The Brig Is For Real Criminals Not Simple Passengers
As is clear, while it may be called something different, cruise ships definitely have jails on them.
That said, most passengers dont need to worry about ever seeing the inside of ita few too many drinks wont land you there.
However, if you are putting yourself or others in jeopardy, then you could certainly spend time within the brig.
Because safety is of paramount importance, cruise liners do have their own highly trained security personnel onboard to deal with any serious situation that might arise.
As well as being kitted out with the communication equipment necessary to call for emergency help from anywhere in the world.
Any more questions on cruise ships? Read the Ultimate Guide to Choosing your perfect Cruise Holiday for more information.
Your Average Cruise Ship Produces Between 140000 And 210000 Gallons Of Sewage Per Week
While many cruise lines have installed advanced wastewater treatment systems, per Quartz, the EPA estimates that a “single 3,000-person cruise ship pumps 150,000 gallons of sewage into the ocean per week.” According to a 2014 report by environmental organization Friends of the Earth, that’s more than 1 billion gallons of sewage a year that goes straight into the ocean, teeming with bacteria and harming both humans and marine life.
From Luxury Ocean Liners To Megaship Cruising
With the advent of large passenger jet aircraft in the 1960s, intercontinental travelers switched from ships to planes sending the ocean liner trade into a terminal decline. Certain characteristics of older ocean liners made them unsuitable for cruising duties, such as high fuel consumption, deep draught preventing them from entering shallow ports, and cabins designed to maximize passenger numbers rather than comfort.
Ocean liner services aimed at passengers ceased in 1986, with the notable exception of transatlantic crossings operated by the British shipping company Cunard Line, catering to a niche market of those who appreciated the several days at sea. In an attempt to shift the focus of the market from passenger travel to cruising with entertainment value, Cunard Line pioneered the luxury cruise transatlantic service on board the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner. International celebrities were hired to perform cabaret acts onboard and the crossing was advertised as a vacation in itself.
Sovereign of the Seas
Until 19751980, cruises offered shuffleboard, deck chairs, “drinks with umbrellas and little else for a few hundred passengers”. After 1980, they offered increasing amenities. As of 2010, city-sized ships have dozens of amenities.
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Drugged And Left To Die
Dianne Brimbles story is one of the scariest to take place on a cruise ship. | American Cruise Lines
Ranker lists the story of Dianne Brimble as one of the most horrific crimes to happen on a cruise ship. In September 2002, paramedics were called to a cabin that belonged to four men on a P& O cruise ship bound for Noumea and other Pacific ports of call. Brimble was unconscious on the bathroom floor and in her own excretion. She was pronounced dead 30 minutes later, due to alcohol and drug overdose.
Although witnesses say Brimble left with the four men the night before her death, and the men were accused of harassing and offering drugs to multiple women, including teenage girls, the men were ultimately cleared of most of the charges, including manslaughter.
One of them even pleaded guilty to the vastly lesser charge of giving Brimble GHB, also known as the date rape drug before she died, explains Ranker. The judge opted for no punishment in the case.
Next: This is the most common type of crime on cruise ships.
How Much Does Cruise Medical Treatment Cost
Some ships will administer minor treatment and/or medication for free — if you become seasick, for example. However, the cost for most onboard medical treatment isn’t cheap, and the charges will show up as part of your passenger account bill.
In most cases, your regular medical insurance will not cover the cost of onboard treatment, treatment abroad or medevac services, so you could be stuck paying for all of it out of pocket. That’s why it’s crucial to purchase travel insurance that covers these things, particularly if you’re of a certain age or have chronic medical conditions.
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Largest Cruise Ship Is 228081 Gross Tons
Royal Carribean Cruise line believes size matters and owns some of the worlds largest and most luxurious ships in the world today.
Symphony of the Seas was launched for her maiden voyage in 2018 and is a massive 1,188 ft long and 215 ft wide. This ship can handle more than 6,600 passengers at a time.
It took the title of the largest cruise ship from another Royal Carribean ship, Harmony of the Seas, which is a formidable 226,963-tons.
Symphony of the Seas has more than 20 restaurants, 40+ bars, and lounges, stores, theatres, and even has a 10-story high slide located aft. There are over 20 pools, whirlpools, and waterslides for guests to enjoy as well as a zipline that is over nine stories high.
Is Wifi Worth It On A Cruise
Wifi can be extremely expensive onboard cruise ships and it is notoriously slow. We found rates as hight as $0.95 per minute and the least expensive package was $9.95 for 15 minutes of wifi. Wifi prices and speeds are improving into 2020, but theyre still a very costly add-on to any cruise vacation.
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What Happens To Someone Who Is Thrown In The Brig
Anyone thrown in the brig for committing a serious crime against someone else is in for a short trip.
