A reality post: what happens if your spouse dies on a cruise?

[ghstudio]

If my spouse were  to die on a cruise, I know that cruise ships have mortuaries.....but what I don't know is what I would do and how the ship/cruise line would assist.  Assuming we have travel insurance, I'm sure they play a part.  Who would I contact for assistance? Do travel insurance companies help or do they just pay expenses? Does the port agent step in to help? I hope the answer isn't "you're on your own" because while we've travelled extensively, this is not something I could handle without some significant assistance.  

 

It's a reality that can happen to any of us....and I've not seen any posts here (or elsewhere) on this topic. Does anyone know what happens when when the ship arrives at it's final port (or wherever they offload the body)

Edited January 24 by ghstudio

[boatmad]

Great question which someone who has experienced it should answer so we all are educated.  Thanks for addressing the topic.

[kazu]

I have not experienced it but I know someone who has, sadly. 😢 

 

The ship was very helpful.  They let her make calls to her insurance company at no charge.  I believe the Guest Services manager was with her in their office to help.  (I can’t remember the actual officer there) & when it was time to repatriate, the port agent was helpful.

 

HAL also followed up by phone to make sure everything was going smoothly (for lack of a better word) and very empathetic.

 

I did not get all the details of course as this was a difficult time for her and was mainly providing sympathy and listening but I know she was very grateful for the assistance.  I believe the officers were involved as well.

[Caribbean Chris]

An excellent question and I can't recall ever seeing it asked, either. 

 

I'm thankful I have not experienced this but can contribute the experience of one of my best friends of 45 years. I am sure she and her mother had travel insurance but I do not recall the details there, nor did I ever ask about financial issues.

 

My friend and her 89-year old mother were on their annual world cruise (not on HAL) and had just left Hawaii - my friend had emailed photos of them toasting Mai Tais on Waikiki Beach.

 

At sea far from land two days later, her mother suddenly began feeling ill. The ship's infirmary doctor diagnosed a heart attack and administered a drug to try and break up clots. It was not successful and he could only keep her comfortable, with her daughter (her only living relative) at her side until she died.

 

My friend later reported that the cruise line staff were tremendous in helping in every possible way, and that other passengers (and friends back home) rallied around her providing emotional and practical support, too. 

 

My friend's longtime companion (not on the cruise) updated  us with emails during this awful time. On board, discussion of disembarkation ensued; Apia and Auckland were considered and dismissed; Sydney (2 weeks after her death) was deemed the best logistic choice by the cruiseline staff. I'm sure all of that was managed in coordination with shoreside management as well as the Sydney port agent. 

 

My friend left the ship in Sydney and the medical examiner received her mother's body at the pier. There had been some talk of an autopsy but fortunately Xrays confirmed the cause of death and, two weeks after leaving the ship, the body was flown back to their home city. Only then could she begin to make funeral arrangements, a month after her mother's death. Friends back home had already arranged for the local funeral home to be ready when the time came.

 

My friend and her mother were as close as any two could be. The whole experience was beyond devastating but people were very kind to her. We have never asked for further details since it is such a sad topic. But she and her friends all agree (and it was noted in the obituary) that she died doing what she loved the most with the person she loved more than anyone on earth.

Edited January 24 by Caribbean Chris

[Alberta Quilter]

It's a good thing to discuss with your spouse/travelling companion, too, in case one of you passes while on a cruise.  We had a death on the ship in SA.  That caused delays in Ushuaia due to the local authorities not being available; I think it was a weekend.  The woman had passed a few days prior but the family wanted her repatriated as soon as possible, which was Ushuaia.  My DM said to me that if it happened that she passed on a cruise, I was to continue the cruise so as not to delay the ship; she wouldn't care!  Not sure how one would be able to continue a cruise after that, though...  Thankfully, it didn't happen.  It's good to hear of the support of fellow passengers and crew.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I have not had this experience, but I have dealt with a sudden illness (DH) while traveling. How much logistical assistance you will get from your insurance depends on the policy. I was fortunate in that Travelguard made all the arrangements to get us home "air ambulance" (Lear jet). 

