Guidance

July 15, 2025

Explore VSP's public health guidance to protect passenger and crew health. VSP has standards for inspecting cruise ships and for cruise ship construction and design.

Operations

Environmental public health standards are used to inspect cruise ships.

2025 Environmental Public Health Standards
2018 manual
2011 manual
- Clarifications to the 2011 manual
2005 manual
- Clarifications to the 2005 manual
2000 manual

Construction

Consistent construction and design help protect passenger and crew health.

2025 Construction Standards
2018 guidelines
2011 guidelines
- Clarifications to the 2011 guidelines
2005 guidelines
2001 guidelines
1997 guidelines

Fees for cruise ship inspections

The fee schedule for VSP's inspections of cruise ships was first published in the Federal Register on November 24, 1987 (52 FR 45019). CDC began collecting fees on March 1, 1988.