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In a large industry, nothing can work smoothly without rules and their implementation. With most big cruise ship companies plying in the Caribbean having headquarters in the US, it is imperative that they follow applicable laws.<\/p>\nIn a large industry, nothing can work smoothly without rules and their implementation. With most big cruise ship companies plying in the Caribbean having headquarters in the US, it is imperative that they follow applicable laws.<\/p>\n
The United States Public Health or USPH ratings are taken as the gold standard among cruise ship companies around the world as to the quality of hygiene on their vessels. Ships are inspected typically twice a year, and these visits come unannounced. This means that inspectors from the Center for Disease Control – which sets the USPH rules – are able to observe a vessel as it functions on a regular day. Cruise ship inspections take place under the USPH Vessel Sanitation Program.<\/p>\n
The USPH came into being to curb the spread of gastrointestinal diseases on board cruise ships. Previously, cruises were notorious for norovirus epidemics which spread quickly in the confined areas through cross-contamination.<\/p>\n
USPH rules are applicable to all crew and staff on board and they must be followed at all times – whether one is on duty or off. The regulations govern all waters belonging to all US territories and as well as areas covered by its agreements and treaties with other nations.<\/p>\n
The main aim of the Vessel Sanitation Program is to keep guests and crew safe from infections while on board. Effectively, a good USPH score can boost the cruise ship\u2019s image in the eyes of potential guests.<\/p>\n
Cruise ship companies use good USPH ratings to their advantage during marketing. Many cruise goers come from at risk groups – such as the elderly and young children, whose immune system may be more susceptible to infections. So when booking a holiday at sea, they will be more likely to look at cruise ships with good USPH scores.<\/p>\n
The Vessel Sanitation Program rates ships on a scale of 0-100, and any score of 85 and below is considered failed. A ship that has failed is not allowed to sail until appropriate rectifications are made that help them attain a passing score. High-risk violations must be corrected immediately – such as temperatures at which food is stored or disposing of items that have passed their expiry date.<\/p>\n
Other violations may take time to be rectified, such as a documentation system that fails to identify a crew member\u2019s immediate contacts on board other than cabin mates, such as a spouse or partner.<\/p>\n
Inspection reports are available to the public online and are updated as and when a ship has been checked. For potential guests, knowing the type of violation a vessel lost points on can play an important role in determining where they spend their money.<\/p>\n
Documentation violations may not hold much significance, but poor sanitation systems and galley hygiene can push them to look at other companies.<\/p>\n
Cruise ship companies must constantly be on their toes to keep their systems in order, not just to pass the USPH inspections but also to attract their guests. Most ships that follow regulations score around 97 per cent. So a score of 87 may take a vessel over the USPH passing mark, but it is considered a poor score in the world of cruising.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a large industry, nothing can work smoothly without rules and their implementation. With most big cruise ship companies plying in the Caribbean having headquarters in the US, it is imperative that they follow applicable laws. The United States Public Health or USPH ratings are taken as the gold standard among cruise ship companies around the world as to the quality of hygiene on their vessels. Ships are inspected typically twice a year, and these visits come unannounced. This means…<\/p>\n