Memorial services on Splendor

[mymichelle1]

Cathy,

 

I'm reading this thread with tears in my eyes!!! I to read the post on FB yesterday and thought is was such a sweet gesture!!! Please keep all of us posted on the trip and how the memorial goes. Praying for peace for all of your family. God Bless!!

[sjn911]

Cathy..deep prayers for healing and having a memorial for your daughter..may you feel her love from heaven and have a special honoring memorial..Bless you too in the grief journey..so much of that pain i have learned from loosing my mother this past year..bless you and yours.

 

Sarah

Edited October 10, 2013 by sjn911

[MattInFLL]

So sorry for your loss. My brother had wanted to retire in the Dominican Republic, and after he passed away far too young I was on the Caribbean Princess 6 months later and arranged for an ash scattering since it would pass by the Dominican Republic. There were 4 of us there, and the Captain did a very nice ceremony. I was told I had to have a biodegradable urn, and that was what we sent into the sea off the coast of the DR. I got a very nice letter from the Captain with the longitude and latitude, and just so happened to look at it 2 days ago, which is why I read your post. It was very peaceful. I hope the same for you.

[anamanxs]

I did this for my son in 2010 and it has given me peace and he got to take the cruise that he never had a chance to take. In my siggy is my post about it, we did use a biodegradeable bag and I kept some ashes and each year on his Angel day and Birthday, I go to the ocean and also send them to the sea and write his name in the sand. Just my way of honoring him; much like others take flowers to a grave site. I also threw yellow rose petals into the ocean at the time of his scattering and read a poem. Carnival cannot do the service but they let you do it. They also presented me with a Red rose that was also delivered to the ocean with the yellow rose petals. The documentation was given to me in a leather case, don't know if that is the way on all the ships or not. Very special for me, his wife and step children. And while I thought I would not want to cruise again and wondered if thei would make my love of cruising less, I think it has made it a deeper love, I always find such peace after I write his name. His birhtday is in 3 weeks and yes, I will be on a cruise.

[*Luv2Cruz*]

I did this for my son in 2010 and it has given me peace and he got to take the cruise that he never had a chance to take. In my siggy is my post about it, we did use a biodegradeable bag and I kept some ashes and each year on his Angel day and Birthday, I go to the ocean and also send them to the sea and write his name in the sand. Just my way of honoring him; much like others take flowers to a grave site. I also threw yellow rose petals into the ocean at the time of his scattering and read a poem. Carnival cannot do the service but they let you do it. They also presented me with a Red rose that was also delivered to the ocean with the yellow rose petals. The documentation was given to me in a leather case, don't know if that is the way on all the ships or not. Very special for me, his wife and step children. And while I thought I would not want to cruise again and wondered if thei would make my love of cruising less, I think it has made it a deeper love, I always find such peace after I write his name. His birhtday is in 3 weeks and yes, I will be on a cruise.

Remembering my DW next week and taking my first cruise without her and hope my experience turns out as well as yours!:D Her birthday is Thursday!;) S↑2C Edited October 11, 2013 by *Luv2Cruz*

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

Dear Cathyoo & Luv2Cruz,

 

My prayers are with you both! What a wonderful way to honor your love one!

[Seniorsailors]

Next year we are having a memorial cruise for my beautiful daughter who passed away at the age of 33 from breast cancer. She was diagnosed 6 weeks before her wedding. She was married on the Carnival Pride 03/28/10.

 

We thought it would be fitting to have a memorial service onboard and scatter some of her ashes. Her husband could not do the Pride (too much heartache) and since we are from Philadelphia we chose to sail from NY. The cruise will also raise money for her passion Children's Literacy Initative (she was a teacher).

 

I am hoping someone has experience with an onboard memorial. I think there will be about 25-30 of us. I would appreciate any feedback that could be provided.

 

May I honor your daughter's memory and your love with a donation to Children's Literacy? Please advise; I don't know how to do it. Comfort and peace to you dear one.

[kgerkin]

My dad passed away in 2011 and he wanted his ashes spread at sea. One of the hosts here on Cruise Critic helped me contact the right person at Carnival and we took a cruise on the Sensation and spread his ashes.

