The Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship sailing a 3 ½-year around-the-world itinerary, has failed a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health inspection. The vessel received a score of 81 on its July 9 inspection, well below the passing mark of 86, raising questions about onboard sanitation and safety as it continues its journey.

Dream Cruise Hits a Dirty Reality

The CDC report flagged numerous violations, including food preparation issues, unsanitary storage practices, and missing pool safety features. One example: a grease-covered waffle iron stored alongside clean equipment in a galley. Elsewhere, inspectors noted pooled water under a refrigerator in the wine cellar and dead fruit flies inside a light fixture.

Pool Problems and Food Prep Concerns

The ship’s pools were cited for lacking safety signs, visible depth markers, and properly equipped rescue rings. These basic lapses in passenger safety protocol stood out alongside other issues, like refrigerators leaking without a known source and debris buildup in food areas.

The inspection is part of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which enforces hygiene standards for cruise ships making U.S. port stops. Villa Vie Odyssey, originally built as MS Braemar in the 1990s, hadn’t been to the U.S. in over two decades before its recent arrival.

Company Responds to Inspection

Villa Vie Residences founder Mikael Petterson responded to the failed score, emphasizing that most deficiencies stemmed from structural issues tied to the ship’s age and original construction. “Unlike modern vessels designed specifically for regular U.S. operations, the Odyssey was not originally built for this market,” Petterson said in a statement to USA Today.

He added that since its 2023 purchase, the ship has passed multiple inspections abroad, and improvements have already been made in response to the CDC’s findings. “We’re confident that a follow-up inspection would result in a passing score,” he said.

A Rocky Start to a Long Journey

The Odyssey was slated to begin its three-and-a-half-year cruise in May 2024, but delays pushed the timeline. Petterson previously acknowledged the difficulty of restarting a 30-year-old vessel after a long layup, calling the reactivation process humbling.

Related: Uber Announces Major Change for Women Riders, Drivers

Cruise Ship Failed CDC Inspection, ‘Soiled With Grease’ first appeared on Men’s Journal on Aug 7, 2025