Cruise ships carry a hidden prison known as the 'brig', a holding cell on the lower deck where passengers or crew who break the law are detained until the vessel reaches port. The facility sits near the security office, far from other cruisers, and is used for those who have broken the law or breached the ship's rules.
What happens in the brig
A cruise ship staff member shared a video online explaining that "most people have no idea about the darker side of life on board". The content creator disclosed that passengers involved in fights spend the rest of the cruise in a windowless room until they can be handed over to authorities once the ship docks in the harbour.
Offenders are usually held only temporarily, typically for a few hours or a night, before being transferred to local authorities at the next port. It is a precaution to ensure the safety and security of everyone on board, even if only for a short period before the next docking.
The onboard morgue
The same video revealed that every cruise ship also has a morgue. The worker said: "Every cruise ship has a morgue. With over 72% of passengers over 60 it makes sense...but finding out that an average of three people die on cruises each week blows my mind, omg."
The morgue consists of several stainless steel refrigerated compartments where bodies can be safely stored. If a passenger dies on board, typically from natural causes, the body remains there until the ship docks and can be disembarked.
