Advice on scattering ashes at sea?

[San_Antonio_Ex]

My mother, who is in hospice care now, has requested that she be cremated and that her ashes be scattered at sea. For that purpose, we have reserved a cruise in July. I would like to hear from anyone else who has done this. Where do they put the family to do this? Is it a truly private place? Can you order flowers to have on board to scatter with them? Anything else I should know?

 

Shelley

[Busy Barge]

sorry to hear it ...

 

don't know about carnival but i hear holland america offers a private service

[scgamecock]

I have seen others get help from John Heald to make arrangements for this.

[chasinraynbowz]

Actually, get hold of Host Mach. He's dealt with this with another member or two and I know he will be very helpful to you. He has all the information you will need and who you will need to contact at Carnival.

 

HostMach@cruisecritic.com

 

 

[kcdancerkc]

I have previously googled reef burial

 

 

that is what I want for myself

 

 

I'm a hospice volunteer

 

I understand

[mosel]

We wanted to do the same on our Celebrity cruise last December but they had discontinued the program. So our family went to a beach and found a deserted area by a palm tree and burried my parents ashes together under the palm tree.. We took pictures and all had a moment to think of them. It was very nice. My Mom loved dolphins so we all bought dolphin necklaces from the little boys selling them at the beach so we had a remembrance. I also brought back some of the sand from the beach where we buried them. This option really turned out to be very special because it was just our family. Best Wishes to your family. Cindy

[GB Chicago]

I posted a review December 2008 on the informal ceremony my sister and I had after our mom passed away. We were on the Destiny and there is a "secret" deck forward (don't recall if it was Empress or Upper deck). We waited until the sun was setting, said a prayer and sent a small portion of ashes out to sea. It was very cool - just off the coast of Cuba.

[ffmikey]

We just did this on our last cruise on the Miracle in February. The crew was great. I had to meet with the Environmental officer, do this early. The ship must be a certain distance off shore. They chose the day and time to meet the requirements. We did go to a secluded place. The Officer told me that since I only had a hand full of ashes it would not be a big deal. If you have an urn they will take you to a lower deck due to the size of the item being thrown over the side. In the end we got a white rose and a letter giving the location of the burial. My friend was in the military and spent a lot of time at sea, it was very fitting.

 

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab141/ffmikey-CS/Miracle%20Cruise%20B2B%20Jan%202012/Miracle040.jpg

 

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab141/ffmikey-CS/Miracle%20Cruise%20B2B%20Jan%202012/Miracle043.jpg

 

Sorry about your loss. Mike

[Marylovescruising]

We took my Dad's ashes in February 2011 on the Blogger's Cruise in order to scatter him at sea. It was such a wonderful experience and John Heald was instrumental in making it so easy for me. He contacted the ship and as soon as I boarded, I was notified by them to come to Guest Services and I spoke with an Officer and Environmental representative. I had the certification from the funeral home about his ashes and showed them the packet so they would know it was biodegradable. They said no flowers or anything else was permitted to be thrown into the ocean. Of course, I complied. I was just happy they were allowing the burial. You can simply visit Guest Services and tell them what you want and they'll be happy to help you. At least that's my experience with Carnival.

 

I brought Dad's ashes in a biodegradable paper packet that was designed to float for about 5 minutes before it floated down and disbursed his ashes. My husband and I along with two other bloggers were escorted down to Deck 1 aft, where opening is for the ropes used when docking. It was interesting to be down there so close to the water.

 

The crew members stepped back and let us have a time to ourselves. I read a poem and said good-bye and held the packet in an opening that the moment I let go, it kind of sucked it out. Dad floated as promised and I could still see the dark blue packet bobbing up and down for a couple of minutes.

 

Dad has cruised ever since that day with us. Every time we go, we take a small container of his ashes with us and leave a few grains here and there on the beaches, forests -- any place we think he would have liked. Dad and I made 22 cruises together on Carnival and 1 on Princess. I still feel very close to him at sea. Dad was a 20-year Navy man and loved the sea. I will always be a very proud Navy brat. I will always love the sea.

 

Hope you are able to make arrangements for your mother. It will do wonderful things for you also. The peace is absolute when you do something you know makes your parent's final wishes possible.

 

Mary

[klmorg]

I saved this, along with some other info, as this is my wishes as well. From Carnival.....

