A Bit of a Taboo Subject

I have decided to write a piece on scattering ashes at sea after seeing a elderly passenger on ITV's 'The Cruise' being allowed to do it.  I can't comment on the procedures leading up to it, but I can comment on scattering ashes at sea and I have to say I felt sorry for the lady it certainly wasn't like that for me.
My mother Muriel had fallen in love with the Canary Islands and had asked to have some of her ashes scattered somewhere warm and sunny.  It was something that I thought was impossible, but by pure chance I saw a post one day about someone on a recent cruise that had scattered ashes.  I immediately contacted my cruise agent to see if it would be possible on my upcoming cruise.  Initially the information I received was a bit confusing until someone explained the process.  There are four things that have to be put in place before you sail and they are:

1.  The Captain must agree to it.
2.  The port authority of the country has to give permission.
3. You need a cremation certificate which you can get from the crematorium to show what type of ashes you are taking on board.
4.  The ashes must be in a bio-degradable box.

I was sent a letter which I had to present at the information desk in the terminal and my party was taken on board.  We was told that a officer also called Karen would contact me on the first sea day to discuss arrangements.  It felt right to keep mum's ashes close by us for a few days in our cabin.  On meeting Karen I was told there would be a short service taken by Captain Pembridge and I was offered a choice of two, I chose the non-religious one.  I was able to have a wreath made by the ships florist; it was beautiful sunshine colours, mum would have loved it.  I was told a couple of days before the scattering I had to hand over the ashes for an officer to check.

The ceremony was to take place after we left Lanzarote at sunset.  At this point I wasn't sure what to expect but my expectations were surpassed.  We were taken to a private area where Captain Pembridge and another officer were waiting with everything ready.  A side door was opened and the ceremony went ahead to commit the ashes to the sea.  I was asked if I wanted to say something about my mum and then the officer held onto be as I threw the wreath into the ocean, we stood and watched it disappear into the distance.  Captain logged it in the ships log and several days later I received a certificate which stated that my mums ashes were committed to the sea giving the exact position, date and time.

For me it gave closure knowing my mum would approve.  P&O on this occasion could not have done better, the support I had from the crew was wonderful throughout my cruise.  Thank you to everyone who made it possible.