On May 1, CDC officials boarded the Margaritaville at Sea, a Jimmy-Buffet-themed ship that accommodates 1,680 passengers, for an unexpected health inspection.
Officials with the ship sanitation program gave the ship a failing grade. During the visit, they noted 65 issues on the ship, earning them a score of 83 points. A score of 86 is required to pass.
In the detailed inspection report, officials noted problems with food and beverages as well as crowded hot tubs.
In a statement sent to Business Insider, Margaritaville at Sea representatives said: “In accordance with internal policies, immediate corrective action was taken to resolve the issues identified during the inspection. »
“Many of these issues have already been resolved and we will work with USPH for a reinspection as soon as possible. We expect this reinspection to exceed USPH standards,” the statement continued.
The report notes concerns about food and drink safety.
On the Paradise ship, there are seven restaurants, six bars and dining areas for the ship’s workers.
At those Paradise spaces, officials noted in the inspection report that a worker operated an ice machine with gloves that “were stored with tools,” adding that “it was unclear whether the member of the crew had washed their hands before putting on gloves.
The report said items like heavy cream were not in cold enough environments to meet CDC standards and that a crew member “could not demonstrate competence in verifying the concentration of the chemical used” when washing lettuce.
Additionally, many refrigerators, freezers and fryers were out of order across the ship, some areas of the decks were dirty and in disrepair, and several rooms on the ship also did not reach the required light intensity of 220 lux, a indicated the inspection.
Beyond food and drinks, officials noted that hot tubs often accommodate six guests, although they are designed for a maximum of four people.
An MSC cruise ship. Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is not the only ship to fail its inspection
In a statement sent to Entrepreneur, those responsible for the ship sanitation program said: “Inspections typically take 6 to 8 hours, depending on the number of inspectors, the size of the vessel, the length of time the vessel is in port and problems identified during inspection. »
Previously, the MSC Seaside failed with a score of 67, Business Insider reported last spring. During that inspection – the lowest rating given in six years – authorities found “a crew member’s hands and refrigerator door handle covered in hamburger blood” and “dirt residue black” on four yogurt containers.
Meanwhile, fifteen ships earned perfect scores in last summer’s report. These ships included Disney Fantasy, Disney Wonder, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Sunshine, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Millenium, Celebrity Summit, MSC Seascape, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, Oceania Riviera, Rotterdam, Silver Moon, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian. Pearl.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise received a score of 87 in last year’s mid-year report.
Over the past two years, several Business Insider journalists have boarded the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise ship, and their reviews have been mixed. Reporter Brittany Chang was on the ship’s maiden voyage, where she noticed outdated features and quality issues, believing a Paradise cruise “wasn’t worth it.”
Lauren Mack came to a similar conclusion after boarding the ship last summer following the cruise line incident. multi-million dollar renovation. During her cruise, she changed cabins twice due to the smells of cigarette smoke and felt like the ship lacked a cohesive theme.
“Margaritaville has all the basics of a cruise, but I think they are reduced in quantity and quality,” Mack said. “If you tone down your expectations and want an extended booze cruise or a day at the beach on a budget, cruising may be worth it.”
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