What Happens When There is a Death on a Cruise Ship?
The procedures cruise lines use to handle the unthinkable.
A cruise is usually a fun getaway, but sometimes, on a long voyage, there is a death at sea. Because of this possibility, most modern cruise ships have a morgue on board.
Death at sea is not a common occurrence. Out of the millions of people who travel on cruises each year, only a small fraction — estimated at about 200 people annually — die. Some of these deaths are from accidents or intoxication, while many occur because of a medical condition, given the average age of many cruise passengers.
Cruise ships are prepared for this type of problem, and the procedure typically begins with an announcement. The doctor is called to pronounce the death, and crew members are notified. Code names are used to maintain discretion: “Operation Bright Star” is often used for a severe medical emergency, and “Operation Rising Star” may signify a passenger death, though the exact phrases can vary by cruise line.
After a person has passed away, the body is discreetly placed in a body bag, which the ship is required to carry, and put in the morgue. Most morgues have enough space for one to three bodies, with the larger ships having the capacity for six to ten bodies.
The body is usually offloaded away from the passenger area at the next suitable port of call. A death certificate is issued by the local authorities, and the body is then transported back to the person’s home country. The family of the deceased is responsible for the cost of transporting the deceased person, often called repatriation, unless they have travel insurance that specifically covers this expense.
Sometimes the deceased are allowed to stay on board to return to their home country if the port allows it or if the port of call won’t issue a death certificate. However, the ship’s morgue can’t hold a body for an indefinite period, and a week is often a practical limit. This becomes a factor if the cruise is one of those that lasts a few weeks to a month.
Sources: The Telegraph, Medical Bag