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Health Inspectors Find Roaches Aboard QE2
Thu Jan 16,12:21 PM ET

MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. health inspectors found cockroaches and other sanitary shortcomings aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 and have given the celebrated cruise ship a failing grade for overall sanitation.

Carrying out a routine examination unrelated to the outbreaks of stomach flu and other gastrointestinal illnesses that have dogged cruise ships, the inspectors said in a recently published report they also found mold, poor food-service practices and shabby kitchen equipment aboard the flagship of the Cunard Line.

"Several nymph and adult cockroaches were observed crawling on the deck beneath the equipment locker ... in the Princess Britannia kitchen," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control inspectors said.

The inspectors, writing in a report on their Jan. 3 visit to the 34-year-old ship stopped in nearby Fort Lauderdale, also said they found mold or mold residue in ice makers in a pantry and in two shipboard bars.

Other shortcomings on the 1,504-passenger QE2 that yielded a very rare failing grade of 85 on a 100-point scale were corrosion and holes in older stoves, heavily damaged serving trays and improperly operating dishwashing machines.

The inspectors also found standing water near ventilation system outlets blamed on rotted equipment, faulty storage of butter and uncooked meat and vegetables, and unsanitary handling of flatware.