Vessel Sanitation Program

Feature #1 - Ship Inspections: Scores, reports, and corrective actions
Feature #2 - Electronic Training: Health Practices on Cruise Ships video series
Feature #3 - Illness Prevention: Prevention fact sheets and videos

The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assists the cruise ship industry to prevent and control the introduction, transmission, and spread of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses on cruise ships. VSP operates under the authority of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 264 Quarantine and Inspection Regulations to Control Communicable Diseases). VSP is part of the National Center for Environmental Health's Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services. More about VSP »

Cruise Ship Travelers

Inspection Scores, Reports, and Corrective Actions - Outbreak Information - Prevention Tips

Publications & References

VSP Operations Manual - VSP Construction Guidelines - Related Publications and Articles

Cruise Ship Industry

Electronic and Seminar Training - Inspection Data - Investigation Tools

Public Health Professionals

Prevention & Response

What's New

VSP 2011 Operations Manual [PDF - 4.88 MB]
   Changes from 2005 Version (highlighted) [PDF - 4.89 MB]
   Clarifications to the VSP 2011 Operations Manual [PDF - 288 KB]

VSP 2011 Construction Guidelines [PDF - 4.88 MB]
  Changes from 2005 Version (highlighted) [PDF - 2.92 MB]
  Clarifications to the VSP 2011 Construction Guidelines [PDF - 51 KB]

2013 VSP Seminar Dates Announced – Miami and Seattle

Handwashing
To stay healthy and clean, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Handwashing recommendations for the cruising public.

Set Sail
In this podcast, a listener wants to know if children in diapers or those who aren't toilet trained can use the swimming pools on cruise ships.

Inspection Scores Increasing; Failing Scores Declining
Read the Journal of Environmental Health feature article,
Shipshape: Sanitation Inspections on Cruise Ships, 1990–2005, Vessel Sanitation Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [PDF - 554 KB]