Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues? Yes . Photos & Videos

Table Of Content

• CRUISE HIVE NEWSLETTER
• CDC issues order requiring masks on cruises
• Disembarkation When a Passenger Dies on Board
• How Often Do People Die On Cruise Ships?
• How Do People Die on Cruise Ships?
• What Happens When Someone Dies on a Cruise Ship?
• Are there any restrictions on where the ashes can be scattered during a ceremony?

A cruise ship and its crew are always prepared for any type of instance that can occur and always strive to take care of it in a professional, dignified manner. While it may seem morbid to think about, you may wonder if cruise ships have morgues. Even though it probably (or hopefully!) won’t cross your mind when you’re gearing up for your next vacation, it is a question of curiosity for some.

CRUISE HIVE NEWSLETTER

The morgue facilities are located in an area that is inaccessible to passengers, ensuring their privacy and respecting their grief. The capacity of these facilities is regulated by international procedures and regulations, ensuring that they meet strict standards for sanitation and safety. When a guest dies on a ship, a person from the Guest Care Team is assigned immediately to assist the deceased person’s friends and family. They have received special training in dealing with grieving individuals; however, these people are not grief counselors. You would then pass the urn to the Guest Services team on board who would carry out the service for you – you don’t just get to pick and choose a location on the ship to do it.

CDC issues order requiring masks on cruises

The body will be respectfully removed from the passenger’s cabin and transported to the ship’s morgue. It will be stored there in refrigeration until arrival at the next port. The morgue on a cruise ship is a very small, clinical room located out of the way from main passenger areas, often on a lower service deck without windows. For example, many cruise ships have a small jail, called a brig. The brig is generally located on one of the bottom decks.

Disembarkation When a Passenger Dies on Board

It’s worth noting that some ports refuse to accept a body, which means it may remain on the ship for up to a week. As you may wonder, “do cruise ships have morgues,” one of the common questions that arise is about the size of these morgue facilities. Cruise ships are legally required to have morgues onboard to handle deaths that may occur during a voyage.

Access to the morgue is tightly controlled, with the door kept locked and only authorized medical and security staff allowed entry. It could be worth finding out how they assist in the event of needing repatriation, as this can be quite an involved process and overwhelming at this emotional time. I’ve heard it reported many times that some older folk spend their last days cruising rather than go to a care home because it works out cheaper.

Cruise ship morgues are located on a lower deck in an area inaccessible to passengers. And, of course, this isn’t like a land holiday where the body can be taken to a local morgue. Sometimes, passengers will die in the middle of the ocean, far away from any funeral home. Yes, cruise ships have medical facilities that can handle minor surgeries like wound suturing.

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What Happens When Someone Dies on a Cruise Ship?

It is used to detain guests who commit serious crimes like assault or possession of illegal substances. Drunk and disorderly passengers may be put under “cabin arrest,” meaning they cannot leave their cabin without a security escort. The remains are generally required to be in a biodegradable urn and some cruise lines require the entire urn to be tossed into the sea. Then, if you return on a later sailing, that information is shared with the crew along with your photo.

Are there any restrictions on where the ashes can be scattered during a ceremony?

Cruise lines have many codes for the staff to communicate without alarming passengers. Depending on the circumstances, most passengers put in the brig will stay there until they can be handed over to law enforcement officials. If you or a loved one were injured in a maritime incident, we can connect you to lawyers for a free consultation about compensation that may be available to you. Bethania Palma is a journalist from the Los Angeles area who has been working in the news industry since 2006.

Do cruise ships have morgues?

In this article, we’ll delve into the world of cruise ship morgues and explore the procedures and options available for dealing with a passenger’s death. Since cruise ships are like portable, miniature cities, having a morgue along with various other services makes perfect sense. While no one likes to think about someone dying while cruising the open seas, death is a natural process that can occur at any time.

For comparison, the annual death rate in the general US population is about 8 in 1,000 people. The stateroom where the death occurred will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The morgue may contain a small counter area, sink, and supply storage cabinets. If you have questions or have experienced the event of a death on a ship yourself, please share in the comments.

With this age data, and given that an average cruise ship carries between 3,000 and 5,000 passengers, the chances of someone dying on board are not remote. In fact, it is estimated that around 200 people die on cruise ships each year. Here, we explore a few of the more common steps taken by cruise lines in the unfortunate event of a passenger death. In the event of a passenger’s death on board, the body is placed in the onboard morgue until the ship reaches a suitable port. The cruise line informs the next of kin if they’re not sailing with the passenger, and funeral arrangements are the responsibility of the family.

In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one may need assistance, it is important to stay vigilant and seek help as needed. The existence of morgues on cruise ships may seem surprising or even unsettling, but it is a testament to the thorough planning and adherence to international regulations within the cruise industry. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and international regulations are the driving forces establishing the need for morgues on cruise ships. The IMO implements the standards for security and safety at sea (like the requirements for lifeboats).

All cruise ships are required to have morgue facilities where a body can be stored for up to a week. Staff are required to be trained in how to handle a passenger passing away, including the appropriate storage methods for a dead body to ensure it is kept secure. While smaller ships may have small refrigerators that can accommodate one or two bodies, larger ships may have more spacious facilities.