They will be held in the brig until the ship makes a subsequent stop at the next available port.
Here they will be forcibly removed from the ship and handed over to the local authorities.
When the cruise ship departs, it will continue on without that person and he or she will be abandoned in what is most likely to be an unfamiliar city.
From there, that individual will have to make their own way home at their own expense after they have settled accounts with the local authorities.
Their crime will be dealt with according to the dictates of International Law.
Factors that will be considered will include whether the crime was committed in a sovereign nations waters versus international waters, as well other relevant legal items like citizenship.
In all likelihood, things will not go well with them. Depending on the severity of the crime, they may find themselves imprisoned in a foreign nation or simply deported home.
Hidden Decks Morgues And 5 Other Cruise Ship Secrets
Whether you have taken a dozen cruises or never stepped foot on a gangway, you may be surprised by some of the secrets hidden onboard.
Some of these secrets are places youre not allowed to visit others are policies the cruise lines dont typically share.
Read on and let us know what surprised you:
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Do Cruise Ships Have Smoking Rooms
Each cruise line has its own smoking policies and restrictions, but the rules are getting stricter. More and more cruise companies are prohibiting smokers from lighting up in their cabin or on their balcony. Only Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America currently allow passengers to smoke on their balcony. Renaissance cruises have even launched liners which completely restrict smoking whilst at sea. The majority of cruise lines do offer smoking areas for passengers, but these are growing fewer and farther between.
Shocking Cruise Ship Facts You Never Thought Of
Just how big is the largest cruise in the world? Do they have a jail onboard? Click here to learn some fascinating cruise ship facts just in time for your trip.
More than 23 million people take a cruise each year with more than 300 ships traveling around the world. Most passengers dont know much about the mini-city they board to sail the open seas and explore foreign lands. Keep reading for 10 interesting cruise ship facts that you never knew you wanted to know.
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And For The Morbid Amongst You
Yes, cruise ships do have morgues. The majority of on-board morgues will have a capacity of one to three bodies and will transport the bodies either to the point of embarkation or the next port of call, depending on the line.
If you have any more questions about cruise ships and what you can expect to find on board, visit our home page or call our dedicated sales team on 1300 857 345.
Image sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credit: John Buie, Kris Krug.
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Taking A Cruise: Recommendations And Resources
Book a Cruise:Have a specific cruise you want to book or just need some help and inspiration? Get a cruise quote through us: Cruise Quote Form.Not Sure What to Book?Learn everything you need to know to find and book the perfect cruise in my How to Cruise For Less cruise course.Dont Forget Your Travel Insurance:You could be stranded abroad, lose your entire cruise fare, or be hit with MASSIVE medical bills if you dont have cruise travel insurance. I use comparison websites to compare quotes: Compare Quotes Here.Our full list of travel essentials can be found here.
Bodies Are Kept In The Morgue Until The Ship Arrives At Its Home Port Where A Death Certificate Can Be Issued
If a passenger dies during a shorter cruise, like a three-day Caribbean trip, for instance, keeping the body in the morgue until the ship returns home isnt a problem. When a death occurs on a longer cruise that travels to remote locations, on the other hand, it becomes a bit more complicated.
Whether a body remains on the ship or is repatriated from a foreign port depends on the ships location. Furthermore, some ports demand that dead bodies are off-loaded no matter what. In this case, a death certificate is issued and the body returned back to its home country.
Next: If your loved one dies, help is available.
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When A Passenger Dies At Sea: What You Need To Know
People die every day, even on vacation, even on a cruise. Sadly, this happens more often than one might think. According to the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is where any deaths on cruise ships that stop at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades must be reported, some 91 people have died on cruise ships that arrived in Fort Lauderdale between 2014 and 2017.
While no cruise line would give Cruise Critic an exact number of deaths per year, one cruise line insider who asked to remain anonymous said, up to three people die per week on cruises worldwide, particularly on lines that typically carry older passengers.
The vast majority of deaths on cruise ships are natural, with most the result of heart attacks. But even when death is not entirely unexpected, such as when someone with advanced-staged cancer chooses to cruise, it’s shocking to family and friends, whether they’re on the cruise ship or on land.
But what happens when a passenger passes away while at sea or in a foreign port? What happens to the person’s body? And what do that passenger’s family or friends have to do? Here, we take a closer look.
Most Cruise Ship Deaths Result From Heart Attacks
While cruise ships that carry a majority of older passengers tend to experience more passenger deaths, theres a variety of reasons a person may pass away on board. And the No. 1 reason? Heart attacks.
According to Cruise Critic, The vast majority of deaths on cruise ships are natural, with most the result of heart attacks.
So, if youre planning on taking a cruise and youve had heart problems in the past, you may want to see your cardiologist before hopping on board.
