Cruise Ship Fails Health Inspection with Worst Sco...

Scoring an 81 in Chemistry class in highschool is likely to be a passing grade, however on the earth of CDC cruise ship inspections, it’s low sufficient to earn a failing grade.

For the residents of the Odyssey, the promise was easy: a three-and-a-half-year journey all over the world on a ship they might name dwelling. However a current failed well being inspection by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) is the most recent in a collection of setbacks for the vessel and its operator, Villa Vie Residences.

This story is greater than only a dangerous rating; it’s a have a look at the challenges of changing an older ship right into a full-time dwelling for 900+ residents.

The Failed Inspection and its Findings

On July 9, 2025, the Odyssey was inspected by the CDC and acquired a rating of 81, the bottom inspection rating of the yr to date.

A passing grade is 86 and some ships this yr barely scrapped by. The inspection report revealed quite a few points, with probably the most critical considerations centered on the ship’s potable water system.

Learn extra: 15 cruise ships that scored a perfect 100 this year so far

The report indicated that in water bunkering operations, chlorine ranges within the ingesting water have been constantly beneath the required minimal and that no corrective motion was taken. A serious security hazard was additionally recognized: a drain line from the water purification system was hard-piped to a grey water tank, making a danger of cross-contamination.

Different points have been discovered all through the ship, together with:

• Meals Security and Gear: Inspectors discovered a greasy waffle iron saved with clear objects, together with a number of fridges and different food-holding models that have been out of service.  One word said that some meals was held at unsafe temperatures (like cream at 56°F).
• Normal Upkeep: Issues with poor deck situations, dusty overhead areas, and standing water have been famous. Even the swimming swimming pools have been cited for not having correct security indicators and depth markers.
• Pest Management: The presence of fruit flies in a pantry pointed to a pest management downside.

The Ship’s Troubled Previous

The Odyssey just isn’t a brand new ship, and it hasn’t been easy crusing for some time. It’s a 30-year-old vessel that has sailed beneath totally different names and house owners, most lately because the MS Braemar. Villa Vie Residences bought it in late 2023 with the purpose of changing it right into a residential cruise ship.

This conversion course of, nonetheless, had its bumps alongside the way in which.

The ship’s maiden voyage, which was supposed to start out in Could 2024, was delayed a number of instances because of technical points, together with issues with the rudder shares.

The corporate’s founder, Mikael Petterson, has overtly mentioned the difficulties of reactivating a 30-year-old ship that had been sitting round for a number of years.

So, What’s Subsequent?

The Odyssey is now out of U.S. waters, so a re-inspection gained’t occur till it returns to a U.S. port.

Nevertheless, the corporate is required to repair all the issues present in the report. Petterson has identified that most of the points are a results of the ship’s age and design, because it wasn’t constructed to immediately’s U.S. public well being requirements.

He has additionally famous that the ship has handed different well being inspections since leaving Europe. The corporate states it’s taking the suggestions significantly and is assured a future inspection will lead to a passing rating.