Burying ashes at sea on NCL?

Does NCL allow passengers to bury there loved one's ashes at sea? If so, can anyone tell me what the procedure is to get that in motion?

Luckily, I have no need for this right now, but I can think of no better place to RIP than in the middle of the Caribbean.

Does NCL allow passengers to bury there loved one's ashes at sea? If so, can anyone tell me what the procedure is to get that in motion?

 

Luckily, I have no need for this right now, but I can think of no better place to RIP than in the middle of the Caribbean.

I would write to them and find out if it's possible. My guess is no because there are strict rules governing what may be disposed of over the side. Like the idea, though.

We had a ceremony off the Washington coast once. There was a rule about being 3 miles out. Other than that, I would be concerned about WHERE on the ship to do this.

interesting question , I dont know if there is one.

Your biggest issue would be the wind on any deck (at sea). If your ok with the entire urn going over that would be easy.

Im with you, what better place to rest in peace ;)

I'm also inquisitive of the answer to this question. Please keep us posted! :)

From an Old Post::::

From the website of the U.S. Coast Guard:

WHEN BURIAL WILL BE PERFORMED BY SCATTERING ASHES AT SEA FROM A COAST GUARD BOAT, CUTTER, OR ACFT, USE THE APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT LIMIT FOR BURIAL IN A GOVERNMENT CEMETERY. IF ASHES ARE SCATTERED FROM A COMMERCIAL VSL, USE THE APPROPRIATE LIMIT FOR BURIAL IN A CIVILIAN CEMETERY

http://www.uscg.mil/RESERVE/msg07/alcoast/coast298_07.htm

There is further positive information on this website for anyone interested in scattering ashes at sea. I am interested in the above note about "scattered from a commercial vessel."

If NCL doesn't allow it, hire a local fisherman to take you loved ones out past the 3 mile limit and scatter the ashes.

Actually, we did just that. When my first husband passed away, the kids and I took his ashes to a fishing village in Mexico (where we had vacationed many, many times). We hired a local fisherman and the hotel (family-owned and run) members provided us with a beautiful spray of flowers. When we spread his ashes, we floated the flowers and watched them drift away. It was a very special experience, and nice to remember just now. Oh, and the fisherman was honored to do this for us, he said a prayer of the fisherman while we drifted.

I posted this because I read a thread on either CCL or RCI board about this.

On that thread, it stated that you had to contact the cruiseline prior to your sail date and inform them of your wishes. It also said that you had to be a certain distance from land (6 or 8 miles if my memory serves me) before the ashes could be spread. It said that you would be escorted by some officers down to one of the lower decks where the ashes could be dumped out through one of the anchor holes. This eliminated the ashes being blown back on the ship. The posters who had done it said it was all done very professionally.

I am just wondering if anyone has done this on NCL. To me, this would be a perfect ending to a wonderful life.

That is a good question. My grandparents wanted there ashes scattered and it hasnt been done yet. I would like to do it on our next cruise.

I called NCL and yes you can do it. You must be 12nm out to sea and the ashes must be in a biodegradable container. You dont have to notify anyone. No fake flowers are allowed, he sais just make sure everything is biodegradable.

I called NCL and yes you can do it. You must be 12nm out to sea and the ashes must be in a biodegradable container. You dont have to notify anyone. No fake flowers are allowed, he sais just make sure everything is biodegradable.

Thanks!! Looks easy enough.

I called NCL and yes you can do it. You must be 12nm out to sea and the ashes must be in a biodegradable container. You dont have to notify anyone. No fake flowers are allowed, he sais just make sure everything is biodegradable.

Thanks!! Looks easy enough.

I know that MikeandAmy said you don't have to notify anyone, but to be safe, I'd let them know on the ship just in case someone reports you for throwing things overboard. No sense having to fight that battle if you don't need to

A little off topic but related. Do cruise ships carry a member of the clergy?

On a previous cruise I was on, some nipplehead decided to pour the ashes of their dearly departed over the side...from one of the top decks. Portions of the dearly departed blew back onto the decks below and into balconies and on people enjoying their balconies.

I know that MikeandAmy said you don't have to notify anyone, but to be safe, I'd let them know on the ship just in case someone reports you for throwing things overboard. No sense having to fight that battle if you don't need to

Very good advice, and I seriously question the accuracy of the answer provided by the NCL rep (which shouldn't be a surprise...phone reps often give innacurate answers). Passengers are instructed to not throw anything overboard, and if you do so without having notified anyone you may be asking for trouble.