 

We met one of the officers and one of the Pursers at the Pursers desk and they escorted us to the back of the ship. Once there they told us to take however long we wanted. When we were ready, they helped me open the bag the funeral home had put the ashes in, and my stepmother and I spread his ashes.

 

We did not need a biodegradable container but we did have the funeral home put paperwork on the cardboard box identifying what was in the box. I was worried about going through security when we were getting ready to get onboard. I did whisper to the agent that I had my dad's ashes and we had no problem at all.

 

Take care,

Karen

[coffeecat]

I am so sorry about your daughter. I can not imagine losing a child-especially at such a young age. My mom died young at 52 from cancer. It was 15 years ago and some days it still feels like yesterday. With time, it gets easier but I don't think you can ever really "get over it".

 

What is hard is that you probably remember her "sick" and what she went through in the end. Over time, the memories of her actual illness will ease and you can focus on all the wonderful times and happy memories. But it will get easier-I promise.

 

I think it is wonderful that you are going on this cruise. At my mom's funeral I read a poem, "Ascension" by Colleen Hitchcock. You can google it. It's a short poem but says so so much. I know it by heart - it makes me cry sometimes (especially when I read posts like yours and just know how much your family must be hurting) but it makes me happy to think that she is still here.

 

I hope your cruise is wonderful and you are able to celebrate and remember your daughter.

 

Coffeecat

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Remembering my DW next week and taking my first cruise without her and hope my experience turns out as well as yours!:D Her birthday is Thursday!;) S↑2C

Just got back today and had a very nice ceremony/memorial onboard the splendor. A member from guest services, security, and an environmental officer led us to a lower deck and my son, his wife, and I dispersed some ashes and roses in what was a very special and solemn event! A few days later we received a letter from the captain along with the date/time, and at sea coordinates for our reference!

 

Thank you Carnival for making this a very special event and thank you to all our cruise mates and roll call friends for all your support!:D:cool:

Edited October 24, 2013 by *Luv2Cruz*

[happy cruzin]

Just got back today and had a very nice ceremony/memorial onboard the splendor. A member from guest services, security, and an environmental officer led us to a lower deck and my son, his wife, and I dispersed some ashes and roses in what was a very special and solemn event! A few days later we received a letter from the captain along with the date/time, and at sea coordinates for our reference!

 

Thank you Carnival for making this a very special event and thank you to all our cruise mates and roll call friends for all your support!:D:cool:

 

Sounds like it was lovely!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Sounds like it was lovely!

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Thank you and yes; it was a very special event for me and my family!!!:D Edited October 26, 2013 by *Luv2Cruz*

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Thank you and my deepest sympathy on the loss of your son. It is a heartache no parent should ever experience.

 

I saw a video of the spreading of ashes on a Carnival ship a while back. It was handled in a very professional and in a compassionate way with ship officers. My wife and I plan this for each other when our time comes... Prayers and best wishes for all of you going thru this.

[sjn911]

Thanks everyone for all the information. Our funeral director had told Casey's husband to bring back his box with the ashes (it was made into a memorial box) and he will remove some ashes and but them in a biodegradeable container. Maybe I can ask for a few containers so we can each say a special goodbye to her.

 

I am hoping that I will be able to manage this. I am finding so many things so much harder than I thought. She suffered horribly and I thought I was ready for her to be a peace. But somehow that doesn't ease the pain.

 

I truly am thankful for the kind words and the information.

 

Glad it went well...

 

Just reading here...sending, prayers of support and condolences..and may you find special supports and hugs at this time of grief..and prayers also to Casey on her journey..much love, Sarah

 

OOPS guess i did make it here..prayers also to Luvs...such a deep time is it not..still working on my mom's loss 8/12..i know after this second round of holidays it will be better..the happy memories get stronger more than the sad parts..little by little I am promised and have discovered..blessings..so may sweet people here who know.

 

Love, sarah

Edited October 26, 2013 by sjn911

[bigman01]

cathyoo, I just wanted to check in and let you know how our service for my dad went. We sailed on the Magic on Nov. 24. I had contacted John Heald on facebook, and he was very gracious. I told him the day/time we wanted to do it. He asked me to contact him again a few days before we sailed, and I did. He told me he would notify the ship and have everything set up, and told me to contact guest services sometime the day we boarded.

