history to pore over before booking, or cruisers chasing mega-ship amenities — this one is inspection-clean but still building its file, and it's sized for cruising, not for thrill-seeking.
Noordam at a Glance
Noordam is a Hal Vista-class ship in the Holland America fleet, built in 2006 and refurbished in 2024. It carries 1,972 passengers and measures 82,897 gross tons. Noordam has 50 sailings on the schedule through March 2028, mostly from Seattle (18) and Tokyo (10), most often on 14-night voyages (trips run 7 to 42 nights). The next departure is November 15, 2026 from Sydney.
We have 2 CDC inspections on record for Noordam. The most recent results ran 100 (May 2026), 95 (Aug 2026), down 5 points across that span.
Hal Vista-Class Sister Ships
Noordam has 2 sister ships in the Hal Vista class. Here is how their latest CDC scores compare.
| Ship | Line | Latest CDC score | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westerdam | Holland America | 97 | May 6, 2026 |
| Zuiderdam | Holland America | 90 | Jul 17, 2026 |
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Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Noordam.
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 | 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 | -2 | 2 |
| #20 | Food Display & Service | Non-Critical | -2 | 2 |
| #24 | Food-Contact Surface Cleaning | Critical | -3 | 5 |
| #25 | Wiping Cloths Cleanliness | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #26 | Equipment Sanitization | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| Total Food Deductions | -7 | 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 Holland America treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Holland America fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.3Based on 645 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Noordam 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 nights, round-trip from Sydney, Australia | Nov 15 | 35N |
| 14 nights, round-trip from Sydney, Australia | Dec 20 | 14N |
| 14 nights, one-way from Sydney to Auckland | Jan 3 | 14N |
| 14 nights, one-way from Auckland to Sydney | Jan 17 | 14N |
| 14 nights, one-way from Sydney to Auckland | Jan 31 | 14N |
Sailing on Noordam?
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Should You Book?
Good For You If...
- You want a ship with a passing CDC score (95/100)
Proceed With Caution If...
- Scores have been trending downward recently
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Noordam is 95/100 as of August 16, 2026.
No, the Noordam has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Noordam has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Noordam has a latest CDC sanitation score of 95/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Noordam has a food safety score of 86/100 ("Clean Kitchen"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The Noordam was last inspected by the CDC on August 16, 2026.