Death on the Magic?

[SadieN]

In 2003 we were on the repo of the HAL Amsterdam San Diego-Vancouver. Great cruise and only 188 pax onboard. (The World Cruise just ended in San Diego.)

 

8 of us were seated at a 10-top and DH sees 2 ladies sitting along the rail at tables by themselves. DH says to the waiter that if they want to they can join us. Waiter turns around and sees the two ladies. "That one's husband died. She went home, buried him and came back. The other lady...Her husband died and she shipped his body home."

[hammsz]

that theres an avg of 1 deaths per 7 day cruise, they even have a place to keep their bodies on ice

[mapsmith]

Actually, I would not mind if I kicked the bucket on a "bucket list cruise" I can think of a lot of worse places to go than on a cruise ship.

[sjn911]

Actually, I would not mind if I kicked the bucket on a "bucket list cruise" I can think of a lot of worse places to go than on a cruise ship.

 

Me too..if there are loved ones at the time that need to connect...well I will try to always let people know they are loved...

 

They have a morgue and do things well so people can do what they have to do..

 

If our culture was just more accepting..and our mutual faiths could get to a place where a good next step was surely there,,,we could be so much kinder and more comfortable and have choices filled in a family or alone in having our choices on us or known and written down..deaths and last months of extreme medical expensive chaos that has a 2 percent chance of working could be honestly discussed beforehand...when, well we could ask deep ?'s. Do you want that and this extreme and how far do you want to go..how many looks at your heart if it is a rather hopeless virus...and on and on..and many deaths could be with dignity and with far more ease and connection with all loved ones there..so much suffering eliminated and the grief cut in half....My mom suffered twice and maybe 3 times as much as she had to if we could have been more evolved on all issues as a society really...really facing it..and speaking in more honest percentages..with minimal chances and sooo much air medical travel and continued invasion she endured could have been avoided.

 

Anyways yes I have deep sympathy for loss and grief and still having a time with my mom's loss..but things could be so much better on about every single level with accepting it as a part of life and precious last days could be spent with clear knowledge and deep togetherness..or pushing medicine to limit if that is what is wanted..if we really did this a TON could be saved I believe..and quality end time love expanded with our loved ones.

 

I have to let go..if my dad dies feeding his horses in winter..that will be a blessing...have to allow people to be...and if cruising is a major joy to someone and it is short and relatively painless exit I say hoooray..prayers for all those souls enjoying that exit to heaven and peace and love to their loved ones until their time...Sarah

Edited March 17, 2014 by sjn911

[mzloolue]

A man a couple of tables away collapsed and died at dinner one night.

It was a large family group.

We first noticed because a lady walked past our table noticeably upset escorting several children out.

Then waiters were holding up tablecloths around the area where the man was.

 

Then people started coming.

Medical people and suits.

It was happening on the second floor of the dining room.

They just kept on with the singing and dancing on the lower floor and people who did not see had no idea what was going on.

 

From where I was sitting I could see the drama upstairs and the silliness going on downstairs.

Some people's lives were changed forever and others were twirling some napkins and eating dessert.

It was a strange contrast.

I

 

The family stayed on the ship.

They probably got home just as fast and less expensively that way.

An awful thing to happen anytime, but especially during a time that they had been looking forward to.

At least they were together.

 

The waiters were told to say that they did not know anything.

Edited March 17, 2014 by mzloolue

[Lulubelle45]

On some other cruise lines where they have an older population plus lengthy 14-30 days, there is several deaths a trip.

 

Yes, case in point a HAL ship doing the Panama then up to Vancouver had 3 known deaths. Older clientele. If I had to go at least it would be doing something I love, cruising!

 

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[uapyro]

From what I was told by a crew member on the Dream, they average about 1 every 10 days. But on our 7 day there was at least 2 that I know of. One was a 21 year old mixing pre-op medicine and copious amounts of alcohol, requiring the ship to turn around about half way to our next port. And the other was a retired person.

 

Before that on 3 other cruises I never really noticed one.

[radlad68]

There was a code Sierra called around 10:30 Saturday night. I didn't hear the other announcements :(

 

 

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[sjn911]

Mzloolue,

 

That is sad too...on a family's best time. It seems often loved ones go when a group is together..and they do have each other,,,but in public like that with the contrast...it is not the private cabin...very sad and sorry you had to witness, never should at some pt escape the somber and sad and reverence that should be there.

