United States: A seafaring voyage adorned in homage to Jimmy Buffet’s ethos, promising an idyllic “paradise” to its patrons, faced an adverse evaluation by health authorities earlier this month.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, despite its buoyant promises, fell short during an impromptu inspection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 1. The scrutiny was administered by the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) officials, according to the reports published by Fox News.
The official report, publicly accessible on the CDC’s platform, revealed that the vessel received a disheartening score of 83, noticeably below the requisite threshold of 86.
Among the cited grievances was the overcrowding of the ship’s whirlpools, originally intended for a maximum occupancy of four, but accommodating six individuals during the inspection.
Moreover, the inspection unearthed disconcerting lapses in hygiene standards concerning the handling of consumables aboard the cruise. One particularly concerning observation was the purported negligence of a crew member in adhering to hand hygiene protocols while engaged in food preparation.
“The gloves worn by the crew member tasked with managing the ice-producing apparatus were found co-located with tools,” the report indicated. “It remained unclear whether the crew member in question had availed themselves of handwashing facilities before donning the gloves. Adjacent to the ice-producing machinery were glove dispensers designated for food handlers, which could have been utilized instead,” as highlighted by Fox News.
Further infractions included the storage of water bottles on contaminated pallets, alongside substandard illumination and cleanliness conditions within food preparation zones. Another crew member was unable to demonstrate proficiency in handling the requisite chemicals for sanitizing lettuce.
“The crew member entrusted with washing and sanitizing lettuce leaves demonstrated an inability to validate the chemical concentration utilized,” remarked the CDC. “The crew member exhibited incompetence in employing test strips to ascertain the concentration level and lacked comprehension regarding the acceptable threshold for a successful test result.”
Additionally, the CDC flagged numerous kitchen appliances, including a freezer, multiple refrigerators, and deep fryers, as being non-operational.
In response, a spokesperson representing Margaritaville at Sea assured Fox News Digital that “prompt remedial measures” had been instituted subsequent to the inspection.
“In accordance with internal protocols, prompt remedial measures have been undertaken to rectify the deficiencies identified during the inspection,” the spokesperson affirmed. “Many of these issues have already been rectified, and we are actively collaborating with the United States Public Health authorities to expedite a re-evaluation at the earliest opportunity,” reports by Fox News highlighted.
The statement concluded optimistically, expressing confidence that the forthcoming re-evaluation would surpass the standards stipulated by the USPH.