 

Dispersing cremated ashes at sea is permitted. You must contact the Guest Services Desk once onboard the ship. The Guest Services Staff and the Environmental Officer will coordinate the burial at sea.

 

Depending on the ship’s itinerary, a date and time will be selected for the ceremony.

 

The Guest Services Desk will notify the guest of the scheduled ceremony.

 

The ceremony must be performed beyond twelve nautical miles from land and any restricted areas noted on the nautical charts and notices to mariners.

 

Ashes and flowers may be dispersed but not plastic materials such as plastic ribbons, plastic flowers, plastic urns, balloons, etc.

[gadan1]

You need to contact Guest Services once on board. They'll coordinate things with you. See the FAQ link below.

 

http://www.carnival.com/core/faq.aspx?icid=CC_Header_466#q-548788

[San_Antonio_Ex]

Thank you everyone! I have emailed John Heald, but haven't heard back yet. I appreciate all the responses!

 

Shelley

[chasinraynbowz]

Thank you everyone! I have emailed John Heald, but haven't heard back yet. I appreciate all the responses!

 

Shelley

 

 

Shelly, John is away until May. I may not hear from him till then.

[Sh1035]

My son passed away about a month before our cruise of 21 friends and family. That was 5 years ago and we tried to set something up but seemed far to difficult with all the rules and regulations. Saved them so maybe some other time. Bad enough death does not count as a reason for a refund?

 

But trying to get approval for the EPA,tree huggers,friends of the sea,captain, the manatees, they said u have a 3 minute window if the wind is not blowing south on a Tuesday at 2 12 am. Not quite that bad. But close.

 

he had a great 21st bd even in his absence.

[mousey]

Thank off of you for this information. My youngest brother passed away a week before our April 8th cruise. He wanted his ashes thrown into the sea so when he was cremated we chose a biodegradable container. It's made of some special kind of paper and it has a charm attached to it. You remove the charm before you send the box into the ocean. Then you bury the charm in your yard an some kind of flowering bush will grow (I forgot the name of the bush). Anyway, I'll be doing this on our next cruise.

[BamaboyinUT]

We took my Dad's ashes in February 2011 on the Blogger's Cruise in order to scatter him at sea. It was such a wonderful experience and John Heald was instrumental in making it so easy for me. He contacted the ship and as soon as I boarded, I was notified by them to come to Guest Services and I spoke with an Officer and Environmental representative. I had the certification from the funeral home about his ashes and showed them the packet so they would know it was biodegradable. They said no flowers or anything else was permitted to be thrown into the ocean. Of course, I complied. I was just happy they were allowing the burial. You can simply visit Guest Services and tell them what you want and they'll be happy to help you. At least that's my experience with Carnival.

 

I brought Dad's ashes in a biodegradable paper packet that was designed to float for about 5 minutes before it floated down and disbursed his ashes. My husband and I along with two other bloggers were escorted down to Deck 1 aft, where opening is for the ropes used when docking. It was interesting to be down there so close to the water.

 

The crew members stepped back and let us have a time to ourselves. I read a poem and said good-bye and held the packet in an opening that the moment I let go, it kind of sucked it out. Dad floated as promised and I could still see the dark blue packet bobbing up and down for a couple of minutes.

 

Dad has cruised ever since that day with us. Every time we go, we take a small container of his ashes with us and leave a few grains here and there on the beaches, forests -- any place we think he would have liked. Dad and I made 22 cruises together on Carnival and 1 on Princess. I still feel very close to him at sea. Dad was a 20-year Navy man and loved the sea. I will always be a very proud Navy brat. I will always love the sea.

 

Hope you are able to make arrangements for your mother. It will do wonderful things for you also. The peace is absolute when you do something you know makes your parent's final wishes possible.

 

Mary

 

My allergies must've really started acting up while I was reading your story. Either that or I got something in my eye.

 

Beautiful story.

[love to sail - brian]

My mother, who is in hospice care now, has requested that she be cremated and that her ashes be scattered at sea. For that purpose, we have reserved a cruise in July. I would like to hear from anyone else who has done this. Where do they put the family to do this? Is it a truly private place? Can you order flowers to have on board to scatter with them? Anything else I should know?

 

Shelley

 

Shelley, having just lost my mom to cancer before Thanksgiving 2011 and 3 weeks to the day before her 61st birthday, my thoughts and prayers are with you, your mom and your family. My apologies for not having any information for you, but my mom instilled in me my love for the sea and travel...I came across your post and well...made me think of her.

