Silversea explains health inspection failure

Silversea’s chief executive officer Enzo Visone has outlined why its Silver Shadow ship failed a health inspection last year and the measures put in place since.

In a posting on Silversea’s blog, Visone went into the details of the failed inspection, which saw the cruise liner receive a lower than usual score for its hygiene standards. He explained the galley staff had removed trollies and food from fridges into cabins when they heard an unexpected inspection was taking place. He added that food was destroyed and any improperly stored was not served to guests.

The blog read: “The unannounced inspection on 17 June occurred at the end of the breakfast period where pots, pans and utensils were on working stations and items to return to the galleys were on trolleys as were stores from the fridges ready for use. It is clear that when the galley staff heard that inspectors were on board, instead of continuing their work in the understanding that they were in the middle of a meal service, they tried to quickly remove all trolleys and any items not in the fridges and place them in cabins out of the way.

It goes without saying that such practices are against company policy and should not have happened. We would also like to make clear that following the inspection of Silver Shadow, all food found in the cabins was destroyed and under no circumstances was improperly stored food served to any guests.”

Measures put in place

Visone said the low score had sparked a “great cause for concern” at Silversea and said the company prides itself on “providing the best quality services to our guests”.

Following its own investigation the company has involved an external sanitation consultant and is working with US authorities to comply fully to the standards. The cruise line has also implemented additional training for all food handlers including butlers, waiters and bar staff that highlighted food or equipment should never be placed in cabins.

Silver Shadow will have a further inspection at the end of August which it believes it will pass.

Visone’s post added: “At Silversea Cruises we pride ourselves on providing the best quality services to our guests. Since the preliminary report was given to us, a full investigation has been carried out into the circumstances which led to this unsatisfactory result and a number of steps have been taken to ensure that the standards of food hygiene, in particular, are of the highest order. The other issues contained in the report have been rigorously dealt with as well [not detailed].

“There will be a further inspection by the USPHS before the Silver Shadow leaves Alaskan waters at the end of August, which we welcome as we believe and trust the results of any follow-up inspection will demonstrate Silversea’s commitment to maintain the best standards in sanitation and hygiene on board its fleet.”