Dirtiest cruise ships investigation finds beer tap sludge and maggot infestations on board - The Hanseatic Inspiration scored just 62 out of 100 – anything below 86 is considered unsatisfactory

The CDC’s report listed health code violations, such as a grime-covered beer tap, both living and dead insects swarming the pool bar and a decaying bird covered in maggots near the grill outside. Meanwhile, food items that required refrigeration were not stored at low enough temperatures.

A CDC report exposed severe hygiene issues on cruise ships, including sludge and maggots, urging travellers to check health records before booking.

Discover which cruise ships earned top marks and which ones fell short in the latest CDC sanitation inspections.

In fact, nine of the 10 ships on the CDC's "dirties ship" list scored passing grades. So while a number of Carnival ships, one MSC Cruises ship, and one Royal Caribbean ship made the list, all of them scored an 86 or higher.