 

Brian

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[San_Antonio_Ex]

Thanks again to everyone. Especially those who shared their stories. My mother has a very aggressive form of brain cancer and is now in hospice care. It was her wish that we use her small life insurace policy to have a family cruise. We have not had a family vacation since before I graduated from h.s. way back in 1978, as all but one of the children went into the military and scattered to the four winds to lead our separate lives.

 

None of my four siblings have ever cruised, but my parents both loved to cruise, and my children and I love to cruise. This will be a bittersweet cruise, meant by my mother to be a good time, yet sad because we never seemed to be able to cruise together when she was living.

 

I hope all the arrangements can be made as it is her final wish that she be put to rest in the southern caribbean

[Mikel1733]

We just did this on our last cruise on the Miracle in February. The crew was great. I had to meet with the Environmental officer, do this early. The ship must be a certain distance off shore. They chose the day and time to meet the requirements. We did go to a secluded place. The Officer told me that since I only had a hand full of ashes it would not be a big deal. If you have an urn they will take you to a lower deck due to the size of the item being thrown over the side. In the end we got a white rose and a letter giving the location of the burial. My friend was in the military and spent a lot of time at sea, it was very fitting.

 

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab141/ffmikey-CS/Miracle%20Cruise%20B2B%20Jan%202012/Miracle040.jpg

 

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab141/ffmikey-CS/Miracle%20Cruise%20B2B%20Jan%202012/Miracle043.jpg

 

Sorry about your loss. Mike

 

Your photos are very touching. I've expressed such wishes to my family but I'm not certain they will follow through. Thanks for sharing.

[waxing witch]

i came across this searching for information about policies on rci. my mother and i scattered my stepfather's ashes from the carnival sensation in 2008. even with a medical emergency on board and an extra stop in port, the crew was incredibly sensitive and accommodating. it was quick, private, and very easy to set up. as he was not in a biodegradable container, we just dumped the ashes overboard.

 

we planned ahead when my mother passed in 2010, and her remains are interred in a biodegradable sea salt urn lined with a water soluble bag. we will be burying her at sea in the bahamas, near where my stepfather was scattered, but on rci this time (carnival's itineraries/dates did not work for us this time around). this is the entire purpose of the cruise and will be my brother and his fiancee's first cruise. we plan on celebrating A LOT and remembering my mother.

 

just wanted to share my story. i think it's wonderful that the cruise lines allow things like this. not just allow it, but make it such a priority and an easy process.

[beckyk329]

We took my Dad's ashes in February 2011 on the Blogger's Cruise in order to scatter him at sea. It was such a wonderful experience and John Heald was instrumental in making it so easy for me. He contacted the ship and as soon as I boarded, I was notified by them to come to Guest Services and I spoke with an Officer and Environmental representative. I had the certification from the funeral home about his ashes and showed them the packet so they would know it was biodegradable. They said no flowers or anything else was permitted to be thrown into the ocean. Of course, I complied. I was just happy they were allowing the burial. You can simply visit Guest Services and tell them what you want and they'll be happy to help you. At least that's my experience with Carnival.

 

I brought Dad's ashes in a biodegradable paper packet that was designed to float for about 5 minutes before it floated down and disbursed his ashes. My husband and I along with two other bloggers were escorted down to Deck 1 aft, where opening is for the ropes used when docking. It was interesting to be down there so close to the water.

 

The crew members stepped back and let us have a time to ourselves. I read a poem and said good-bye and held the packet in an opening that the moment I let go, it kind of sucked it out. Dad floated as promised and I could still see the dark blue packet bobbing up and down for a couple of minutes.

 

Dad has cruised ever since that day with us. Every time we go, we take a small container of his ashes with us and leave a few grains here and there on the beaches, forests -- any place we think he would have liked. Dad and I made 22 cruises together on Carnival and 1 on Princess. I still feel very close to him at sea. Dad was a 20-year Navy man and loved the sea. I will always be a very proud Navy brat. I will always love the sea.

 

Hope you are able to make arrangements for your mother. It will do wonderful things for you also. The peace is absolute when you do something you know makes your parent's final wishes possible.

 

Mary

 

 

This made me cry as well. Sorry for your loss, but what a beautiful way to remember...