Rhiannon Ingle
Cruise ships are known for providing a whole bunch of activities and entertainment to thousands upon thousands of holidaymakers as they sail the seas.
Whether it's being home to multiple dining establishments, play areas, casinos, bars, Broadway-style theatres, spas, fitness centres, sports courts, shopping areas and even waterslides - it's clear that these mammoth vessels are packed full to the brim.
However, not many people know that, amongst all that, cruise ships also have morgues on board - and there is a seriously unsettling reason as to why.
Now, while deaths on board cruise ships are rare, they do unfortunately occur from time to time.
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Because of this, these luxury liners need to have facilities in place so that staff can store a body on board until it can be removed at the next port if such a tragedy should happen.
And, in some cases, the body remains on board for the rest of the journey.
The New York Times notes that the morgue is usually a small, refrigerated room at the lowest part of the ship, and it can hold between two and 10 bodies.
If a passenger has sadly died, the captain is informed, and medical teams on land will also be informed of the news.
Speaking to CNN, cruise ship doctor, Dr Aleksandar Durovic, explained a little more about the on-board protocol
"It’s a job full of stress and responsibility. The medical side can be very demanding. Most of what we do on big cruise ships is emergency services, like in an ER. But we are also general practitioners for crew, and take care of chronic medical needs," the expert shared, adding that sometimes medical teams on land come aboard the ship if a person has passed away.
"They decide what to do. Sometimes, medical examiners will come on board and take the body for an autopsy. It depends case by case," he said.
He continued: "Obviously, the doctor pronounces the death, but for most medical teams, the person is given some respect. There’s a moment of silence before the body is prepared."
"It’s not a nice feeling for the whole ship," Dr Durovic said while discussing the subject of a death onboard. "Ships are supposed to be fun places for people to enjoy their vacation. Any event like that is really stressful for everyone, but at least we [medics] have training.
The doctor added that respiratory issues are one of the most common medical problems on board, followed by other vascular issues and injuries.
"Respiratory problems are the main thing, but anything can arise," he said, concluding: "Heart attacks, heart failure, cardiac arrest. Strokes, injuries, fractured bones, spine injuries, and head injuries.
"It’s similar to any ER around the world, and some ships can be very busy."