 

We tend to think of travel insurance in terms of protecting the cost of the cruise. But that's "only money," as the saying goes. The other coverages are more important, evenif you don't expect to need them. Read everything carefully to make sure the insurance coverage is what you will need.  Some policies will pay for a family member to travel to be with you in an emergency. Another item to look for is hospital choice. The basic insurance will take you to the nearest "appropriate" hospital. Travelguard (and probably others) offers a rider to say "your choice of hospital." 

 

The Amex card commercial applies to travel insurance, too. Don't leave home without it.

[Ferry_Watcher]

From a port perspective - these are the first people off the ship, The transport/hearse is waiting on the dock and the body is transported to either the Medical Examiner, or to a funeral home.  The family is escorted off the ship, along with their luggage.  A CBP officer will quickly checks documents, a car will be waiting to take them to wherever they decided to go (decisions are made on the ship prior to disembarking). 

 

A couple of years ago we had a passenger die on a ship before it left the dock.  Passengers were still boarding, but we just closed everything down while the body and the family left the ship.  It was very sad.

[highscar]

First call home, she was ill and air ambulance was called.  Next call she had passed and would stay onboard to final port. BUT  the close port had monitored the calls and orderd her removed from the ship.   Took two weeks because the coroner was on vacation,  So we were told. Holland  America was wonderful in helping us through this. 

d.  

 

[Roz]

Make sure your travel insurance includes coverage for repatriation of remains.  Otherwise you may have a logistical and financial nightmare. 

[cruisemom42]

What if one is traveling solo? I guess it would make sense to ensure that one's emergency contact is aware of the traveler's wishes with regard to repatriation. Would the body be offloaded at the first reasonable port or kept on board?

 

 

[Cruzin Terri]

While my DH did not pass away, he became suddenly ill in Rome a few days before our cruise and required emergency surgery. We missed our cruise, needless to say.  

We had HAL’s platinum insurance which paid 90% of the bill (cancel for any reason) and I never heard from them again.  Since this was before the cruise, we were on our own.  

It made me realize that buying insurance from the cruise line is not the best decision.

The people the helped me the most were the staff in the hotel where we stayed and the American Embassy.  Thankfully DH recovered and we were able to travel home after 10 days.

 

[OlsSalt]

Additional factor: can remains be cremated at a particular foreign port? If that is the decedent's wishes. 

[DCThunder]

17 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Additional factor: can remains be cremated at a particular foreign port? If that is the decedent's wishes. 

Similarly, can someone be buried at sea?

[cruising sister]

Thanks for all the advice and experience. I am a new solo traveler. In addition to travel insurance I have insurance to repatriate my remains. I have left all the necessary information with my son who is state side. 

[OlsSalt]

For US citizens - US State Department policies and procedures for death abroad - how much help can you expect from US government embassies and consulates:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/death-abroad1.html

 

When traveling solo, another good reason to register your travels with the US State Department STEP program.

[ski ww]

As we all get older these are things we have to think about, sad but true. We have seen the odd ambulance dock side waiting to take a passenger off more then once. We have also had some one die after they were taken off the ship by the US Coast Guard in Alaska. It is a good thing to talk about with those left at home in case the unthinkable happens to you in some far away land.  

[kazu]

59 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Additional factor: can remains be cremated at a particular foreign port? If that is the decedent's wishes. 

 

It depends on the country and IF an autopsy is required, I think.

 

 

39 minutes ago, DCThunder said:

Similarly, can someone be buried at sea?

 

No.  Bodies cannot be.  Ashes can.  They must either be spilled as ashes or in a specially approved bio-degradable urn/container if you want to put it in the sea.  HAL does a very nice burial at sea.   Arrangements must be begun prior to the cruise.  It’s a private occasion with only those you wish invited.  HAL staff are respectful, empathetic and very kind in my experience.

