HAS ANYONE DONE A BURIAL AT SEA OF ASHES?

[juju2454]

26 minutes ago, DebbieCruises said:

We buried both my mom and dad at sea from the NCL Breakaway in 2018.  I sent a note to NCL telling them of my parents wishes to be buried at sea from an NCL ship and they were very helpful in guiding me through the whole process.  I did book several cabins for family members to join us and we were in the Haven area, which may have helped, but still everyone was incredibly kind, considerate, and helpful.  I bought two dozen roses (their favorite flowers) and brought them with us.  NCL gave me a basket to put the flowers in.  We removed the petals from the stems, so each family member could toss a handful of petals from the side of the ship after my brother and I each tossed one of the biodegradable urns into the ocean.  My son-in-law's father is a minister so he gave a brief service and prayer before we tossed them, too. We were escorted to lower level of the ship (I think deck 4 or 5) and an environmental officer had to stay with us to be sure that we only tossed the urns and flower petals (which he inspected first) into the water.  But saying this, I want to emphasize how respectfully and kindly everything was handled.  My parents would have been very happy and I pray they were watching it all and smiling as it happened.

 

I wish you well with whatever you decide, but I can truthfully we could not have asked for a better experience.

 

Oh, one more thing, we ordered the biodegradeable urns from the funeral home and they provided the necessary paperwork for both the flight and the ship. They packed the urns in special boxes for travel and we had to take them on the plane with us as extra carry -on luggage. (Thankfully, we flew Southwest Airlines so there was no extra charge.) You are required to show the paperwork to TSA, at the gate, and of course before boarding the ship too.  Do NOT try to put it with or in your checked luggage.

Thank you, 

We are driving to the port so no flight to worry about,  I will be able to get a water urn off the internet that is certified. but will check with a funeral home too.  Did you buy the flowers on the ship or carry them on?  We are going as a family so they will all want to be there.  

 

We aren't religious so that would not be needed as far as prayers etc.  

 

[Northern wanderlust]

On 9/29/2022 at 12:15 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

Thanks.  That's interesting.  I don't really care what happens to my ashes, but my heirs might (probably not).  I just want them to NOT have them sitting around on the mantle for decades saying "there's Dad."

 

disclaimer: we don't actually have a mantle

 

This may be totally stupid but if you are a pet owner you'll understand.

 

My dog was with me for about 12 years before she passed.  The vet offered cremation services but I told DH that I couldn't stand the idea of not bringing her home but the $250 or whatever it was for cremation with return of the ashes seemed absurd so we buried her in our yard.  I went out there 2 or 3 times a day for over a month to visit her and only stopped because the snow got too deep to make the trek.

 

We agreed it was probably a good thing we didn't have her cremated and the ashes put on the mantle for me to fuss over for the next 5 years.

 

Now I'm terrified about what I'll do when DH or my parents pass.  The idea of them being far off in the cemetary is depressing.

 

Medication will likely be needed.

[DebbieCruises]

11 hours ago, juju2454 said:

Thank you, 

We are driving to the port so no flight to worry about,  I will be able to get a water urn off the internet that is certified. but will check with a funeral home too.  Did you buy the flowers on the ship or carry them on?  We are going as a family so they will all want to be there.  

 

We aren't religious so that would not be needed as far as prayers etc.  

 

We bought the flowers in Ft. Lauderdale and kept them overnight in the hotel refrigerator. Then we brought them with us to the ship on the shuttle the next morning. The florist put them in box so they could go through the security check point at the pier, but there wasn't a problem. NCL even gave us a large vase to keep them in until the day of the the funeral.

[Queenie&Dude]

I posted a detailed topic on my recent arrangements with Royal.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2882434-burial-at-sea-complete-details-and-info-learned-from-service-on-972022-aboard-voyager-of-the-seas/