Scattering of Ashes at sea

My mum died recently at the grand age age of 89. She loved travel and had cruised extensively with P&O. In her time she had even crewed a tall ship!

Her funeral was very nautical too music by Spartacus and donations for RNLI.

We would like to scatter her ashes at sea and wonder if anyone has any experience of arranging this for a family member. The whole family have booked a cruise in May and we would like to arrange something for then. Thankyou.

My mum died recently at the grand age age of 89. She loved travel and had cruised extensively with P&O. In her time she had even crewed a tall ship!

Her funeral was very nautical too music by Spartacus and donations for RNLI.

We would like to scatter her ashes at sea and wonder if anyone has any experience of arranging this for a family member. The whole family have booked a cruise in May and we would like to arrange something for then. Thankyou.

Contact P and O direct ,they will be able to arrange it. I know others have posted about arranging for this to be done. They all reckoned it was done most sympathetically.

I think it may be the Captain who does it.

Sounds wonderful for what sounds like a lovely lady.

My mum died recently at the grand age age of 89. She loved travel and had cruised extensively with P&O. In her time she had even crewed a tall ship!

Her funeral was very nautical too music by Spartacus and donations for RNLI.

We would like to scatter her ashes at sea and wonder if anyone has any experience of arranging this for a family member. The whole family have booked a cruise in May and we would like to arrange something for then. Thankyou.

From A Year in the Life of the P&O Cruises Fleet

A more sombre service provided by P&O Cruises is fulfilling the wish of someone for their ashes to be scattered at sea. This is usually undertaken soon after leaving port, unless they have specified a particular part of the ocean. The dedication service is performed by the Captain, often from the stern of the mooring deck since this affords a degree of privacy for any mourners. Naturally, wind direction and strength is an important consideration for this ceremony and on occasion it may take place at one of the lower gun ports in the side of the ship. Even with no mourners in attendance, it is always afforded dignity and time. Depending upon the wishes of relatives, a photograph may be taken for those unable to attend. The on-board florist may make a wreath or posy to follow the ashes and a small certificate is printed to commemorate the occasion

I am sorry for your loss, it sounds like a fitting thing to do, I would have loved to have crewed a tall ship when I was younger.

As others have said it can be arranged with a telephone call to P&O.

We once sat with a couple who had done the same thing at the beginning of the cruise. They were full of praise for the staff that handled this for them. They were met in the terminal building before going through security and said that everything was handled in a dignified manner, and the service they received was very personal, and it did not feel as solemn as they had feared.

I hope it all goes well for your family.

I've been told that rather than risk the problems of wind causing the ashes to end up in unintended places, a lovely way to ensure the ashes end up in the sea is to go to the beach when the tide is out, dig a shallow trench, place the ashes in the trench and let the incoming tide do the rest.

Thanks for your replies all useful.Will contact Customer Relations next week to arrange. Like the fact that they might meet you prior to security that could be embarrassing .

I will be scattering my husbands ashes on a cruise in December this year after he suddenly passed away in December aged 37.

I have booked with p and o and they are arranging everything for me. they have said the captain or senior officer will take you somewhere private and will read a prayer or a poem of your choice if you want. you can take your own flowers on board or pick up ashore if you want. all they need from you is confirmation that you have the cremation certificate.

I will be scattering my husbands ashes on a cruise in December this year after he suddenly passed away in December aged 37.

I have booked with p and o and they are arranging everything for me. they have said the captain or senior officer will take you somewhere private and will read a prayer or a poem of your choice if you want. you can take your own flowers on board or pick up ashore if you want. all they need from you is confirmation that you have the cremation certificate.

Clippy - that is so sad. I am so sorry for your loss. But what a wonderful way to say goodbye. I do hope that you find comfort in the ceremony. Take care.

Following on from my previous post have now got confirmation from P&O with all the information we need to scatter my late mothers ashes.

The family are travelling on A614 and are all grateful to P&O for the help we have received so far.

A relative of mine was scattered on the Southern shore. It's a ritual now as we sail out, to raise a toast to him from the ship, we look for the five tower blocks and it's just to the right - always try to get a port side balcony [emoji4]

I am spreading my wife's ashes on the July 23 allure of the seas cruise. She passed in September at 42 years old. I have all necessary papers and biodegradable urn. Upon boarding I have to set up time and day with guest relations. My question is how is this done when the time arrives? Is the captain there or a priest and speaks like as in a service or do they just give you a moment and you do what your there for? I couldn't really find any info on this except how to set it up.

There's information on the P&O website about it. I love the idea of it and wish clippy84 and GiantsCruzin peace and many happy memories when they do this wonderful thing for their partners.

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/fleet/scatter_ashes

I attended a scattering on Aurora back in 2013 and it was a very moving occasion.

I can only tell you about our experiences with P&O but here goes.

We boarded Azura last May and from getting on the ship were dealt with in a very sensitive manner.

We made an appointment with guest relations and she promised to keep us informed. She cared for mums ashes for us and on our first sea day were informed to meet her at a given time.

We were escorted to a lower deck on Azura that we had never been before where we were met by the Captain Deputy Captain Safety Officers and two members of the crew.

The Captain asked questions about mum and was very interested in her nautical history.

He then advised us how the ceremony would be conducted.

He read two bible passages referring to mum by her name and then we said a few prayers.

A door was opened and each member of the family was escorted by the officers to the door as myself laid mums ashes into the ocean.

The florist had also provided free of charge a basket of rose petals for us all to place on the water with our own prayers.

There was no rush and everyone was so kind. We were later provided with a coloured momento of the exact location of where the ashes were scattered who was present and the time day and date.

It was a wonderful celebration of my mothers life and more than we could have ever imagined.

We all then went back to the cabins and toasted her life with a bottle of champagne.

I hope you have a similar experience on Allure of the Seas and finally can I pass on my my condolences.

What wonderful and moving stories. I have been wondering whether this was allowed since my father passed away last August. My mother has said that she would like his ashes scattered in the Norwegian fjords as this was his favourite place on their two cruises.

Now I can tell my mother that this can be done although I haven't a clue when I will be doing a northern cruise!

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