On a previous cruise I was on, some nipplehead decided to pour the ashes of their dearly departed over the side...from one of the top decks. Portions of the dearly departed blew back onto the decks below and into balconies and on people enjoying their balconies.

For that reason in particular, it would be good to coordinate with the ship.

If you had a small container and wanted to just do it, then who would stop you?

I know that NCL has accomodated this in the past.

I was setting at the aft pool bar one late afternoon just before dinner when we were at sea on the Norway.

I watched an elderly woman and her daughter being escorted by the staff captain to the rear of the pool deck where they descended the stairs to the crew only aft deck area.

There they scattered the ashes on the sea of their departed husband and father.

They came back up and joined the three of us at the bar. Made an announcement about what had just transpired and then they bought all of us a drink to toast the memory of their dearly departed. It was a special moment that I will always treasure.

On a previous cruise I was on, some nipplehead decided to pour the ashes of their dearly departed over the side...from one of the top decks. Portions of the dearly departed blew back onto the decks below and into balconies and on people enjoying their balconies.

Some people are not very bright. I for one, do not want myself or my loved ones to end up in some room steward's vacuum bag.

If NCL doesn't allow it, hire a local fisherman to take you loved ones out past the 3 mile limit and scatter the ashes.

 

Actually, we did just that. When my first husband passed away, the kids and I took his ashes to a fishing village in Mexico (where we had vacationed many, many times). We hired a local fisherman and the hotel (family-owned and run) members provided us with a beautiful spray of flowers. When we spread his ashes, we floated the flowers and watched them drift away. It was a very special experience, and nice to remember just now. Oh, and the fisherman was honored to do this for us, he said a prayer of the fisherman while we drifted.

This is my wish too, exactly like this. I hope it is somewhere Doug and I shared a special memory of, like maybe three miles out from Trunk Bay, St. John or somewhere along the Alaskan coast or even Lake Tahoe. In my thoughts of this I never thought of having it done like actually from the ship. Just for me, that is too public. May sound crazy, but I just would not want a ship full of people I did not know to be a part of that, and I don't mean that to sound bad, but it just isn't what I would want. I would hope if it is done at sea that Doug will make sure a fisherman or something like that takes whoever is there for it out for a private time.

Some people are not very bright. I for one, do not want myself or my loved ones to end up in some room steward's vacuum bag.

Ditto---but at least if it were me in the vaccuum, I would never be able to complain that the Steward didn't clean the cabin ;)

You must be 12nm out to sea and the ashes must be in a biodegradable container.

Sounds like what they're recommending is throwing the entire biodegradable container overboard - not pouring out the ashes. That would eliminate "blow-back" issues. But I agree with other comments about notifying someone aboard the ship so you don't raise issues.

A bit off topic, but I have heard that there is actually a urn with ashes burried on Great Stirrup Cay. Some officers and a butler escorted a lady with the urn on the island, before passengers were allowed on the tenders. I'm not sure where it was burried or if there is a marker anywhere on the island. Thought about all the renovating they are doing on the island and if the urn was affected........and how the lady will have to cruise again on NCL anytime she wants to visit the sight of the burial.

Has anyone heard about this before?

Hey there...allow me to chime in, as I buried my father at Sea on the NCL Sky in September 2009.

NCL DOES allow you to discharge the ashes and you normally end up working with the hotel director & the environmental officer.

The ashes ARE NOT REQUIRED to be in a biodegradable container unless you wish to have them contained inside something. For example, you can't throw a plastic bag overboard.

We arranged to discharge the ashes from the mooring deck Aft and found a nice portal for the ropes that allowed us to gently scatter my Dad out to sea without experiencing any ash in the face.

You are also allowed to throw something off the ship, as long as it is 100% biodegradable. We had a nice wreath made out of grape vines with some tropical flowers.

If you have any questions...just PM me and I'll be happy to answer you.

Jeff

am hopin to do this probably in 2012 when we go to alaska it was the only state my dad never had a chance to visit and i think he would like this very much, but i will DEFINITELY be checking with the ship and letting them know!

Jeff - Thank you for your reply post and very detailed information. Nice ideas for making a wreath as well. Thanks again for your reply. ~J