Table Of Content
We're lucky in Florida, home to some of the world's busiest cruise ports including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT, and Port of Palm Beach. There is also a port in Key West, but this is mainly used for cruise ship calls rather than a homeport. However, the exact capacity of the morgue can vary depending on the size of the ship.
How do cruise lines handle the death of crew members onboard?
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. Onboard morgues on cruise ships are crucial for providing respectful care to the deceased until they can be transported home. So, the key takeaway is that cruise lines prioritize the safety and well-being of their passengers, even in death. The size of the morgue depends on the ship’s capacity, and they are required to carry body bags.
Is There a Morgue Staff on Cruise Ships?
Cruise ship passenger's body was kept in drinks cooler for almost a week, lawsuit claims - Sky News
Cruise ship passenger's body was kept in drinks cooler for almost a week, lawsuit claims.
Posted: Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This is particularly common among older passengers, who make up a large populace among cruise ship travelers. Typically, ocean-going cruise ships have morgues that can accommodate three to four bodies. As the ship reaches its next port, arrangements are made for the body to be unloaded and transferred to local authorities.
How Do You Get Your Loved One Home?
Neither the consulate nor the cruise line pays for anything related to bringing a loved one home; they only help the family make arrangements. And repatriation, with all its necessary paperwork and hassle, is not inexpensive. 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. Without insurance, the costs may have to be covered by the passenger’s family.
Then, if you return on a later sailing, that information is shared with the crew along with your photo. If it’s your first sailing, your cabin steward will still get your photo and be told you’re a first-time passenger. 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. 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.
Hidden Decks, Morgues, and Private Bars— 7 Secrets of Cruise Ships
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. 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. 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.
Disembarkation When a Passenger Dies on Board
The morgue on a cruise ship is typically located on the lower decks, away from the high-traffic passenger areas. In rare instances on small vessels with fewer morgue spaces, there have been reports of bodies stored in the ship’s large freezers or refrigerators, depending on the available cooling options. 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.
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. The most significant concern regarding death at sea is returning the body home. Where the body remains, as mentioned, depends on several factors.
However, each country contains its own specific regulations regarding accepting bodies, naming a cause of death, and repatriation of remains. When someone dies at sea, a trained crisis team will help the deceased’s companions make decisions regarding the logistics of returning the person’s body to the home country so it can be buried. Therefore, it is essential to purchase travel insurance that covers repatriation. Cruise ships are prepared to handle every situation that can arise, including death. Likewise, authorities in many small African and Asian ports with third-world infrastructures will often refuse to allow human remains off the ship. However, alternatives can be found, if necessary, such as when a ship won't be visiting a larger port anytime soon.
They’re traveling around the world, but they don’t often get time to see the ports. There’s a whole other world you can’t see.Yep, you’re really only seeing half of your cruise ship. Many of the things that you have access to on a cruise ship — a cabin, dining hall, bars, sun decks, gyms — have separate versions on a lower deck for the crew to use. Through this and other emergency procedures, cruise staff uses specific codes based on the circumstances. 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 lines have many codes for the staff to communicate without alarming passengers. If the death was due to natural causes, the ship would usually not be required to investigate. Larger vessels may have space for up to 6 bodies, maybe more in some in cases, but to need the use of them all would be a rare occurrence. Why pick 28, and where they are stored, when filled, was not mentioned. By the way - he had a heart attack in the pool as he was bragging that he and Mom were having dinner with the captain.
It ensures the safety of others on the cruise until the ship docks at the next port, where port authorities typically take over the situation. While most deaths on cruise ships occur due to natural causes, some are caused by onboard injuries, suicide, or even foul play. In the event of foul play, the FBI or the appropriate investigative team will be called to examine the situation and interview all parties involved. The suspects may be held in a small brig on the ship until local authorities arrive. While smaller ships may have small refrigerators that can accommodate one or two bodies, larger ships may have more spacious facilities.
Powerful ventilation and cooling systems preserve bodies and prevent odors. Access to the morgue is tightly controlled, with the door kept locked and only authorized medical and security staff allowed entry. They can drive the travel companions to a nearby hotel if they want to disembark and remain with them until they return home.
Mortuary technicians are employed by most cruise ships to manage the morgue and take care of any deceased passengers or crew members who may pass away during their voyage. Though it may seem like an eerie place, its purpose is to provide care for those who have passed away until they can be returned home. 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.
Basic embalming tools, cleaning supplies, body bags, and personal protective equipment are also kept for handling deceased persons. 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. Inside the morgue, there are cold storage units or refrigerated drawers to preserve bodies until the ship reaches the next port. Access to the morgue is restricted only to authorized medical personnel and officers due to the sensitive nature.
No comments:
Post a Comment