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They also have body bags and, if death occurs, they’re prepared to hold a body —or bodies — there until the ship reaches a port large enough for arrangements to be made to return the deceased home. While the cruise lines don’t really like to discuss the issue, deaths at sea are most common on lines that carry a large percentage of elderly passengers. First, ship officials must notify port authorities, and have onboard medical personnel immediately examine the body. Additionally, all staff must be trained to handle both the logistics of disembarking a body and the emotional needs of fellow passengers and loved ones. Staff must immediately notify the passengers traveling with the guest on the same reservation.
What is the Code for Death on a Cruise Ship?
Meanwhile, fellow cruisers continue their voyage, often unaware of the medical drama unfolding. Around 200 people die on cruise ships annually, with most deaths caused by cardiac incidents. Ship morgues keep the deceased until an appropriate port, where they fly them home to their families. From the role of the ship’s crew to the options available for families, we’ll take a detailed look at how cruise ships handle this somber situation. It’s important to note that the specific procedures and policies can vary among cruise lines.
Accessibility and Location of Cruise Ship Morgues
They have received special training in dealing with grieving individuals; however, these people are not grief counselors. 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. Some cruise lines have volunteer clergy onboard who may assist in supporting the family of and friends of the deceased. 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. It’s certainly not uncommon for deaths to occur on a cruise ship, as this Reddit thread testifies with many people sharing their experiences. The morgue is temperature-controlled and has refrigeration units to preserve the bodies of the deceased until they can transport back to shore.
Princess Cruises Teams Up to Offer Easy Transportation to Florida Ports
But like anything else, there's always a chance of mishaps or accidents, like the case of a 21-year-old man who had a severe allergic reaction aboard a Norwegian cruise liner and died in 2010. An accompanying passenger to the deceased will also tend to disembark with the body. Also, the grey water area and the black water area; and the separate places for different types of refuse -- some very smelly, some not as bad. Fascinating; the things we don't think about while we're enjoying life on the upper decks. Health laws would not allow food that is consumable with a corpse or any biological waste. Now a seperate area in the meat locker with a door that could be possible but not just an open area with the hot dogs and porterhouses.
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The body is then secured in body bags and stored carefully in the ship’s morgue until the cruise ship docks at the next major port. Here, local authorities are alerted, and the necessary paperwork, including the death certificate, is processed. Often, consular offices of the deceased’s home country are also involved to help handle repatriation and communicate with the families. (Really.)Most large ships have a designated morgue in case a passenger passes away during a sailing.
Why Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?
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). Large cruise ships can have a population as large as an entire small town so it’s necessary that they are prepared for a passenger’s death – or deaths. It’s not uncommon for more than one passenger to pass away during a cruise. A cruise ship morgue is usually a simple room with one or two refrigeration units, with multiple compartments to hold a body. They don’t usually look like morgues you see on TV, with individual units for each body.
Shore Excursions
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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. However, the cost of this will fall on the family of the person who has passed away, so it's always a good idea to purchase a travel insurance policy that covers repatriation. Yes, cruise ships do indeed have small holding areas often referred to as “brigs”. These are used when a passenger or crew member violates the cruise line’s policies severely or commits a crime onboard.
Handling Passenger Death
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. When a passenger dies on a cruise ship, the family can’t request that the body is immediately buried at sea. Cruise ships don’t have the facilities to carry out the formalities of processing a body and providing a death certificate, which lists the cause of death. A body must always be stored until it can be disembarked at a suitable port for this service to be carried out. However, as stated above, port authorities in any of the ports visited by the cruise have the right to require an examination of anyone who's died, as well as the off-loading of the body.
Cheaper than a Care Home or Hospice
These findings highlight the need for safety precautions and awareness while at sea. A typical cruise morgue is able to hold at least three bodies, with an average capacity of three to six. Port authorities assist with customs clearance and transfer to a local funeral home or morgue arranged by the deceased’s family. In the unlikely event the morgue is fully occupied, the crew has contingency plans to use other refrigerated spaces or even cabins to hold bodies respectfully. Proper coded communication ensures the ship’s well-trained staff is ready to manage any situation professionally.
Most cruise ships employ mortuary technicians to manage the morgue and take care of any deceased passengers or crew members that may pass away during their voyage. The morgue on a cruise ship is usually located in an isolated area of the ship, away from passengers and crew members. It’s usually a small room with stainless steel walls and counters, as well as several refrigerators that are used to store bodies. The room is kept at a temperature slightly below freezing, which helps preserve the bodies until they can be returned to shore. In most cases, the body will be removed from the cruise ship in the next major port of call. This will depend on factors like local regulations, the vacation itinerary, and the ship and cruise line’s home country.
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. Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization. Royal Caribbean allows for 75 of 150 wedding guests to be non-sailing. NCL permits up to 10 non-sailing guests free of charge, but a reception must be booked if you have up to 50 guests who are not sailing. The morgue may contain a small counter area, sink, and supply storage cabinets.
This might seem morbid, but considering the number of passengers on board, it’s a practical necessity. The morgue also contains several medical supplies such as gloves, masks, gowns, and other protective equipment that are used by staff when handling deceased passengers or crew members. There’s also usually a scale for weighing the bodies before they’re taken off the ship for burial or cremation.
Operation Bright Star is a code some cruise lines use to alert the medical team that a passenger has an urgent medical emergency, such as a stroke, seizure, or heart attack. While there are a lot of perks for traveling via cruise ship, there are some facilities available on most cruise ships that may surprise you. Most people know cruises offer a great value and are nearly all-inclusive with good food, accommodations and entertainment.
Cruise ship morgues focus on preserving the body in a dignified manner until it can be off-loaded at the next port, where local medical examiner’s offices and funeral homes take over. There are no autopsies performed or complex examinations conducted on board; the cruise ship’s focus remains on respecting the deceased and supporting the accompanying passengers during such times. The onboard team must be qualified to handle early disembarkation and repatriation arrangements.
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