Throwing ashes at sea

What is the procedure for setting up a service to spread ashes at sea? My mom want to do it for her mother. Mom was told that it was possible and it was a free service done from a private part of the ship. However, the guy she talked to really didn't know the procedure to do it. Mom was given either an email or a phone number (I forget which) but wasn't able to get through.

We'll be on the Ruby on April 24.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Condolences to your family. Check out this thread from last February: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2316211

What is the procedure for setting up a service to spread ashes at sea? My mom want to do it for her mother. Mom was told that it was possible and it was a free service done from a private part of the ship. However, the guy she talked to really didn't know the procedure to do it. Mom was given either an email or a phone number (I forget which) but wasn't able to get through.

 

We'll be on the Ruby on April 24.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

Call Princess and they will set it up.

Condolences to your family. Check out this thread from last February: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2316211

* Ashes must be contained in a biodegradable urn

* Ashes/Flowers may only be spread in International waters

* In accordance with environmental laws, only ashes, biodegradeable urns and biodegradeable flowers are permitted to be spread overboard. Cards, paper, metals, plastics and other non-biodegradeable items are not permitted.

* Our ships do not employ a Chaplain

We had a hard time arranging to have the ashes brought on board because we wanted to do it in a port. We had to appeal to that port- and the only one that said ok with St. Thomas. We had to get permission from the port, the cruise and also from the port in the states that we were leaving from. We had to have a certificate of cremation and also the death certificate.

If I had it to do again I would not have asked and just done it- though you have to think about it coming back in the ship or on someones balcony.

We had a hard time arranging to have the ashes brought on board because we wanted to do it in a port. We had to appeal to that port- and the only one that said ok with St. Thomas. We had to get permission from the port, the cruise and also from the port in the states that we were leaving from. We had to have a certificate of cremation and also the death certificate.

If I had it to do again I would not have asked and just done it- though you have to think about it coming back in the ship or on someones balcony.

You can get in a whole lot of trouble for throwing things off the ship.

You can get in a whole lot of trouble for throwing things off the ship.

Like get put off at the next port.

And a possible $5000 fine.

Not thinking about possible ramifications, we scattered a friend's ashes off the stern in Nassau. No one saw us, but we had a problem, anyway. It was a bright, sunshiny day with no breeze. Until, that is, we began shaking the ashes out. They blew back on us, in our faces, arms, and hair.

We didn't want to dance around, screaming, had a terrible urge to laugh, and managed to just frantically brush off our arms and faces and shake our heads.

It was a memorable send off!

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Let's be 100 percent clear on this.

Anecdotes aside, DO NOT ever do this without permission of the ship and pre-arrangements. There are many rules and regulations and if you are caught the consequences can be significant including fines, disembarkation and if not in international waters in some areas, jail time.

Even if you just want a simple over the side, no service, the ship's crew will make sure its done properly and safely for all involved.

Thank you all for your replies. And, yes, I know it is "spreading" ashes, not "tossing" ashes. For the life of me I couldn't figure out the proper word to use last night!

You won't be able to "spread" ashes...but if they are in a biodegradable urn, then you drop the urn overboard. The ashes MUST be contained....

You won't be able to "spread" ashes...but if they are in a biodegradable urn, then you drop the urn overboard. The ashes MUST be contained....

Thanks for all of the information. I told my wife this is what she should do with me, when the time comes.

Thanks for all of the information. I told my wife this is what she should do with me, when the time comes.

I've told my DW the same. Sadly I won't be able to verify she actually does it...

There was a gentleman who asked his wife if she would spread his ashes from a cruise ship if he died before her. She replied: "I'll be glad too. I'll do it on my honeymoon cruise with my next husband."

We asked about this when my parents bought their cremation package. We were told the ashes had to be in a biodegradable urn (really a paper-mache type small box) and it had to be done 3 miles out to sea in international waters. There are really strict guidelines on this subject in California. Not sure about other states.

Please accept my condolences. To get this arranged, please contact ashesrequest@princesscruises.com Provide them with the cruise information and they will send you a letter of approval unless they have any specific questions.

Once on board, go to the front desk and present the letter. They will make put you in contact with the front desk manager. Do not be surprised if they are not aware of your at sea burial plans. The manager will get pre-approval from the Captain as to when the private ceremony can take place. You then pick the actual date and time based on those parameters.

The manager will then inform you as to where and what time to meet and they will escort you from your meeting location to the aft section for your private ceremony.

I want this for myself, eventually. But I don't want to just be dropped, I want to be flung, with gusto, using a water balloon slingshot. Goals.

I want this for myself, eventually. But I don't want to just be dropped, I want to be flung, with gusto, using a water balloon slingshot. Goals.

 

Love it! [emoji1]

We asked about this when my parents bought their cremation package. We were told the ashes had to be in a biodegradable urn (really a paper-mache type small box) and it had to be done 3 miles out to sea in international waters. There are really strict guidelines on this subject in California. Not sure about other states.

When my father passed away a few years ago he wanted to have his ashes spread under the Golden Gate Bridge. Legally that's not possible, but we were able to scatter them inside the bay, near the bridge. No, it wasn't from a cruise ship. Also the container had to be biodegradable. We chose a paper "pillow", but there were urns which were available made from other materials.

Just sprinkle them down the sink, one handful at a time, like Meredith did with Ellis.

(Yeah, only a few will get it.)

We asked about this when my parents bought their cremation package. We were told the ashes had to be in a biodegradable urn (really a paper-mache type small box) and it had to be done 3 miles out to sea in international waters. There are really strict guidelines on this subject in California. Not sure about other states.

Additionally, there are salt urns which are biodegradable, designed to dissolve in water after a few hours.