Next: Heres where they keep the bodies.
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Who Pays For Repatriation
Neither the consulate nor the cruise line pays for anything related to bringing a loved one home they only help the family make arrangements. And repatriation, with all its necessary paperwork and hassle, is not inexpensive.
Make sure your trip insurance plan includes repatriation as that will cover the bulk of these expenses. Depending on the insurance company, you may also get help sorting through all the paperwork and requirements.
So, while no one wants to talk about the possibility of death during a cruise, if you or someone you’re sailing with is ill or in the later years of life, purchasing a travel insurance policy is highly recommended by cruise industry insiders.
How The Cruise Ship Helps The Bereaved Family
Part of the preparations that cruise ships have for such an event is having a guest care team member assigned to help the bereaved family of a person who dies on board. This member received training in giving logistical and emotional support to the family that the dead person left behind.
However, their training does not include grief counseling. They are there mainly to provide support to the family. Some of the tasks involved would be contacting a funeral home in the port city where the cruise ship will dock next and preparing things needed for the bodys repatriation.
For such arrangements to be made while onboard, they need to use communication tools. They also allow the bereaved family to use their phone and internet without cost.
If the bereaved family chooses not to continue with their cruise anymore and get off in the next port, the care team member will drive them to the hotel where they will be staying and continue to help them in making arrangements there for their deceased loved one. There are even some who stay with the family until they get back home. Not only that, but this member also does a post-cruise follow-up with the family to make sure that they are alright.
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So How Often Do People Die Aboard A Cruise
Cruise lines dont exactly trumpet the exact number of deaths per year, but as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , a ship must divulge “any deaths or certain illnesses” to its port state. A look at such records from 2008 to 2018 from the Brevard County Medical Examiners Office, home to Port Canaveral, the country’s second-busiest, counted 129 naturally occurring deaths on cruises, including seven so far in 2018. Similar data from Miami-Dade County authorities reported 206 natural and 29 accidental deaths aboard cruise ships that call at Americas busiest port in the same period.
So for the nearly 10 million annual passengers who sail out of Florida, Americas flagship state for multi-day cruise embarkations, the incidence of death aboard any given voyage is low. Overall, the number that keeps popping up is in the neighborhood of 200 dead cruisers a year, which, you know, for an industry that puts more than 20 million mostly greying individuals on the open ocean every year aint bad. The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor of returning home alive.
The CDC will hand the cruise to do a pile of paperwork after these deaths, and the headaches may not stop there for cruises. Dead people’s families may sue. What I found talking to maritime lawyers and others around the industry is that it’s simply not as regulated as air travel. There is no FAA equivalent for boats.
Frankie Caracciolo is a contributing writer at Thrillist.
Video: Hidden Decks Morgues And 5 Other Cruise Ship Inside Secrets
June 17, 2017 by Jonathan Clarke
Even if youve gone all-inclusive and full-on luxury, youre still really only seeing half of your cruise ship! Have you ever wondered whats really going on below deck? There are hidden decks. Sure, you have access to cabin, dining hall, bars, sun decks, gyms, but there are separate versions of these on a lower deck for the crew to use. These areas are off-limits to guests. Surprisingly, there is a morgue on board too. Find out what else cruise ships are hiding from their passengers.
Find out what dirty secrets cruises are hiding from their passengers!
More About Cruise Ships
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Til That Cruise Ships Have Morgues In Them On Average Roughly 200 People Die On Cruise Ships Each Year So Most Ships Have The Capacity To Store Up To 10 Bodies At A Time
When the florist has a fire sale, at least on HAL, someone has died. They keep the flowers in the morgue.
Heh. My wife and I loved HAL but we were the youngest on our cruise by several decades at least. Talk about Deaths Waiting Room…. On the plus side the late seating for dinner was never crowded
Which is another reason should get trip insurance. It can be upwards of 7-10k to get you home.
Deaths aboard are much more common them ppl think. I know of at least 3 this week.
Shit Im telling my family to toss me overboard Viking style
It’s not like they’re going to toss your body overboard if someone doesn’t show up with a duffel of cash. Why not just pay for this out of life insurance?
I’ve seen a hearse dockside on my last cruise, usually only see a line of ambulances waiting to take people off of the ship.
When I was in Aruba 3 years back there was 7 ambulances lined up.
If I had to choose a place to go, a cruise would be a top choice.
I wonder what the real number is. And the statistic should be per passenger day . Per mile or per cruise distorts the results.
It’s a good job for the Cadets to check the temperature. Obviously whilst no one is in the morgue, but we don’t tell them that.
If you do a “Behind the scenes” tour on a cruise ship , some cruise lines will show you the morgue and brig during the visit. When I did the visit on other cruise lines they did not show it as part of the tour.