 

After boarding the ship and getting settled in, I went to Guest Service and told them who I was - the young lady I spoke with knew everything. She verified the day/time we wanted to do it, and verified that we had a biodegradble urn (we placed the urn into the sea - not necessary if you're planning on scattering the ashes). I told her we also wanted to throw 12 red roses into the sea, along with 55 sand dollars that my dad had picked up at various places - one sand dollar for each year that he and my mother were married. She said the roses were fine, and the sand dollars probably would be, but she had to verify that with the Environmental Officer on board. She said she would call me when she got the final ok. The next day, she did call to let me know everything was set up for Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 3 pm. And she asked us to meet her at Guest Services at 2:45.

 

My dad loved the Magic, particularly the Lido deck pool area and the casino. So, we decided to take him on one last walk through those two areas. I asked Guest Services if it would be possible to get a security officer to escort us through the Lido deck since my mom is in a wheelchair and the pool area can get rather congested. They were very accomodating, and when it was time, there were 2 security officers waiting for us outside our cabin door.

 

We eventually ended up at the Guest Services desk, where we were met by Andrea from Guest Services, and an Environmental Officer, along with the two security officers. We were escorted down to deck 1, all the way to the back of the ship, to a crew-only area. We were approximately 20 feet above the waterline, I'd estimate - might have been more, things got a little fuzzy for me at this point. We were allowed to spend as much time as we needed. With many tears flowing, we placed the urn containing my dad's ashes into the sea. It immediately disappeared in the ship's wake, and I never saw it again. Some others that were there said they saw it about 50 yards behind the ship, but I personally didn't see it. There were 12 of us there, and each one of us took a beautiful red rose and threw into the sea, followed by my mother throwing the 55 sand dollars in. We stayed there a few minutes, just enjoying the peace and beauty (well, as well as we could enjoy it), hugged each other one by one, and it was over.

 

Carnival was VERY accomodating and gracious throughout the experience. John Heald made things very simple for us by notifying the ship of our plans ahead of time. And Andrea in Guest Services was so kind - I will forever be indebted to both of them for the help they gave myself and the family during a very difficult time.

 

If you have any questions that I haven't answered here, please feel free to ask them and I will do my best to answer.

 

And I pray that your experience will be as wonderful as ours was. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

James

Edited December 11, 2013 by bigman01

[arush5268d]

cathyoo, I just wanted to check in and let you know how our service for my dad went. We sailed on the Magic on Nov. 24. I had contacted John Heald on facebook, and he was very gracious. I told him the day/time we wanted to do it. He asked me to contact him again a few days before we sailed, and I did. He told me he would notify the ship and have everything set up, and told me to contact guest services sometime the day we boarded.

 

After boarding the ship and getting settled in, I went to Guest Service and told them who I was - the young lady I spoke with knew everything. She verified the day/time we wanted to do it, and verified that we had a biodegradble urn (we placed the urn into the sea - not necessary if you're planning on scattering the ashes). I told her we also wanted to throw 12 red roses into the sea, along with 55 sand dollars that my dad had picked up at various places - one sand dollar for each year that he and my mother were married. She said the roses were fine, and the sand dollars probably would be, but she had to verify that with the Environmental Officer on board. She said she would call me when she got the final ok. The next day, she did call to let me know everything was set up for Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 3 pm. And she asked us to meet her at Guest Services at 2:45.

 

My dad loved the Magic, particularly the Lido deck pool area and the casino. So, we decided to take him on one last walk through those two areas. I asked Guest Services if it would be possible to get a security officer to escort us through the Lido deck since my mom is in a wheelchair and the pool area can get rather congested. They were very accomodating, and when it was time, there were 2 security officers waiting for us outside our cabin door.

 

We eventually ended up at the Guest Services desk, where we were met by Andrea from Guest Services, and an Environmental Officer, along with the two security officers. We were escorted down to deck 1, all the way to the back of the ship, to a crew-only area. We were approximately 20 feet above the waterline, I'd estimate - might have been more, things got a little fuzzy for me at this point. We were allowed to spend as much time as we needed. With many tears flowing, we placed the urn containing my dad's ashes into the sea. It immediately disappeared in the ship's wake, and I never saw it again. Some others that were there said they saw it about 50 yards behind the ship, but I personally didn't see it. There were 12 of us there, and each one of us took a beautiful red rose and threw into the sea, followed by my mother throwing the 55 sand dollars in. We stayed there a few minutes, just enjoying the peace and beauty (well, as well as we could enjoy it), hugged each other one by one, and it was over.

