It might not be something you want to think about, but what happens if you die on a cruise ship? Unfortunately, it is an event that does occur from time to time on cruise ships. When it does happen, the cruise line must follow certain protocols in order to handle the situation.
The First Step – When a person dies on board a cruise ship, the first step is for the medical staff to pronounce the death. Depending on the cause of death, this may require an autopsy. The ship’s doctor will also need to fill out paperwork documenting the death and provide it to the local authorities where the vessel is registered.
Notifying Family Members – Once a death has been declared, family members must be notified as soon as possible. This can be done by calling them directly or having someone from the cruise line contact them if necessary. The family will then be responsible for making arrangements for transporting their loved one back home or making arrangements for their burial at sea.
Other Considerations – If someone dies while aboard a cruise ship, their belongings must also be handled according to protocol in order to protect those who are still living onboard and prevent any crimes from occurring. All potential evidence must also be collected and cataloged before being released by the local authorities where applicable.
Conclusion: Death on a cruise ship is an unfortunate event that no one wants to experience or even think about but it does occur from time to time and when it does there are protocols that must be followed in order for both family members and authorities to handle the situation properly.