Ice Cream Parties On Cruise Ships Debunked

Summary

In this video, Chris from High Seas Cruising debunks a viral TikTok video spreading misinformation about death rates on cruise ships and the alleged use of ice cream freezers to store bodies. He clarifies that while cruise ships do have morgues and deaths can occur, the numbers are far lower than claimed in the video. He critiques the TikToker for exaggerating claims to gain views, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking. Chris also addresses related rumors about naval practices and urges people to stop spreading false information about cruising.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Misinformation in cruise videos is frustrating and often done to gain views or go viral.
• 🍦 A viral TikTok video falsely claims that Celebrity Cruises use ice cream freezers to store dead bodies due to overcrowded morgues.
• ❌ The TikTok creator claimed that 4 to 10 people die on every cruise, which is factually incorrect.
• 🚢 While it’s true that cruise ships have morgues, they can only hold 4 to 6 bodies at a time.
• 📉 On average, 200 people die on cruises annually, mostly from natural causes, not the exaggerated numbers claimed in the video.
• 🧮 The TikTok creator’s calculations would result in an unrealistic 94,000 deaths on cruise ships annually, far from the actual figure.
• 👩‍💼 The TikTok creator worked in the entertainment department of a cruise line over 10 years ago and did not have direct knowledge of food services or medical areas.
• 🧊 Cruise lines do not store bodies in ice cream freezers, but there was one incident where a body was improperly stored in a walk-in fridge, leading to a lawsuit.
• ⚓ The US Navy may store bodies in refrigeration units on warships due to the lack of morgues, but this is not standard practice on cruise ships.
• 🔍 The creator urges viewers to fact-check cruise-related content and avoid spreading misinformation to go viral.

Q & A

What misinformation did the video creator find regarding Celebrity Cruise lines?

The misinformation was that Celebrity Cruise lines hold ice cream parties to get rid of ice cream because there are so many deaths on board that bodies need to be stored in the ice cream freezer.

Is it true that 4 to 10 people die on every cruise, as mentioned in the TikTok video?

No, the claim that 4 to 10 people die on every cruise is false. The estimated number of deaths per year across all cruise ships is around 200, primarily due to natural causes.

Do cruise ships have morgues, and how many bodies can they typically hold?

Yes, cruise ships have morgues, and they typically hold between four and six bodies for passengers who pass away while on board.

Why might people pass away on cruise ships?

People might pass away on cruise ships due to natural causes, especially since cruising tends to attract an older demographic.

How many cruise ships were sailing in 2023, according to the video?

There were 454 cruise ships sailing in 2023, according to the video.

Does the math from the TikTok video support the claim of 4 to 10 deaths per cruise?

No, the math in the TikTok video is inaccurate. Using even the low estimate of 4 deaths per cruise, the total number of deaths would exceed 94,000 per year, far above the estimated 200 deaths per year.

Have cruise lines ever stored bodies in walk-in refrigerators or freezers?

Yes, there was one instance where a cruise line stored a body in a walk-in fridge, which led to a lawsuit as it is against regulations. However, this is not common practice.

What might the U.S. Navy do with bodies if someone passes away on a ship?

There are claims that U.S. Navy warships might store bodies in refrigeration units if someone passes away, as Navy vessels typically do not have morgues. However, the video creator has not confirmed this firsthand.

What was the main intent of the video creator in making this video?

The main intent was to debunk viral misinformation about cruise ships, particularly the false claims about high death rates and improper body storage practices.

How does the video creator suggest verifying information about cruise ship deaths?

The video creator suggests using a simple Google search to fact-check claims and avoid spreading misinformation.

What does the video creator say about cruise lines reporting deaths to the public?

The video creator mentions that cruise lines do not have to report deaths to the public, so the number of people who pass away on cruise ships each year is an estimate.