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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. Depending on the circumstances, most passengers put in the brig will stay there until they can be handed over to law enforcement officials.
Hidden Decks Morgues And 5 Other Cruise Ship Secrets
Sure, you have access to cabin, dining hall, bars, sun decks, gyms, but there are separate versions of these on a lower deck for the crew to use. Find out what else cruise ships are hiding from their passengers. With large populations comes the inevitability of accidents, medical emergencies, and, unfortunately, deaths.
Is There a Morgue Staff on Cruise Ships?
Remember, these processes are in place to respect those who have passed and to ensure the continued comfort and enjoyment of the living cruising enthusiasts on board. So, while the topic is grim, the sea of information provided here should illuminate the realities of life (and death) aboard a cruise ship, keeping surprises at bay. Cruise ships have hidden features that many passengers, particularly first-timers, don’t know about. The biggest concern many loved ones face is how to bring the body home from the ship for burial. Although cruise lines make efforts to provide appropriate morgue facilities, there have been rare instances where the morgue was not big enough to accommodate all deceased passengers.
Cruise Ship Morgues: Where Do Passengers Go When They Die?
Read the Ultimate Guide to Choosing your perfect Cruise Holiday for more information. Our last cruise a man died of a stroke while we were in port, his body was taken off ship and his wife chose to leave too as she did not want to leave his body in France to fly back to the US without her. I was told by their friends(we ate breakfast with them) that their sons flew there to be with her but still she was alone as we sailed out of the port, as her sons could not arrive until the next morning. We've had a chance to tour the 'below decks' area on a few ships and it is quite amazing what is down below. The staging area for luggage, the separate refrigeration room for meat which must be kept separate from chicken which must be kept separate from fish.
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. 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. They gathered data from 78 ocean cruise lines worldwide to analyze passenger and crew mortality from 2000 to 2019. Of these deaths, 89% were passengers, and 11% were crew members. Regarding passenger deaths, 61% were residents of the United States.
Cultural differences can also come into play when handling a passenger’s death on a cruise ship. For example, some cultures have specific funeral customs or rituals that must be followed, which may not be possible on board a ship. In these cases, the cruise line will work with the family to find a suitable solution, such as disembarking the body at the next port or arranging for repatriation. The morgue on a cruise ship is typically quite small, often about the size of a large closet or small room. It is not designed to hold more than one or two bodies at a time, as a larger morgue would take up valuable space needed for passenger amenities.
Some surgeries won’t do it, which will mean booking an online appointment with the ship’s own physician, possibly in a different time zone, and at your own cost. Symphony of the Seas was launched for her maiden voyage in 2018 and is a massive 1,188 ft long and 215 ft wide. Because safety is of paramount importance, cruise liners do have their own highly trained security personnel onboard to deal with any serious situation that might arise. As is clear, while it may be called something different, cruise ships definitely have jails on them. One of the asst. cruise directors that we were having drinks with one night was telling us about the "behind the scenes" areas. She said they had 2 people die on the crossing a few weeks earlier, and she also mentioned the brig.
This might seem morbid, but considering the number of passengers on board, it’s a practical necessity. Cruise ships carry millions of passengers each year, and it is not uncommon for deaths to occur on board. Most vessels are required to have a morgue and additional body bags in the event of an emergency. Generally speaking, the first large port city the ship calls at is where the body will be offloaded, taken to a medical examiner's office and repatriated. But each country has its own rules and regulations about accepting bodies, declaring cause of death and repatriating remains.
Who Pays for Repatriation?
Proper facilities like the onboard morgue and established protocols allow the cruise line to make necessary arrangements while still continuing voyage. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. 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.
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. You would likely be able to attend, but expect the service to happen at a discreet time and place, away from other guests. Some cruise lines will also take this a little bit further, by offering free phone and internet access to those families to help them make arrangements, and escorting them to a local hotel when they disembark.
For such arrangements to be made while onboard, they need to use communication tools. They also allow the bereaved family to use their phone and internet without cost. Whether you have taken a dozen cruises or never stepped foot on a gangway, you may be surprised by some of the secrets hidden onboard. Symphony of the Seas has more than 20 restaurants, 40+ bars, and lounges, stores, theatres, and even has a 10-story high slide located aft. There are over 20 pools, whirlpools, and waterslides for guests to enjoy as well as a zipline that is over nine stories high. Why pick 28, and where they are stored, when filled, was not mentioned.
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. Even if youve gone all-inclusive and full-on luxury, youre still really only seeing half of your cruise ship!
You may wonder about cost implications for using onboard morgue facilities on a cruise ship. Typically, there are no additional fees, but insurance coverage may vary. It’s important to check with your insurance provider before setting sail. 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. Though a tragedy, the ship’s staff is trained to respond sensitively and efficiently.
Most people set foot on a cruise ship to enjoy a relaxing vacation and experience the joys of sailing. However, with many cruisers being older passengers, natural causes, or pre-existing health conditions can lead to unfortunate incidents, but they remain rare amidst the sea of joyful cruise experiences. It's unlikely that this type of morbid thinking is top-of-mind for anyone excited about an upcoming cruise vacation.
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