Burial at sea, release of ashes

[Haljo1935]

7 hours ago, wandrr said:

For those who wish to have US Navy veteran's ashes committed at sea, have a look at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Casualty/Mortuary-Services/Burial-at-Sea/ . The USN does perform this service.

Thank you for sharing this.

[PACD_JG]

I wanted to add onto this thread rather than start a new one to help any future cruisers.

 

I'm booked on 7-night roundtrip Inside Passage cruise out of Vancouver starting July 22 of this year.  Last June, my family did this very same cruise and really enjoyed it (only 1800 pax though).  I have both my parents' cremains, and we thought we should do this cruise again, but invite my son and my sister to spread the ashes.  I inquired well before I booked the cruise about the procedure and HAL said they could accommodate.  Before final payment, I asked again, and they said no problem, but they could not tell me when/where it would happen until about two-three weeks before the cruise.  I was notified yesterday they could only do it at 1 AM on Day 3.  I told HAL since the scheduled itinerary doesn't change, why could you have not told me this before I even booked my cruise, as surely I can't be the first person to ask this question.  HAL checked one more time and said this would be the only time available for this year and next.  So I won't be spreading ashes...

[MontanaMiss]

Thank you PACD_JG. for this information.

Is there someone specific that you were speaking with? Is it possible to get the name of this person? Do you have to just contact costumer relations email or phone? Did they elaborate as to why at such a time of the day? Not that it would be a big problem with me, just curious, maybe because of tides?

 

 

[oakridger]

@PACD_JGI really think that the timing HAL offered was not just some random weird time to give you for the spreading of ashes.  I might guess that the position of the ship needs to be in possibly international waters or a required distance from shore, tides, etc..   I doubt that it's legal to discharge the cremains just any old place at a more convenient time.  

 

Maybe you can make 1am work for your family.

 

Best wishes,

~Nancy

[ClippyJoe]

Kazu, 

 You have such a wealth of information ! I look forward to meeting you on a future cruise.

[rafinmd]

I'm surprised that there is ANY opportunity to spread ashes on that cruise.  There would be very little time spent the required distance from land.

 

Roy

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

I'm surprised that there is ANY opportunity to spread ashes on that cruise.  There would be very little time spent the required distance from land.

Roy, I agree. I spent a few minutes looking at Alaska routes against a hopefully very distant time to scatter a still living family member and decided it would have to be a cruise that crossed the Bay of Alaska to be far enough from shore.

 

ETA: That reads funny, I hope you all know what I meant!

Edited July 12, 2023 by crystalspin

[CruiseReservations]

On 7/6/2023 at 11:34 AM, XBGuy said:

 

I am surprised that the "Containers for the remains" seems to be optional. 

 

I once read, here on Cruise Critic, that a poster did not bother to contact the cruise line (this one happened to be Princess) about their intent to spread ashes of a loved one.  They just assembled at the stern of the ship, opened the urn with the ashes and poured them over the side.  The wind blew most of the dumped ashes back onto the ship--and the mourners.

 

I would suggest that you procure a biodegradable container, and plan to just drop it into the sea rather that "spreading" the ashes.

 

As a reservations agent, I will tell you that the container is NOT optional. It's required for the very reason that you mentioned. Other guests don't want someone's ashes blowing back onto them. It must be a biodegradable container -or- you can have ashes turned into a rock that you can drop into the sea.  This needs to be set up in advance. I can't believe that people just take it upon themselves to do what they wish. There's no cost for it to be appropriately supervised and done privately, but people should follow the cruise line's policy for such acts.

[kazu]

25 minutes ago, CruiseReservations said:

 

As a reservations agent, I will tell you that the container is NOT optional. It's required for the very reason that you mentioned. Other guests don't want someone's ashes blowing back onto them. It must be a biodegradable container -or- you can have ashes turned into a rock that you can drop into the sea.  This needs to be set up in advance. I can't believe that people just take it upon themselves to do what they wish. There's no cost for it to be appropriately supervised and done privately, but people should follow the cruise line's policy for such acts.

 

I am not a reservations agent - I am just a widow who did a burial at sea and the container IS optional on HAL or at least it was in October, 2022.  The ship wisely chooses a position aft when predictions (International waters, tide, winds, etc) are good.  it’s a private ceremony.  I spread some of my husband’s ashes at sea and nothing blew back on anyone, I can assure you.

 

I did arrange in advance with the ship board co-ordinator and on board, we completed the arrangements.  HAL did a great job and I will never forget the kindness and empathy they showed for it.

they brought my husband’s ashes and my pictures from my cabin and when the ceremony was over, they told us to go about and they would take care of everything.  the flowers they provided, my pictures and the certification of the burial at sea were all returned to my cabin and displayed nicely for me.  The flowers were beautiful and I was never charged for them.

[mikebsxm]

I was on a ship leaving from the port of Miami many years ago. As we were sailing out of port in that narrow pass leading to the Atlantic,  I was out on my balcony enjoying the sights.  All of a sudden, I was showered with what seemed like gravel and course sand.  It landed all over me and my balcony.  I leaned out a bit and looked up and a couple in the balcony above and forward of me were shaking a container.  I called my room steward and he checked the cabin above.  They were scattering ashes of a loved one.  They had no idea that the wind would blow it all back onboard.  This was not a stern balcony, just on the port side of the ship.  The cabin steward showed up later with a vacuum cleaner for my balcony and the ones on either side of me.  I don't know if the contents of that vacuum bag was turned over to the family above.  Strange way to start a cruise.

