Serious question

[Ladysilver]

I hope this is not a stupid question but here goes....My brother-in-law passed away last April and was cremated. He wanted his ashes to go into the ocean. Would Royal Caribbean allow us to do this while we're on our upcoming cruise? Is so, how is it done? Supervised by an officer from the ship maybe? Thanks for your help. :)

[voyager70]

First of all I'm so sorry for your loss. I do believe Royal does burials at sea. Call them to get the specifics. Best of luck.

[JMG]

Sorry for your loss.

 

You should contact the cruiseline and request that this be done. Sometimes people just do their own thing and the ashes are released from an upper deck and sometimes land on balconies of staterooms below. If you contact the cruiseline...they will take you to a lower deck, offer an appropriate atmosphere and usually you will receive a certificate that shows the longitude and latitude of the "burial".

 

The ashes have to be in an appropriate container and you may need to get government permission to transport the ashes to another state/country.

[Ladysilver]

Sorry for your loss.

 

You should contact the cruiseline and request that this be done. Sometimes people just do their own thing and the ashes are released from an upper deck and sometimes land on balconies of staterooms below. If you contact the cruiseline...they will take you to a lower deck, offer an appropriate atmosphere and usually you will receive a certificate that shows the longitude and latitude of the "burial".

 

The ashes have to be in an appropriate container and you may need to get government permission to transport the ashes to another state/country.

 

 

Thank you for the information. I will call Royal. :)

[Mapleleaf5]

Thank you for the information. I will call Royal. :)

 

Please let us know what they say.

 

Thanks,

Joanne

[cruisequeen10]

I believe there are only so many areas this can be done. I think it is the Carribbean

[gjc1111]

Sorry for your loss. I hope you are able to work this out. Let us know!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[LindaO]

I am so sorry for your loss. It is so nice of you to make these arrangements for your sister. We scattered my father's ashes from the Sovereign of the Seas.

 

My mother and I took our first cruise (with friends) on the Soveriegn. We spent many holidays and so many smiles on board her... so it was only fitting we scattered my father's ashes from her. Upon arriving on board I left a note with the purser's desk for the Staff Captain. The Staff Captain and Hostess made all the arrangements and the officers on board who assisted us were remarkable. The Purser, Loyalty Ambassador, Staff Captain, Hotel Director, and Hostess all stopped by during our cruise and asked if there was anything we needed. My mother, sister, and a friend of my mothers all traveled in 2 cabins. So many of the crew and staff were more than kind to us. We had a choice, to either scatter the ashes at sea or off the shore in Coco Cay. We opted to scatter at sea.

 

It was not a sad cruise... we had fun.. and created some lovely memories... It was funny, because dad always said he'd go to BINGO over "his dead body" and it just happened that we were to meet our escorts just after BINGO in the theater... so we took dad('s ashes) to BINGO... We have been able to laugh about that and I still smile when I go to BINGO on board a ship... and I think of my father. For years after, when we sailed on the Sovereign, many of the staff and officers would remember us. I am forever grateful. The crew did exactly what we asked... and were kind and gracious. We made all arrangements on board, but this was a few years ago.

 

Just a note for anyone reading this... please don't try to scatter ashes overboard without the assistance of the ship. We were taken to the lowest deck and an officer actually scattered the ashes for us. That was our choice. The winds on upper decks would cause the ashes to just come right back up... not a pleasant thought.

[reney313]

My thoughts are with your sister and your family.

 

There are some good testimonials on Cruise Critic around the process. I copied a few links below.

 

Trainman has a great tribute (and tear producing) to his late wife:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1268384&highlight=burial

 

 

Here is one from Enchantment:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1031232&highlight=burial

 

One from Mariner:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1164148&highlight=burial

[maureencruiser]

Here are some biodegradable urns you can use

 

 

 

[Clarea]

We did a burial at sea on Liberty last year. Royal handled it very nicely. I believe you must contact the Emergency Team, and they will provide you with all the info (including necessary governmental forms) on the process.

[Ladysilver]

Here are some biodegradable urns you can use

 

 

 

 

 

What an interesting idea!

[Ladysilver]

Please let us know what they say.

 

Thanks,

Joanne

 

 

I will. :)

[Ladysilver]

My brother-in-law was single. No wife and no kids. He was a true renaissance man. :)

[UNV-IT!!!]

Here are some biodegradable urns you can use

 

 

 

 

Love this

[maureencruiser]

Love this

 

Since some of you like them, here are a few more ideas. This is definitely the way I want to go, cruising into the afterlife......