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This allows the cruise ship to keep the deceased person on board until the body can be properly returned to land. Cruise ships are like floating cities, with thousands of passengers enjoying amenities like restaurants, pools, casinos, and entertainment. If you have any questions about what to do in the event of a death on board a cruise ship, be sure to ask your travel agent or the cruise line before booking your trip. Elderly passengers make up a large portion of the cruise ship demographic.
Do cruise ships have morgues?
The morgue is typically located on a lower service deck, out of the way from main passenger areas. This provides privacy and reduces the chance of accidental discovery. Travel insurance data suggests about three-quarters of cruise ship deaths are from expected natural causes. Prior to arriving at the next port, the ship’s staff will contact relevant authorities such as customs officials and the local morgue to arrange for body disembarkation.
What do cruise ships do if someone dies?
We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Remains are frequently kept in the morgue until the ship reaches the United States. Then, a death certificate is formally issued by a local medical examiner’s office.
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Below the decks where passengers live, the crew bars may stay open later — and serve revelers more alcohol per person — than in the passenger areas. Depending on the ship, the average age could be lower, but even if it isn’t, chances are the celebrations are more intense. Some of these secrets are places you’re not allowed to visit; others are policies the cruise lines don’t typically share. Among these emergency codes are “Charlie” for security threats, “Delta” for bio-hazard in some cruise lines, and “Bravo” for a fire emergency in most cruise lines.
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It’s a little shaky as a video, but you can see the unit with the slide-out shelves to store bodies. It’s worth noting that while the cruise line will work with the port to arrange for the transfer of the dead body, including repatriation to the passenger’s home country, it won’t pay for it. The presence of morgue facilities on cruise ships demonstrates the industry’s commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all those onboard. In such cases, alternative arrangements had to be made to store the bodies, as reported by Ross A. Klein, a sociologist and author specializing in the cruise ship industry. If a passenger or crew member passes away while onboard, the ship’s crew will respond promptly and provide immediate medical attention if needed. They are trained to handle such situations and prioritize the well-being of all those onboard.
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Staff must immediately notify the passengers traveling with the guest on the same reservation. If the passenger is traveling alone, the cruise line will need to notify the emergency contact named by the deceased passenger. In some cases, cruise lines will have ministers and small chapels for religious people to use and perform final rites according to the passenger’s faith.
However, beneath the glamorous façade lies a world of logistics and preparations that passengers rarely glimpse. I have been cruising since 2004 and have sailed on dozens of cruises all over the world. As the creator of this website, I want to help families plan fun cruises free of stress and filled with adventure!
For example, while Royal Caribbean ships use “Alpha” for medical emergencies, Carnival ships use it for fire emergencies. In some cases, they keep the deceased on board, allowing the cruise ship to transport it back to the original port. This allows the deceased passenger’s companion to continue with their journey. Cruise ship morgues are big enough to accommodate three to four deceased, which varies between smaller and larger ships. It is impossible for a person to be prepared for a loved one's death but the cruise lines are, and they're quick to step in to help. A lot of ports aren’t suitable and would refuse to accept a body, so often a passenger who has passed away will remain on the ship for up to a week until the ship returns to a suitable location.
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The morgue is typically about the size of a large walk-in closet or small bedroom — just large enough to hold one or two bodies at a time. The morgue allows a ship to properly store a deceased person until the ship can reach a port and the remains can be removed. Cruise ships are required by maritime law to have basic medical facilities, including a morgue. Some cruise lines have volunteer clergy onboard who may assist in supporting the family of and friends of the deceased. Certain employees from the cruise line care team will have received training in providing emotional and active support in sorting out the next steps for grieving passengers of the deceased.
The morgues on cruise ships are often located on the lowest deck and are equipped with stainless steel refrigeration units to maintain the body’s preservation. It is important to note that these morgues are always kept separate from areas where food is stored, ensuring proper hygiene and safety. If you’ve ever wondered about the presence of morgues on cruise ships, the answer may surprise you. These morgues are typically tucked away on the lower decks, away from the high-traffic passenger areas. In fact, the location of the morgue is not usually shown on the ship’s deck plans. Cruise lines don’t promote the existence of their morgues, as it’s not a pleasant topic to discuss.
You’d also need to make sure that the ashes were brought on board in a biodegradable urn that is completely sealed. If the cruise has a religious leader such as a priest on board, they may also be involved to offer support. Look around on your next cruise – it’s common to see elderly people or those in seemingly poor health. Some choose to have one last trip as their health is failing or they’ve got a terminal illness. Fall-related accidents were found to be the most common cause of death among passengers, followed by cardiac arrests and suicides. Crew members, on the other hand, were found to be at higher risk for suicide, murder, and falls.
By law, cruise ships must have body bags and a morgue on board in case of death on the journey. While it may not be something you think about when planning your vacation, it’s essential to know what to do in the event of a death while on a cruise ship and whether there is a cruise ship morgue on board. With all-inclusive beverage packages and countless bars, cruise ships can be a tough environment for guests in recovery. Many cruise lines offer daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that are usually scheduled as “Friends of Bill W.,” a reference to William Wilson, who co-founded the A.A.
To avoid upsetting the other passengers, disembarkation will usually take place as early in the morning as possible. Typically, someone who was traveling with the deceased passenger, particularly a relative or loved one, will need to disembark with the body. To be allowed on shore, everyone who disembarks must have a valid passport. The onboard team must be qualified to handle early disembarkation and repatriation arrangements. Unfortunately, the cost will fall on the passenger’s family or travel companions, rather than the cruise line. Some travel insurance policies cover disembarkation and repatriation in the event of death on board, so travelers should be insured before going on their vacation.
They also hold naming ceremonies in which a bottle of champagne is smashed against the hull of a new ship for good luck. If the bottle fails to break, the vessel will, according to superstition, have bad luck. These days, cruise lines use mechanical devices to ensure that does not happen.
The morgue, usually a small stainless steel refrigerated room on the ship’s lowest deck, accommodates between two to 10 bodies, depending on the size of the vessel. In most cases, the body will be removed at the next port of call, but sometimes will remain on board until the end of the voyage. If the latter is allowed, the body is taken to the cruise ship morgue, where it is properly stored for up to one week. Per federal regulations, cruise lines are required to carry body bags onboard each voyage. The cruise ship morgue is usually a stainless steel refrigerated room where bodies can be stored. They are usually found on the ship’s lowest deck, along the ship-wide corridor known as the I-95.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the latter two can have requirements that necessitate the off-loading of anyone who's died, or preclude the line from being able to offload a body. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires that any ship that calls or homeports at a U.S port must immediately report any deaths onboard. The biggest concern many loved ones face is how to bring the body home from the ship for burial.
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