As we’ve seen over the past week, a death on a cruise ship can serve as a strong news headline and spark various questionable social media theories. However, although not frequent, deaths at sea occur often enough that major cruise companies have developed clear protocols for handling the deceased and their families, both practically and with respect. Most of the time.
Recently, a man passed away last week on boardthe Carnival DreamDuring a six-day cruise in the Caribbean departing from Galveston, the situation has briefly shed light on this less-known part of vacation travel. The interest in the case is probably greater than normal, driven by the wild rumors that emerged right after the man’s death and the FBI’s investigation into his passing, which Carnival and FBI officials stated to MathHotels.com on Monday is standard for any death on a cruise ship.
On Monday, according to KHOU, the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the deceased as 48-year-old Euvelester Villareal Jr. from Rio Grande City. Without the toxicology report, the coroner observed no visible signs of injury. Nevertheless, the subsequent procedures in these situations are still not well understood by the general public.
Thousands lose their lives at sea each year
According to the Miami-based Brais Law Firm, an international maritime law franchise with locations in numerous U.S. cities (such as Houston and Galveston), sees hundreds of passengers lose their lives at sea annually. This figure was backed byChris Frame, who has witnessed firsthand what occurs when a person passes away at sea. Frame is a cruise ship historian and a general maritime expert, although the Australian native prefers to refer to them as “ocean liners.”
Every vessel needs to include a morgue, Frame mentioned in a 2024 YouTube explanation, as “the era of automatic ocean burials has passed.”
Frame discovered this, he mentioned, because when he once worked as an entertainer for a cruise line that remained unnamed, his cabin was situated directly across from the morgue. The location of the morgue differs depending on the ship, Frame explained, but the one opposite his cabin was directly beneath the medical center.
If a passenger dies while at sea, as Frame explains, the cruise company usually informs the other passengers who are under the deceased’s booking. They might also use the emergency contact details to notify the next of kin, assuming the next of kin is not already on the ship. Certain cruise lines have staff chaplains available to support passengers in mourning, whereas others might seek out religious leaders who are also aboard the vessel.
Depending on the duration of the voyage, as explained by Frame, the body could be taken off the ship at the closest port, with the family needing to organize its return home; this procedure is referred to as “repatriation.” The cruise company may offer some help with this, but the family will bear the expenses associated with repatriation—”which is why it’s crucial to have travel insurance tailored for cruises on every trip you take,” he mentioned.
Almost all fatalities at sea result from existing health issues or typical medical situations like heart attacks, according to Frame. However, given that the annual number of cruise passengers reaches tens of millions, many of whom are elderly and not in perfect health, onboard deaths are “something that most ships will need to handle throughout their operational lives,” he added.
Body bags and coolers
A standard cruise ship, as Frame mentioned, includes numerous body bags to facilitate the discreet transport of deceased individuals; bodies are typically removed as soon as the ship arrives back at port to avoid distressing other passengers. According to a report, a ship’s morgue usually contains up to 10 refrigerated drawers for storing corpses.2018 report by Thrillistbut it doesn’t always go as planned.
In 2023, a man from Florida’s family filed a lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises, alleging that the company kept his body in a drink cooler. He died from a heart condition while on a trip near Puerto Rico, as reported.Miami New Timesand his wife chose to have his body returned to the U.S. instead of waiting for an autopsy on the Caribbean island. However, the ship’s morgue was not functioning.
Several days later, when a mortuary from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, arrived at the port to collect the man’s body, its employee discovered that the corpse had been kept at an incorrect temperature and had progressed to a “severe stage of decomposition.” Additionally, “the funeral worker noticed beverages placed outside the ice box at the mortuary,” according to the Miami New Times.
As stated on the Brais website, a legal professional managing a wrongful-death lawsuit against a cruise company might interact with passengers and staff who saw the incident or suspect it occurred in an unusual manner; question crew members and other cruise line workers who possess pertinent details; acquire accident reports and associated documents; and connect with federal officials and forensic pathologists who have looked into the death.
Although fatalities at sea might be more frequent than people believe, homicides are uncommon. In 2010, Congress enacted the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act, mandating that incidents at sea be reported to the FBI. In the first half of 2025, according to theDepartment of TransportationThe eight biggest companies in the cruise industry stated there were no homicides or other unusual deaths. In the same timeframe, the FBI got 66 reports of rape and sexual assault.
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