 

Seniors or unwell beloveds really often push for one more family thing..my mom was not feeling too well all the last year and just wanted to do this trip with an niece, make it...she got sick the day they got back..in route really form a Disney Alaska cruise, lol a funny contradiction to me..but twas perfect for niece..and last grandchild's 12 year old trip with granny and papa..they made it......Sarah

Edited March 17, 2014 by sjn911

[arthierry]

Yes it happens; death that is! Life doesn't stop because you're on vacation or not. When it's your time, it's your time.

 

I did the Behind the Scenes tour a few yrs ago and we actually toured the morgue. It's across from the Jail.

[squakittymaus]

I've been on 16 cruises, and I don't recall ever hearing about deaths. Granted, I've only been on one cruise as a "legal adult" so my parents may very well have just never told me about it. I do remember on a Disney cruise, a woman slipped in one of the small pools and cracked her head open. I don't believe she was escorted off the ship. There was a time on the Carnival Glory I think that a helicopter needed to land on the top deck to escort someone off. I don't know any specifics though.

 

Never personally heard of any deaths though.

 

 

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[crewsweeper]

Not an actuary but shortly after the Costa Concordia event, I recall reading that the probability of any single cruise ship having a Titantic like event was 1 in 6 million. Haven't seen anything on chances of dying while on a cruise. But if the general population in the U.S. has roughly 800 deaths per 100,000 population each year (2.4 million each year) and if you estimate approximately 100,000 people at sea on any given day on Carnival ships you'll That means around 2 deaths occurring each day in the whole fleet of 24 Carnival ships, or a 1:11 probability that a death will occur on any given Carnival ship on any given day. Math geeks feel free to correct my math.

[beauty1492]

I have been on 3 cruises that there was a passing's. one we were just leaving dock the lines were all dropped and all of sudden we were pull back in and the they had a family leaving told later he was very old and wanted once last cruise but didn't make it out of FL. Always very sad but it is part of life.

[cgmiller63]

I am aware of two deaths on different cruises I've taken. One was natural causes, older gentleman had a heart attack in one of the coffee shops. The other was accidental, crewmember was overcome by fumes while we were docked.

[dawnjam1]

I have had several deaths on different cruises I was a passenger on.

 

I am ALSO a former cruise ship employee and it happened ALL the time. Including one of our Captains during the Captains dinner. I hate to say this and GOD rest each of their souls, as when you are working with your passengers, and having a good time, it is hard on the crew to see them go, too....but we used to have a running joke that it happened every other cruise on Lamb Night in the dining room. I was on a crew that had to work on the sweetest lady we had that week for almost 4 hours until the Coast Guard arrived. She had brought us all gifts to dinner. It is hard to do when you HAVE to continue to administer until cleared, her husband was begging us to stop, we were worn out, and we were obviously working on a dead body who was getting beat up, but had to wait till they could call it. But you do what you have to do! We also had two different crew members commit suicide on the ship and a few crew heart attacks.

 

Sad. But the odds are very good that it cold happen to anyone. Part of life.

 

Dawn

[blondietink]

Last cruise in January there was one death for sure, maybe another and also someone got airlifted off in the Windward straight near Cuba. That was a rough one!

Edited March 17, 2014 by blondietink

[maxydu]

I couldn't think of a better way to go then the last day of a wonderful cruise. Carnival could make this a money maker by cremating the deceased right there on the ship and allowing the family to set the ashes free. Of course Platinum and FTTF folks would have their own shoot! hahaha!

[nascargalinfla]

In Port Everglades members of the sheriff's office would sit waiting and taking bets how many remains would come off the various number of ships over the weekend. Morbid perhaps, but it passed the time. Not much else to do when they are on station unable to leave unless there is a call.

[Maimou]

I have had several deaths on different cruises I was a passenger on.

 

I am ALSO a former cruise ship employee and it happened ALL the time. Including one of our Captains during the Captains dinner. I hate to say this and GOD rest each of their souls, as when you are working with your passengers, and having a good time, it is hard on the crew to see them go, too....but we used to have a running joke that it happened every other cruise on Lamb Night in the dining room. I was on a crew that had to work on the sweetest lady we had that week for almost 4 hours until the Coast Guard arrived. She had brought us all gifts to dinner. It is hard to do when you HAVE to continue to administer until cleared, her husband was begging us to stop, we were worn out, and we were obviously working on a dead body who was getting beat up, but had to wait till they could call it. But you do what you have to do! We also had two different crew members commit suicide on the ship and a few crew heart attacks.

 

Sad. But the odds are very good that it cold happen to anyone. Part of life.

