Do cruise ships have morgues? Yes, they do. Since cruise ships are like big floating cities on the sea, they are prepared for everything, including the possibility of someone passing away.
Each ship has a morgue as part of its services. This is to make sure that if someone does die during the trip, there’s a respectful and careful way to handle it.
Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?
Yes, on cruise ships, morgues are a necessary but often unnoticed feature. They are usually located at the end of a service corridor called I-95, on one of the lower decks. These morgues can hold several bodies, each stored in a body bag and placed on shelves.
This setup helps manage situations with dignity when someone passes away during a voyage. Like other facilities on the ship, such as areas for food, alcohol, and flowers, the morgue ensures that the cruise can handle every aspect of a passenger’s needs.
Why Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?
Cruise lines have specific policies and regulations to manage situations when someone dies during a voyage. Each cruise ship is equipped with a morgue and body bags, ensuring everything is handled respectfully and carefully.
If there is a death on board, the ship might change its itinerary depending on the rules at different ports. These ports are important because they are places where the body can be taken off the ship in accordance with local laws.
This approach helps take care of the deceased properly while trying to keep the rest of the passengers’ cruise experience as smooth as possible.
Where Can You Find The Morgue?
On ships, particularly those designed to carry large numbers of guests, morgues are an essential feature, often discreetly located on a lower ship deck. These morgues are equipped with steel compartments that can typically hold between three to six bodies.
Each compartment is designed with shelves to maximize space and maintain the condition of the bodies until they can be properly handled at a port.
4 Reasons Cruise Ships Have Morgues
1: Unseen Reality of Cruise Ship Morgues
Cruise ships are like floating cities, carrying thousands of passengers and crew members across the ocean. With so many people on board, it’s natural that emergencies, accidents, and sometimes even deaths can happen.
That’s why these ships are equipped for every possibility, including having a morgue. While it might seem surprising, having a morgue is an important part of the ship. It helps handle serious situations quietly and respectfully, ensuring the safety and dignity of everyone involved.
2: Legal Requirements for Handling Deaths at Sea
In the cruise industry, there are strict regulations and standards to make sure that passengers and crew members on cruise ships are safe. These rules require ships to have the right facilities and follow certain procedures if someone dies during a voyage.
For example, when a death happens, the ship must start an investigation to find out the cause and make sure the deceased is treated with dignity. This process includes reporting the death to the right authorities and handling everything respectfully, which helps give closure to families and maintains safety on the ship.
3: Preservation and Repatriation Processes on Cruise Ships
Cruise ship morgues are special facilities on ships that help take care of situations when someone dies. When this happens, there’s a detailed process that involves a lot of coordination with different groups.
The ship’s staff work with authorities and embassies to arrange for the bodies to be sent back to their home country. This is called repatriation.
They also communicate closely with the family of the deceased to make sure everything is done according to their wishes, including starting any funeral services at the port of call where the ship is docked. This careful approach helps the family during a tough time and ensures everything is handled respectfully.
4: Maintaining Passenger Discretion During Sensitive Situations
Cruise lines recognize the importance of handling sensitive situations, such as the death of a passenger, with the utmost discretion and sensitivity. The addition of a morgue on board serves this purpose, ensuring that such incidents do not cause distress or panic among other passengers.
This facility is an essential requirement that allows the cruise line to maintain a high level of service and minimize disruptions during the cruise experience.
By managing these challenging events with care and respect, cruise lines uphold a calm environment, ensuring that the remainder of the passengers’ journey is as comfortable and undisturbed as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Disney Cruise Line have a Morgue?
Yes, it’s true – cruise ships have morgues, and the reasons for this might surprise you.
How often do People die on Cruise Ships?
Around 200 deaths occur yearly, with four weekly on average. A study covering 2000 to 2019 found 623 reported deaths on cruise ships from 78 journeys.
Do Cruise Ships have Morgues on Board?
Cruise ships carry millions of passengers yearly, and deaths can occur onboard. For safety, most ships must have morgues and extra body bags available.