The reason why most cruise ships must have a morgue on board has been revealed.
Cruising is a hobby many people enjoy, but it turns out there can be some pretty dark secrets hiding aboard those luxury vessels...
Most cruise ships carry over 6,000 passengers, with many averaging around 3,000, and while deaths are rare compared to the millions who sail each year, they do occur.
As a result, cruise lines must have arrangements to store a body on board until it can be removed at the next port.
According to The New York Times, the morgue is usually a small, refrigerated room located in the lowest part of the ship and can hold between two and ten bodies.
When a passenger dies, their body is moved to the morgue and usually taken off the ship at the next port, though in some cases, it remains on board for the rest of the journey.
The process begins when the crew uses the code “Operation Rising Star” to indicate a death, while “Operation Bright Star” signals a medical emergency, The Independent reports.
The captain and medical teams on land are notified immediately, and the situation is handled with quiet respect for the deceased.
Cruise ship doctor Dr. Aleksandar Durovic explained the protocols to CNN: “It’s a job full of stress and responsibility. The medical side can be very demanding. Most of what we do on big cruise ships is emergency services, like in an ER. But we are also general practitioners for crew, and take care of chronic medical needs.
"Obviously the doctor pronounces the death, but for most medical teams, the person is given some respect. There’s a moment of silence before the body is prepared," he continued.
“It’s not a nice feeling for the whole ship,” he says, of a death onboard. “Ships are supposed to be fun places, for people to enjoy their vacation. Any event like that is really stressful for everyone, but at least we [medics] have training.”
Dr. Durovic shared that respiratory issues are among the most common medical problems onboard, followed by other vascular issues and injuries.
“Heart attacks, heart failure, cardiac arrest. Strokes, injuries, fractured bones, spine injuries, and head injuries. It’s similar to any ER around the world, and some ships can be very busy,” he said.
The existence of onboard morgues ensures cruise ships are prepared to handle emergencies with dignity. However, not all tragic events at sea end in fatalities, as seen in a recent incident aboard the Disney Dream.
While sailing between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale, a five-year-old girl fell overboard.
Her father immediately jumped into the water after her, staying afloat for over 10 minutes until the Disney crew successfully executed a rescue, an effort captured on cell phone video.
Amid online rumors, authorities clarified that the father had not been holding the child before she fell. “The little girl was not being held, as erroneously reported on some social media sites,” the Broward County Sheriff’s Office told CBS News Miami.
A fellow passenger, Monica Shannon, shared what she learned from a crew member: “She did say that [the girl] was climbing up and the parents were playing shuffleboard and the dad jumped in after her.”
Shannon, who was waiting on a lower deck with her family to meet Disney princesses, recalled the moment: “I just figured it was maybe a part of the show or just the experience, but about five minutes later we heard that someone flew overboard.”
Authorities praised the Disney crew’s swift actions: “Based on media reports I have read, the Disney crew was well prepared. Clearly, their training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue.”
While detectives continue to investigate the circumstances, the sheriff’s office noted, “This family is so blessed. It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome.”
These incidents highlight the intense preparation and training behind cruise ships, ensuring safety in emergencies and providing dignity in the rare event of a death at sea.