 

Dawn

 

Dawn, you must be a nurse or emt. Who did you have to get clearance from? Ship's doc? And why 4 hours? I've never seen a code in the hospital run nearly that long! And the minute the POA/NOK says stop, we have to!

But it is really hard on the providers, especially if we have a relationship prior to the event. I'm so sorry.

[sjn911]

Just want to say I appreciate all the comments,,..and learning's...

 

Sarah

[dawnjam1]

I was on a very small ship when that happened and there were a small group of us who were extensively trained from all different departments to handle these emergencies. We had a ship Nurse and no doctor. And she was only one person. We often were in action long before she arrived at an emergency. And DID save a few lives. This line was very focused on the older pax as well. In addition, we were in American waters so the Coast Guard had to arrive before we were allowed to stop. It was a standard rule that we followed because we did not have the proper person to "call it". It was TOUGH. Especially when it did happen so often. But I will tell you that that particular woman was having the time of her life. I REALLY felt for that husband but it was part of our procedure.

 

I always said that I would never go back as a passenger after those years, but I LOVE cruising! I have such a respect for those crews and how hard they work! I left home a very naive, spoiled little girl and came home a much stronger self sufficient woman.

 

I have told my family that when I go I expect everyone to take a family cruise to the Caribbean, dump my ashed the first morning, then party the rest of the trip!

[Pine Bluff]

I couldn't think of a better way to go then the last day of a wonderful cruise. Carnival could make this a money maker by cremating the deceased right there on the ship and allowing the family to set the ashes free. Of course Platinum and FTTF folks would have their own shoot! hahaha!

 

Death hardly puts a damper on the deceased.

 

It's the family members sailing with them that bear the brunt.

[2Littletime2]

In December 2012, I had a gentleman die in my arms on the Promenade deck of the Dream. It was an experience that I will never forget. I wrote to his widow when I returned home and when she wrote back she told me that she took comfort in knowing that he did not die alone and that he died doing something that he very much loved.

 

In over 25 cruises we've encountered the occasional death and many codes being called, as a family we just stop and have a moment of prayer that whatever that family is going through that they will be supported and that the help will arrive swiftly. It's a terrible helpless feeling.

 

There was one time though that stopped my hubby and I in our tracks from two separate spots on the ship and that was when a code was called to Camp Carnival where we had left two of our children. The Camp staff was extremely proactive though and before I could even process the panic reaction and start to run towards the camp they called our cellphone to tell us all was well and that the situation did not involve our children and that it was under control.

[Crusin Karen]

Death hardly puts a damper on the deceased.

 

It's the family members sailing with them that bear the brunt.

Agree with this. As some of you have said, I would like my life to end on the last day of a cruise, but for whoever is sailing with me, it would be such a terrible heartache.

We had a death on the Miracle we sailed from NY before she went out west. We had wonderful tablemates, but the DH of one of the women did not come to dinner the lst night. They were from Toronto and his DW said he was tired as they drove straight from Toronto to NY. And he didn't come the 2nd or 3rd night either. She said he was still tired and felt like he was coming down with the flu. Our lst POC was Nassau and she had mentioned the night before at dinner that she hoped he felt better as she wanted to get off the ship the next day. That night we heard the code for death and we just KNEW in our hearts that it must have been this man, and sure enough, next night the DW did not come to dinner. They were down the hall from us, so we asked our room steward and he confirmed very discreetly that yes, this man had a heart attack while he slept. We became very close to the DW and I was sorry that we could not find a way to contact her to perhaps help her. They were on the cruise alone with no other family. I believe she got off in Nassau and flew home, but when we got back to NY a Medical Examiner's van pulled up to the ship, so I wonder if the deceased was kept on the ship. Or maybe there was another death. :(:(:(

I can't imagine having something like that happen. I often think of the family of the teenager who died a few months ago who were from NY. And of the family of the 2 little children who drowned in a pool in seperate incidents. Whenever I feel "blue" I think of what these families must have and continue to endure and my heart goes out to these complete strangers. :(

[Winchester Ranger]

I once spoke with the Maitre'D on Miracle about this and he was quite candid and explained the following.

 

The average passenger age is notified to senior crew for every voyage, and if it's over 55 they plan for a number of deaths during the cruise. The extra exertion/alcohol/excitement is all it takes.

 

The storage area for dead bodies is the refrigerated flower storage locker - so if you want any pretty posies get them early, otherwise they could have had a few grannies stacked on top of them.