Silver Shadow: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Let's get one thing straight about the Silver Shadow: Silversea will happily charge you four figures a night to feel like royalty on the high seas, and for the most part, the ship backs that up. A CDC score of 91 puts it in passing territory — technically fine, legally shipshape — but when the fleet average hovers around 95, "technically fine" starts to sound a lot like "we're coasting on brand prestige." For a line that markets itself as ultra-luxury, clearing the minimum bar is not exactly the flex they think it is.
The part that deserves a raised eyebrow, though, is the kitchen situation. A food safety score of 84.0 — landing it a grade of "Needs Scrubbing" — is not the kind of number you want attached to a ship where dinner is supposed to be the main event. You are paying for an intimate ship with white-glove service and supposedly transcendent dining, and yet the November 2025 inspection suggests someone back-of-house needs a refresher course on what "clean" means. That's not catastrophic, but it IS the sort of detail that lingers in your brain right around the time the ceviche arrives.
Who it's for: Travelers who want a small-ship luxury experience, care deeply about itineraries and personalized service, and are willing to eat slightly cautiously while doing it. Who should skip it: Anyone whose vacation fantasy specifically revolves around spectacular food, or anyone who gets personally offended when a luxury brand doesn't fully earn the premium. If you're dropping Silversea money and expecting every single detail to be flawless, the Silver Shadow may leave you composing a very long review on your return flight home.
Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Silver Shadow.
Total outbreaks on record: 0
Environmental Rating: C+
Room to Improve
Score Breakdown
Friends of the Earth Report Card
USCG Environmental Compliance
✓ Clean environmental compliance record — no MARPOL deficiencies on file.
Needs Scrubbing
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 | -2 | 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 | -3 | 5 |
| Total Food Deductions | -8 | 50 | ||
⚠ 6 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: Crew's Choice
This score reflects how Silversea treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Silversea fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 3.5Based on 198 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Silver Shadow 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 days, round-trip Nice To Nice | May 2 | 12N |
| 6 days, one-way from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Valletta | May 14 | 6N |
| 12 days, round-trip Nice To Nice | May 14 | 12N |
| 6 days, one-way from Valletta to Villefranche-sur-Mer | May 20 | 6N |
| 7 days, one-way from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Palma de Mallorca | May 26 | 7N |
Sailing on Silver Shadow?
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Should You Book?
Good For You If...
- You want a ship with a passing CDC score (91/100)
- A clean outbreak record matters to you
Proceed With Caution If...
- No CDC inspection data is available yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Silver Shadow is 91/100 as of November 10, 2025.
No, the Silver Shadow has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Silver Shadow has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Silver Shadow has a latest CDC sanitation score of 91/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Silver Shadow has a food safety score of 84/100 ("Needs Scrubbing"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The Silver Shadow was last inspected by the CDC on November 10, 2025.