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Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. 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. In most cases, a morgue’s located in a hospital, but on a cruise ship, the morgue is typically located at the bottom of the ship, on the lower decks, and away from passengers. How soon a body can be offloaded depends on several factors, including local regulations, where the ship is in its itinerary and where the vessel is flagged. Generally, remains are removed from ships in the next major port of call, where the proper infrastructure exists to handle them. Cruise morgues are stainless steel refrigerated rooms with shelves where bodies are stored, either until the end of the voyage or until they can be disembarked in a port of call and repatriated.
Repatriation for a Passenger Who Died on a Cruise Ship
It’s typically estimated that 200 people a year die on cruise ships every year. However, the real figure is likely to be higher, especially if including deaths that occur at ports of call. If someone dies on a cruise ship the body is placed in a body bag and stored in an onboard morgue that’s usually discreetly located on the lower decks. Arrangements will then need to be made to get the body home, either by return journey or disembarking the body at a port of call. The presence of a morgue serves as a reminder that even amidst the grandeur and fun of a sea voyage, practicalities and unexpected events are accounted for.
Disembarkation When a Passenger Dies on Board
The cruise industry is subject to international regulations and standards. One such regulation is the requirement for cruise ships to have adequate facilities for dealing with fatalities. Once the necessary arrangements are in order, they have authorities issue a death certificate and return the deceased to their home country. The cost of returning the deceased falls to the family, but travel insurance usually covers these expenses.
How do cruise lines handle the death of crew members onboard?
When a Passenger Dies at Sea: What You Need to Know - Cruise Critic
When a Passenger Dies at Sea: What You Need to Know.
Posted: Tue, 07 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise ships, essentially floating cities, carry thousands of passengers and crew members. Yes, you read that correctly – cruise ships do indeed have morgues, and the reasons behind this morbid necessity might surprise you. The crew can use the I-95 to access various cruise ship areas, like the engine control room, the laundry facilities, and their cabins. You’ll find everything stored there, from alcohol, food, and shipping equipment. Morgues form an important part of a cruise ship, allowing cruise lines to care for the deceased until the very end. Keep reading to learn more about how death is handled on the high seas.
Death is part of life, and it's also part of ocean cruises.
That's about 40% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean. This is, after all, the brand that for many years held a Hairy Chest Contest around the pool deck on every voyage, to a standing-room-only, hooting and hollering crowd. So while not a pleasant topic, the morgue is an essential space for handling these situations with dignity if the tragedy of a passenger death occurs. Any small disruptions are handled sensitively by the well-trained crew.
Cruise lines have many codes for the staff to communicate without alarming passengers. The captain will then pass orders for the next of kin to be contacted and arrangements for the body to be transported back to shore. Many passengers on a cruise are in their older years and perhaps in ill health but still trying to enjoy their life to the fullest. Platinums also get complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service (with a limit of two to five bags, depending on the length of the cruise).
She funds her four-year (and counting!) cruise adventure using points and miles. Sophia’s travel expertise comes from her time as a reporter for The Points Guy, featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When not traveling, she enjoys relaxing in Priority Pass lounges with tea and battling slow Wi-Fi. Join her as she shares cruise insights and explores the world, one voyage at a time.
Deck-top attractions
Some cruise lines have volunteer clergy onboard who may assist in supporting the family of and friends of the deceased. It’s certainly not uncommon for deaths to occur on a cruise ship, as this Reddit thread testifies with many people sharing their experiences. Elderly passengers make up a large portion of the cruise ship demographic. The death of a passenger will need reporting to the relevant local authorities.
Port Canaveral, FL
Carnival fans are quite peeved about this, and you should be, too. Carnival allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding plus up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas. Carnival adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person, per day to final bills, depending on the cabin category (children under the age of 2 are exempt). If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and the cover charge of the Chef's Table. Carnival also offers dedicated tween and teen programs on ships for children aged 12 to 17.
Like other big-ship operators, Carnival packs a lot of dining options onto its vessels — some included in the price, some at an extra charge. Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood, and cabin bathrooms are neutral. Carnival has just begun operating its first truly giant ships in years, the 181,808-ton, 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 183,521-ton, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration. However, the line's next-biggest vessel, the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia, measures just 135,225 tons.
So, as you set sail on your next adventure, you can do so with a little more knowledge about the comprehensive services that cruise ships offer. As we’ve navigated the less-explored waters of cruising today, we’ve learned that, yes, cruise ships do indeed have morgues. While it’s a subject we might not often consider, it’s reassuring to know that cruise lines are prepared for all eventualities. The purpose of the morgue is to temporarily store bodies in the unfortunate event that a passenger dies during a cruise. Cruise ships are well prepared for any eventually during a voyage, including the untimely passing away of passengers.
Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues? - Snopes.com
Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?.
Posted: Mon, 28 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Irrespective of cruise line, when a passenger dies on a cruise ship, someone from the company's Guest Care Team is immediately assigned to help the deceased's family and friends. However, this video does provide a quick glimpse at what a cruise ship morgue looks like. It’s a little shaky as a video, but you can see the unit with the slide-out shelves to store bodies. Cruise ship morgues are located on a lower deck in an area inaccessible to passengers. 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. And, of course, this isn’t like a land holiday where the body can be taken to a local morgue.
This allows them to handle passenger deaths discreetly when they occur. 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).
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