Heather Sheridan’s parents dreamed about traveling together in retirement, but after her mom’s cancer progressed, their plans changed.
Before she died in 2023, Sheridan said her mom, Beverly, and her family discussed spreading her ashes "in places that she loved, places that she never got to go to, that she wanted to go to, and just, you know, honoring her that way."
In the years since, Sheridan and her dad have done just that. From Italy to Croatia and, in September, on a transpacific cruise. "That was just something that they did together a lot, and that was one of the things they could do when she was sick frequently, was go on a cruise," the 47-year-old California resident told USA TODAY.
Many cruise lines allow guests to spread their loved
ones’ ashes at sea, but travelers must take some steps beforehand to ensure the process goes smoothly.
How do cruise ship burials at sea work?
Ellen Overcast, owner of Main Street Getaways, a Dream Vacations franchise, said most cruise lines permit water burials even if they don’t advertise it. She estimated she’s had five clients book them.
"It's usually either (because) their family members were huge cruise fans, like they cruised all the time, or they requested to be released in Caribbean waters, so they have a specific place that they want to spread their ashes," she said.
Cruise lines typically escort guests to a private area on an outer deck and, depending on availability, officers may accompany them for a short ceremony – though Overcast said every operator handles the process differently.
Sheridan and her father visited guest services with their inquiry after embarking on their 18-day Carnival Cruise Line sailing from San Francisco to Tokyo. They received a call about halfway through the voyage asking if they could return to the desk in half an hour.
Many cruise lines require passengers to notify them at least 30 days in advance, according to Overcast, but Carnival told USA TODAY that guests can arrange the burial with guest services personnel after boarding.
The crew took Sheridan and her dad to an employee-only area at the back of the ship and offered to take photos and video footage for them. A couple of days later, they received a letter from the captain offering his condolences, along with the date, time and the longitude and latitude of where her mom was interred.
"It was a very touching thing that they did for us," Sheridan said.
"There are guests who wish to celebrate the life and memory of a loved one with a final tribute at sea," the cruise line said in an emailed statement. "Our Carnival team works to arrange a thoughtful and dignified ceremony onboard, while ensuring it complies with environmental and documentation regulations."
Do cruise lines charge for burials at sea?
The service is typically free, according to Overcast. However, some requirements could incur costs.
Royal Caribbean, for example, said on its website that the ashes "must be in an approved scattering or biodegradable urn, free of plastic or wire, and the entire urn must be tossed." Passengers must also provide a death certificate – which can cost a fee to obtain – and a cremation certificate, and may need documentation proving the urn is biodegradable.
Carnival similarly permits biodegradable containers and "certain commemorative flowers," but does not allow items like plastic urns and balloons, the cruise line said.
Overcast added that travelers also generally need a burial transit permit, and cruise lines can help advise them on obtaining one. Ships must be outside protected ecosystems at the time of the burial, she said, and operators can also help guests find and book itineraries likely to allow it.
Norwegian Cruise Line, which offers the service, told USA TODAY in an email that ceremonies "are scheduled based on the ship’s itinerary and are conducted in an appropriate area at sea, at least 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, with the ship’s team helping to ensure the occasion is handled respectfully."
Travelers can generally fly with cremated remains in their luggage, according to the Transportation Security Administration’s website, but some airlines may not allow them in checked bags.
Sheridan was moved by her mom’s burial at sea, which she said felt "momentous in a way that spreading her ashes in some other places hasn't necessarily felt." She anticipates doing the same for her father when he dies, and left money in her will for her cousin "to throw me into the ocean."
"I think both of us will probably end up … in the Pacific eventually, you know, join her out there."
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: She loved cruising. Her family took her ashes on one last sailing
