docksider21 Posted February 10, 2008 #1 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Hi Does any one know if any of the cruise lines accomodate or provide services for a brief committal or funeral service to scatter ashes at sea? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted February 10, 2008 #2 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I've never heard of anything like that happening. Plus, it's against the rules to throw anything off the ship. And, if you try and do this on a moving ship, the ashes would blow right back on the ship, onto the balconies. You could take the ashes to a private beach, and do whatever there, but throwing ashes off a ship is something I do not believe they would allow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stowaway2k Posted February 10, 2008 #3 Share Posted February 10, 2008 It's likely something that most cruise lines would not encourage, but it's not unheard of nowdays. I witnessed just such a thing last month. But this was a unique situation, as the "dearly departed" was a long-time frequent passenger, known to the senior officers who all attended the ceremony in dress uniform, along with other crew and regular passengers who knew the person. The ceremony was held near the stern of the ship, early in the morning before breakfast. A flag-draped table was set up dressed with flowers, and hymns were sung. Other passengers who were about at that early hour kept a respectable distance away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miami Posted February 10, 2008 #4 Share Posted February 10, 2008 do a search in this forum. I remember someone asking not too long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted February 10, 2008 #5 Share Posted February 10, 2008 My Spaniard father died in 2003 at the age of 91. During my Constellation cruise from Barcelona to San Juan that fall, I took a small portion of his ashes in a ziploc bag sealed in an envelope by the funeral home which also provided a form identifying my right to transport the ashes. I told no one on the ship but two marvelous friends about my plans to scatter the ashes. They so kindly showed up in formal clothes with a digital camera and recorded the "service." We waited until the ship had left the Malaga pier, the closest location to our family's ancestral home in Spain. The sun was setting as I stood in the slipstream of the funnel and carefully let the ashes fly out into the air and the sea. Thanks to my friends, I have a photo of me holding the ashes in the envelope. I still can feel my father's warm smile for my gesture. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and Spaniards back in their homeland at long last. Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted February 10, 2008 #6 Share Posted February 10, 2008 My Spaniard father died in 2003 at the age of 91. During my Constellation cruise from Barcelona to San Juan that fall, I took a small portion of his ashes in a ziploc bag sealed in an envelope by the funeral home which also provided a form identifying my right to transport the ashes. I told no one on the ship but two marvelous friends about my plans to scatter the ashes. They so kindly showed up in formal clothes with a digital camera and recorded the "service." We waited until the ship had left the Malaga pier, the closest location to our family's ancestral home in Spain. The sun was setting as I stood in the slipstream of the funnel and carefully let the ashes fly out into the air and the sea. Thanks to my friends, I have a photo of me holding the ashes in the envelope. I still can feel my father's warm smile for my gesture. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and Spaniards back in their homeland at long last. Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladycaveat Posted February 10, 2008 #7 Share Posted February 10, 2008 There was a similar thread about this subject on the boards a couple years ago. My son is an officer in the Coast Guard so I asked him. He said it's illegal to throw the remains (even in ash form) of a human being off a ship. He also said it was against the rules and regulations of all cruise ships that sail in and out of the United States. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted February 10, 2008 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2008 From the website of the U.S. Coast Guard: WHEN BURIAL WILL BE PERFORMED BY SCATTERING ASHES AT SEA FROM A COAST GUARD BOAT, CUTTER, OR ACFT, USE THE APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT LIMIT FOR BURIAL IN A GOVERNMENT CEMETERY. IF ASHES ARE SCATTERED FROM A COMMERCIAL VSL, USE THE APPROPRIATE LIMIT FOR BURIAL IN A CIVILIAN CEMETERY http://www.uscg.mil/RESERVE/msg07/alcoast/coast298_07.htm There is further positive information on this website for anyone interested in scattering ashes at sea. I am interested in the above note about "scattered from a commercial vessel." Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted February 10, 2008 #9 Share Posted February 10, 2008 There was a similar thread about this subject on the boards a couple years ago. My son is an officer in the Coast Guard so I asked him. He said it's illegal to throw the remains (even in ash form) of a human being off a ship. He also said it was against the rules and regulations of all cruise ships that sail in and out of the United States. Well....sorry to disagree but I don't think that's right. My area of expertise while in the USCG was not environmental protection....and you know about specialists! However, while CO of a Coast Guard Cutter I routinely was asked to perform scattering of ashes of qualified vet's. It was a regular thing. Before departing on patrol either the District Chaplain would deliver the remains, or sometimes they simply arrived in the mail. We'd schedule a day once a trip and typically had several packages. (not required but we video'd the ceremony with the Captain reading the appropriate passages {faith dependant as best