 

Carnival was VERY accomodating and gracious throughout the experience. John Heald made things very simple for us by notifying the ship of our plans ahead of time. And Andrea in Guest Services was so kind - I will forever be indebted to both of them for the help they gave myself and the family during a very difficult time.

 

If you have any questions that I haven't answered here, please feel free to ask them and I will do my best to answer.

 

And I pray that your experience will be as wonderful as ours was. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

James

 

 

It sounds like Carnival did a wonderful job to help you guys have the special moment that you were hoping for. I know this might not be a 'wonderful' situation but I'm not sure what word would best describe their efforts, so please forgive me if that sounds too cheery. I'm glad you were able to have this moment and I hope that others can too.

[bigman01]

It sounds like Carnival did a wonderful job to help you guys have the special moment that you were hoping for. I know this might not be a 'wonderful' situation but I'm not sure what word would best describe their efforts, so please forgive me if that sounds too cheery. I'm glad you were able to have this moment and I hope that others can too.

 

Yes, Carnival was absolutely great. Carnival gets a lot of flack for their customer service - and I'll admit, some of it is warranted. I've experienced their lack of customer service in the past. But this time, they get nothing but praise from me for the comfort, ease and care that they showed us. It wasn't a "wonderful" situation, but Carnival definitely made it more comforting for us. And no, I understand exactly what you mean - there really is no good way to describe the situation. But Carnival went out of their way to make things as easy as possible on us.

 

I do have thing that I forgot to mention, and one suggestion for anyone planning on doing this in the future.

 

The thing I forgot - the day after we had our service, we got a letter from the captain (delivered to our cabin) expressing Carnival's condolensces, thanking us for allowing them to be a part of it, and giving the date, time and GPS coordinates of where we placed my dad's ashes into the sea. Very touching, and very much appreciated.

 

And a suggestion for anyone planning a ceremony in the future - go to your roll call and try to find someone willing to photo/video the ceremony for you, if you want a record of it. I think having an "outsider", without the emotional connection, is a good idea. I was lucky enough to find a very gracious and kind gentleman on my roll call that volunteered to video for me, and his daughter took photos of it. I haven't been brave enough to look at the video or photos yet, but I will in the near future. And I will forever be grateful to them for being there to video/photograph one of my families saddest times.

Edited December 11, 2013 by bigman01

[arush5268d]

 

 

 

The thing I forgot - the day after we had our service, we got a letter from the captain (delivered to our cabin) expressing Carnival's condolensces, thanking us for allowing them to be a part of it, and giving the date, time and GPS coordinates of where we placed my dad's ashes into the sea. Very touching, and very much appreciated.

 

And a suggestion for anyone planning a ceremony in the future - go to your roll call and try to find someone willing to photo/video the ceremony for you, if you want a record of it. I think having an "outsider", without the emotional connection, is a good idea. .

 

Wow - that was a very good thought to record the time and location. The captain sending it is a very nice touch at well. It's nice to see Carnival can still be classy.

 

 

Good idea about pre-arranging someone to record / photograph the ceremony. Perhaps a crewmember could assist too but I worry that, at that point, Carnival might want to make some money out of it / invoke copyright.

[amcankid]

I don't know your itinerary, but I can offer an alternative thought if Grand Turk is on it.

We were originally going to spread my Dad's ashes from the Breeze last July. I didn't know how to go about doing it with out getting in trouble (camera's everywhere on the ship).

Then my wife had a great idea. We ended up spreading his ashes on Grand Turk at Conk Shell cemetary. It was awesome. A squall came past just as we were preparing to say some last word's of goodby. Lightning everywhere, pea sized hail. howling wind blowing the hail into our faces. It was like out of a movie. It was spiritual and exciting at the same time. The ship was in sight so we still had the cruise mood as we spread the ashes. And we know exactly where we did it, and will visit him this June on our Splendor cruise.

He was an original Sierra Club member, very outdoorsy and loved nature. We couldn't have picked a better spot for a nature lover than to be spread amongst all those beautiful shell's washed up on the beach.