[Haljo1935]

Oh my - HAL has a policy and it is neither a secret nor a "hassle" to arrange. As @kazu myself and others have said, it is lovely and done with great respect for both the passengers family and the departed.

I am amazed that anyone would think they could just literally dump cremains. 

[kazu]

3 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

I am amazed that anyone would think they could just literally dump cremains. 

 

Me too - and anyone who has been on a ship should know they would never make it to the sea.  You need to be at the lowest point - promenade deck to get them where you want them to go.

 

Nothing should be put in the ocean/sea ever unless arrangements have been made IMO.

[luvteaching]

I'm in the process of arranging to do this with a portion of my DD DH's ashes. I'm planning on the Eurodam in September and already have a biodegradable urn from our funeral home. I'm tickled because it has blue waves on it and a hummingbird which is perfect! This is the email I got last week from HAL: 

 

• Burial at sea of cremated remains can only be done at sea while cruising in International Waters and at least 12 nautical miles off the coastline.
• Containers for the remains must be biodegradable and provided by the guest.
  • Biodegradable urns come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They may be made of materials such as paper, sand, gelatin and salt. Urns made with a thin wood-based material such as heavy paper and are designed to float for up to 15 minutes before gracefully beginning their final decent.
• Flowers & wreaths that are decomposable in the marine environment may be placed at the burial site. They must not contain any ribbon or non-biodegradable decorations or adornments.
• An Officer is required by EPA regulations to be present for the spreading of the ashes.
• Holland America does not perform memorial services, however if the guests would like to have clergy present this can be requested.
• The captain can provide a certificate with the ship’s position and time of the spreading of ashes. 
• Guest should contact customs and airlines in regards to any paperwork, certificates or permits that may be needed.

 

 

Karen

[kazu]

28 minutes ago, luvteaching said:

Guest should contact customs and airlines in regards to any paperwork, certificates or permits that may be needed.

 

Karen, the funeral should have provided you with travel documents certifying the ashes so that there is no problem flying if they knew your intentions.

if not, they are happy to provide you with one.  Keep it in your purse/carry on with your passport, etc.  I was never asked for it but always have it, in case as I take my bear with the heart with ashes in it.

[Haljo1935]

On 3/10/2024 at 7:00 PM, kazu said:

 

Karen, the funeral should have provided you with travel documents certifying the ashes so that there is no problem flying if they knew your intentions.

if not, they are happy to provide you with one.  Keep it in your purse/carry on with your passport, etc.  I was never asked for it but always have it, in case as I take my bear with the heart with ashes in it.

@luvteaching we asked the funeral home for a "Travel Permit." It is a standardized form they fill out and have provided with no issues. I was asked for it once when flying out of DFW and the other times was prepared as @kazu stated, but have not been asked.

Travel Permits have been provided to me by funeral homes in CO, TX and MO; I believe they're likely standard in any state.

[shippmates]

I have not had this experience on HAL but had a burial at sea on Queen Mary 2.  It was so moving for me.  It was planned through the cruise line in international waters and calm winds.  The Captain did the service and gave me a certificate with the coordinates,  I had to have a biodegradable urn and the travel papers from the funeral home.  I was surprised with all the ship did with the captain, memorial programs, flowers and just the comfort I felt in Cunard handling of my husband's burial without any charge to me.  I am sure that Holland would offer the same level of service.

[Haljo1935]

21 minutes ago, shippmates said:

I have not had this experience on HAL but had a burial at sea on Queen Mary 2.  It was so moving for me.  It was planned through the cruise line in international waters and calm winds.  The Captain did the service and gave me a certificate with the coordinates,  I had to have a biodegradable urn and the travel papers from the funeral home.  I was surprised with all the ship did with the captain, memorial programs, flowers and just the comfort I felt in Cunard handling of my husband's burial without any charge to me.  I am sure that Holland would offer the same level of service.

Yes, they do. Sounds very similar to your experience. 

[DougandEric]

Our experience was very similar to others.  My TA called HAL and got the document that's been posted here.  She was told that regardless of how the wording is phrased, you HAD to have the ashes in a biodegradable container.  I went online to Amazon and found pillow shaped paper containers in various colors and patterns with biodegradable plastic bags and ordered one.  The cost was minimal.  I just checked and they are showing anywhere between $31 and $134 and it seems to be based on the amount of ashes they can hold - there is a guideline in the description about the weight of the person to help you choose the correct size.  My husbands brother was a big boy.  He transferred the ashes himself though I suspect a funeral home would do it for you.

 

The only sticky point was when we boarded and the container went through the xray machine.  We had to describe what it was to security.  After that, the day after we boarded we went to guest services to check on the arrangements and they gave us the day (we were in the Caribbean) that we could do it.  We chose the time in the afternoon and they escorted us through the dining room (we were on Koningsdam and it was after lunch so no guests) to the rear doors of the promenade deck aft.  The had a crew member on either side of the deck to block it off.  The guest services lady used my phone to film the process (nothing fancy - a few words and overboard).  I believe we got a certificate later about the location where it occurred.

 

On that same cruise in the dining rooms rear windows was a large smear high up.  Turns out someone did their own thing off a rear balcony and it didn't make it all the way.  It stayed there the whole trip until a day before we got back when it was washed off.  Grandma got a free cruise.