as I could do} and sent the family a tape, a chart with the location marked and signed by the navigator and CO and a note from the CO) Our instructions on the matter said we had to be outside three miles which is one of the threshholds for legality of dumping certain things....let's not get into that. But we certainly DID "dump" ashes at sea. Lately I've become somewhat confused tho as I discovered there is a company that will scatter ashes in San Fran Bay!!! And if there is anyplace more paraniod about dumping things in their water than California I'd like to know where that is... Certainly the ash is just that .... ash. So the bio-hazard concerns really seem to not apply logically. On the other hand I can tell you that not all creamation remains are the same...some was more "pourable"..don't ask me why, I don't know...and we could NOT dump a plastic container. That IS a no-no....disposal of plastics at sea is now a crime. But true ash and wind currents don't mix well.....or rather, they mix TOO well. After you do a scattering off a ship once, you learn to be very concerned about wind direction, and eddys....yes it's just ash but when it becomes airborne..... Don't just pour off your balcony - which as stated b4 is against the rules of every cruiseline....tossing ANYTHING is a no-no. Nor off the stern of a moving ship....trust me on this one... You might send a note to the Captain via the purser's desk however...or even ahead of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wieslaw Posted February 10, 2008 #10 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Hi Does any one know if any of the cruise lines accomodate or provide services for a brief committal or funeral service to scatter ashes at sea? Thanks Hi, I remember reading few of the threads about this subject / services. Here is a link to one of the threads: (please look at post #25 and #42) http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=235793&page=2 Wes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladycaveat Posted February 10, 2008 #11 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Well....sorry to disagree but I don't think that's right. My area of expertise while in the USCG was not environmental protection....and you know about specialists! However, while CO of a Coast Guard Cutter I routinely was asked to perform scattering of ashes of qualified vet's. It was a regular thing. Before departing on patrol either the District Chaplain would deliver the remains, or sometimes they simply arrived in the mail. We'd schedule a day once a trip and typically had several packages. (not required but we video'd the ceremony with the Captain reading the appropriate passages {faith dependant as best as I could do} and sent the family a tape, a chart with the location marked and signed by the navigator and CO and a note from the CO) Our instructions on the matter said we had to be outside three miles which is one of the threshholds for legality of dumping certain things....let's not get into that. But we certainly DID "dump" ashes at sea. Lately I've become somewhat confused tho as I discovered there is a company that will scatter ashes in San Fran Bay!!! And if there is anyplace more paraniod about dumping things in their water than California I'd like to know where that is... Certainly the ash is just that .... ash. So the bio-hazard concerns really seem to not apply logically. On the other hand I can tell you that not all creamation remains are the same...some was more "pourable"..don't ask me why, I don't know...and we could NOT dump a plastic container. That IS a no-no....disposal of plastics at sea is now a crime. But true ash and wind currents don't mix well.....or rather, they mix TOO well. After you do a scattering off a ship once, you learn to be very concerned about wind direction, and eddys....yes it's just ash but when it becomes airborne..... Don't just pour off your balcony - which as stated b4 is against the rules of every cruiseline....tossing ANYTHING is a no-no. Nor off the stern of a moving ship....trust me on this one... You might send a note to the Captain via the purser's desk however...or even ahead of time. Well, my face is certaintly red. It's a good thing my son is a pilot with the Coast Guard flying his little Dolphin HH65 and not on a cutter . . . :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted February 11, 2008 #12 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi, I remember reading few of the threads about this subject / services.Here is a link to one of the threads: (please look at post #25 and #42)http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=235793&page=2 Wes Thanks for doing the "heavy lifting" on that reference to scattering ashes at sea. In returning my father's ashes to the land of his ancestors, I found great peace - we know when something is the right thing to do. My father was a proud Spaniard and scattering his ashes was the completion of his personal circle. It's quite difficult to keep up with all the changes in federal and local laws as they are legislated, remanded, appealed. It's nice to know that scattering ashes at sea is considered appropriate and legal in today's societies. Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladycaveat Posted February 11, 2008 #13 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Well....sorry to disagree but I don't think that's right. My area of expertise while in the USCG was not environmental protection....and you know about specialists! However, while CO of a Coast Guard Cutter I routinely was asked to perform scattering of ashes of qualified vet's. It was a regular thing. Before departing on patrol either the District Chaplain would deliver the remains, or sometimes they simply arrived in the mail. We'd schedule a day once a trip and typically had several packages. (not required but we video'd the ceremony with the Captain reading the appropriate passages {faith dependant as best as I could do} and sent the family a tape, a chart with the location marked and signed by the navigator and CO and a note from the CO) Our instructions on the matter said we had to be outside three miles which is one of the threshholds for legality of dumping certain things....let's not get into that. But we certainly DID "dump" ashes at sea. Lately I've become somewhat confused tho as I discovered there is a company that will scatter ashes in San Fran Bay!!! And if there is anyplace more paraniod about dumping things in their water than California I'd like to know where that is... Certainly the ash is just that .... ash. So the bio-hazard concerns really seem to not apply logically. On the other hand I can tell you that not all creamation remains are the same...some was more "pourable"..don't ask me why, I don't know...and we could NOT dump a plastic container. That IS a no-no....disposal of plastics at sea is now a crime. But true ash and wind currents don't mix well.....or rather, they mix TOO well. After you do a scattering off a ship once, you learn to be very concerned about wind direction, and eddys....yes it's just ash but when it becomes airborne..... Don't just pour off your balcony - which as stated b4 is against the rules of every cruiseline....tossing ANYTHING is a no-no. Nor off the stern of a moving ship....trust me on this one... You might send a note to the Captain via the purser's desk however...or even ahead of time. Capt . . . you know now that I read this thread again . . . maybe I was misunderstood. I meant it was illegal to scatter ashes off a "cruise ship" . . . at least that's was what my son told me several years ago . . . . :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KreinKrunker Posted February 11, 2008 #14 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I have read where Princess will also perform a service. Link to company that arranges services, and sells biodegradable ocean urns: http://www.seaservices.com/index.html?PHPSESSID=1f97b2dcc61f1e8607293434a05f21ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted March 9, 2010 #15 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I wouldn't worry about the "Law"... Speeding is against the law and most of you do it multiple times a day.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted March 9, 2010 #16 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I know it has been done, and by a member of this forum aboard a HAL ship. I suggest you contact the cruiseline, perhaps the special needs dept. They will arrange a time and place. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltmom1 Posted March 9, 2010 #17 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I knows that Host Mach has helped to arrange this on the Carnival ships, I think through John Heald, but not sure of that. Search the Carnival forums from about 2 or 3 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler353 Posted March 9, 2010 #18 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I knows that Host Mach has helped to arrange this on the Carnival ships, I think through John Heald, but not sure of that. Search the Carnival forums from about 2 or 3 months ago. Ditto, Host Mach has helped several Carnival cruisers in the last couple of years with the arrangements to make this happen. So it can be done and is not against the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCC retired Posted March 9, 2010 #19 Share Posted March 9, 2010 (edited) Dispersing of Cremated Ashes at Sea Dispersing cremated ashes at sea is permitted. The guest must contact the Purser’s Information Desk once onboard the ship. The Pursers 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 Purser’s Information 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. Edited March 9, 2010 by MCC retired Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisead Posted March 9, 2010 #20 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I'm also thinking that this must be done while the ship is stationary, because with the winds, the ashes would most certainly blow back onto the balconies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronto Guy Posted September 5, 2011 #21 Share Posted September 5, 2011 We just scattered my father's ashes while onboard Carnival Conquest. This was arranged by contacting Guest Services after embarkation. Carnival was very accomodating of this request. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerboo Posted September 5, 2011 #22 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I wouldn't worry about the "Law"... Speeding is against the law and most of you do it multiple times a day.. Actually, I don't speed "multiple times a day"!~ I drive the posted speed limit. And, I do worry about the Law...as in I follow it and don't break it! Bad advice, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie51 Posted September 5, 2011 #23 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I'm also thinking that this must be done while the ship is stationary, because with the winds, the ashes would most certainly blow back onto the balconies. A friend of mine and her 2 sisters took a cruise with the intention of throwing their father's ashes out to sea. Unfortunately they didn't check with the cruise line first to see how to best do this. They went out one night on an open deck and dumped his ashes overboard and the wind blew the ashes back on them and the surrounding area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetz Posted September 6, 2011 #24 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Yes, it is done. Contact the cruiseline. These urns are the ones most people use. :) http://www.funeral-urn.com/biodegradable-urns.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 6, 2011 #25 Share Posted September 6, 2011 How about something more environmental friendly http://www.eternalreefs.com/?gclid=CJKgl9m5h6sCFUTrKgodjnFPPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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