[kazu]

1 hour ago, Cruzin Terri said:

While my DH did not pass away, he became suddenly ill in Rome a few days before our cruise and required emergency surgery. We missed our cruise, needless to say.  

We had HAL’s platinum insurance which paid 90% of the bill (cancel for any reason) and I never heard from them again.  Since this was before the cruise, we were on our own.  

It made me realize that buying insurance from the cruise line is not the best decision.

The people the helped me the most were the staff in the hotel where we stayed and the American Embassy.  Thankfully DH recovered and we were able to travel home after 10 days.

 

 

I was medically disembarked in Puerto Vallarta, Terri and I had my own insurance as well as HAL’s Platinum.  HAL’s Care people were touching base with me on a regular basis.  The hospital had a representative to assist travellers and she was excellent and very helpful and on the phone with my primary insurance company.

 

I was alone - so fellow solos, while it’s scary - you can do it and get through it (although my BP soared LOL).  

 

In that scenario HAL’s Plantinum insurance covered my days lost cruising, and paid me the max on my medical expenses since my primary insurance refused.  that decision was appealed and is now under re-consideration.  Of course, if they pay then I will have to repay HAL but with the significant expenditure I had, I was very grateful that HAL’s platinum came through.  It’s been over a year so I’m grateful for the bird in the hand from HAl’s Platinum insurance.

 

I always took it for cancellation only and while the medical is not enough for most circumstances, it helps.

[OlsSalt]

Creepy yes, but the whole point is to talk about these serious matters.......up front. There is great comfort learning some of these details ahead of time

 

Neptune Society discusses cremation abroad - costs and availability.  https://neptunesociety.com/resources/the-cost-of-cremation-overseas

[DCThunder]

29 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I was medically disembarked in Puerto Vallarta, Terri and I had my own insurance as well as HAL’s Platinum.  HAL’s Care people were touching base with me on a regular basis.  The hospital had a representative to assist travellers and she was excellent and very helpful and on the phone with my primary insurance company.

 

I was alone - so fellow solos, while it’s scary - you can do it and get through it (although my BP soared LOL).  

 

In that scenario HAL’s Plantinum insurance covered my days lost cruising, and paid me the max on my medical expenses since my primary insurance refused.  that decision was appealed and is now under re-consideration.  Of course, if they pay then I will have to repay HAL but with the significant expenditure I had, I was very grateful that HAL’s platinum came through.  It’s been over a year so I’m grateful for the bird in the hand from HAl’s Platinum insurance.

 

I always took it for cancellation only and while the medical is not enough for most circumstances, it helps.

I was a solo cruiser and I broke my ankle aboard Oosterdam in Buenos Aires last March.  Fortunately it wasn't a bad break, but the medical staff arranged for me to see an orthopedic doctor in Montevideo to evaluate the x-rays taken on the ship.  The ship arranged for a cab to/from the hospital, provided me with copies of the x-rays (although they took more at the hospital), and gave me the orthopedic boot I wore for the next 30 days.  They did ask if I wanted to go home, which I declined.  I had two subsequent x-rays taken on the ship and they sent them out to an orthopedic doc in Houston for a "consult".  I had 3rd party travel medical insurance, and they covered everything.  The docs and nurses on Oosterdam were first rate.

[ghstudio]

Thanks for all the responses so far. Who helps with logistics when you get off the ship...hotel room, flight home for you and who arranges sending the body home, do you have to contact a local (foreign) funeral home, coroner, ????  None of this is a financial question....it's a process question....who has to do what...or really, what/how much would my spouse (or I) have to arrange vs the insurance company, consolate, Holland America, shore agent, etc.

