The death of a passenger or crew member on a cruise ship is a rare but unfortunate event. Many people have the misconception that if someone dies on a cruise ship, their death will be quickly forgotten or brushed under the rug. However, this is far from the truth; cruise ships take the death of their passengers and crew very seriously and have many protocols in place for such an event.
When someone dies on a cruise, the onboard medical staff will make every effort to revive them and provide medical care. If they are unsuccessful, then the body is moved to a secure location while the captain notifies local authorities and arranges for an investigation into the cause of death. Depending on the circumstances, there may be an inspection of the ship by local law enforcement or health officials before they will allow it to continue its journey.
Once the cause of death has been determined, arrangements must be made for repatriation of the body. If family members wish to accompany it back home, they will be provided with assistance in making travel arrangements. In some cases, if family members are unable to travel with the remains, cruise personnel may help arrange for a funeral director at their home port to take custody of them and handle all necessary arrangements.
In addition to medical care and repatriation costs, families may also receive financial compensation from either their insurance company or from the cruise line itself (depending on what type of policy they had taken out). The amount and details vary depending on each situation but can include reimbursement for any pre-paid fares as well as other expenses related to transportation and funeral services.
The bottom line: A death aboard a cruise ship is always tragic, but there are procedures in place that allow for appropriate medical attention as well as assistance with repatriation of remains back home if needed. In most cases, families may also be eligible for financial compensation from either their insurance company or from the cruise line itself.
Conclusion:
What happens if someone dies on a cruise ship? The onboard medical staff will make every effort to revive them and provide medical care before notifying local authorities who may inspect the ship before allowing it to continue its journey. Once the cause of death has been determined, arrangements must be made for repatriation of the body and families may receive financial compensation from either their insurance company or from the cruise line itself.