[ontheweb]

4 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

From a port perspective - these are the first people off the ship, The transport/hearse is waiting on the dock and the body is transported to either the Medical Examiner, or to a funeral home.  The family is escorted off the ship, along with their luggage.  A CBP officer will quickly checks documents, a car will be waiting to take them to wherever they decided to go (decisions are made on the ship prior to disembarking). 

 

A couple of years ago we had a passenger die on a ship before it left the dock.  Passengers were still boarding, but we just closed everything down while the body and the family left the ship.  It was very sad.

Oh my. Well at least the passenger did not die in your check in lane.

 

Was the ship's departure delayed?

[3Shelaghs]

• My plan... all has been discussed. Funeral arrangements planned and paid for. Funeral directors card laminated and copies in wallet. Clear concise instructions printed out and in purse before leaving home.
• Remember to empty your safe, bring your medications with you, and have your luggage packed and delivered to hotel or take with you when you debark. Do not forget passports, credit cards and telephone numbers, travel insurance and ship information. Let the ship know where you will be staying. (they may arrange for you) Don't trust your memory, write it all down. (Our funeral director also stated that once they have all the info, they are able to deal directly with the foreign ones as much as possible).
•  

The deceased is usually debarked off lower deck prior to others debarking for day, directly to waiting coroner car, or ambulance. Family afterwards. Its all done discreetly (at least the ones I have witnessed)

•  
• The following is dependant upon country rules that received the deceased body: autopsy, cremation of remains, embalming of body prior to repatriating deceased.
•  
• Your travel medical may pay for hotels, repatriation, a companion to fly to you, medical bills if occurred, flights (know before you go). You will need to provide the service who accepted the deceased (usually a coroner office or funeral director) all your loved ones info, how to contact you in the city you debark in, and your funeral director telephone numbers and address back home, your flight numbers dates and times.
•  
• You also need  copies of  death certificate, funeral home, coroner (if used) from abroad. And the flight dates and times the body is arriving at your local airport for your funeral home to pick up. They also need copies of death certificate so death can also be registered by them.
•  
• Have a clean credit card prior to leaving home, and use for hotel abroad, incidentals, phone calls, photocopies etc. Worry about recouping the monies once you are at home. 
•  
• Your funeral home will attend airport and pick up body.Cremains are usually in specific marked boxes, and some airlines allow you to carry on flight and some go in cargo hold. You will be given  specific paper work regarding this to bring on flight with you. Your airline may also give you a "compassionate flight", enquire when booking to come home.
•  
• As creepy as all this is, it's so much better to be prepared (and then there are the unexpected deaths). Have I been through it.. no. But at this age we are prepared for the partner who is left behind to cope better. And once all this was done, it was a huge sense of relief. Of course we all know "the best laid plans of mice and men"....

[3rdGenCunarder]

3 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

While my DH did not pass away, he became suddenly ill in Rome a few days before our cruise and required emergency surgery. We missed our cruise, needless to say.  

We had HAL’s platinum insurance which paid 90% of the bill (cancel for any reason) and I never heard from them again.  Since this was before the cruise, we were on our own.  

It made me realize that buying insurance from the cruise line is not the best decision.

The people the helped me the most were the staff in the hotel where we stayed and the American Embassy.  Thankfully DH recovered and we were able to travel home after 10 days.

 

 

I usually add a few days pre and/or post cruise, so I don't use the cruise line insurance. I want to be covered door-to-door. 

 

I had to smile at the several remarks about this being creepy, but necessary. My emergency contact is my SIL, and before each trip I call her to remind her I'm emailing itinerary and insurance info. Also where the "black file" is. That's the file with all the important stuff, like will, deed to the house, bank accounts, power of attorney. We joke about it being the "morbid phone call."

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Oh my. Well at least the passenger did not die in your check in lane.

 

Was the ship's departure delayed?

 

No delays.  I think the deceased passenger and family disembarked in middle of the afternoon.  Ship sailed at 4 PM.  :  (

Edited January 24 by Ferry_Watcher