Cruise ships operating in the Mediterranean and Caribbean carry hidden holding cells and morgues below deck, Express reported after a crew member shared onboard secrets.
The cruise liner employee revealed details about security and medical facilities in a video posted on social media, describing how staff handle rule violations and emergencies during voyages.
Every year, thousands of people travel on cruises as one of the most popular ways to vacation. Modern liners take passengers to various countries while providing restaurants, bars, swimming pools, spas, fitness centres, shops, cinemas, theatres, and ice rinks on board.
Behind the resort facilities, most cruise ships feature a special room known as a brig or temporary holding cell. Security staff use these spaces when a passenger or crew member breaks the law or violates vessel rules.
The worker said wild parties can turn into drunken fights or physical assaults due to excessive alcohol intake. Security officers isolate individuals who engage in violence or launch attacks on others.
Passengers involved in fights spend the remainder of the cruise inside a windowless room. These holding cells sit on lower decks near security department offices, located far away from main tourist areas.
A brig operates as a temporary safety measure rather than a long-term prison. Staff hold detainees for several hours or overnight until the liner arrives at its next port, where officers transfer the offender to local law enforcement.
The detention process remains hidden from other travellers. Passengers continue their holiday on board without knowing that security staff have placed someone under arrest.
Onboard Morgues and Passenger Mortality
In addition to temporary holding cells, cruise ships house onboard morgues. These facilities consist of several stainless steel refrigerated compartments designed to store human bodies safely until reaching port.
Deaths during cruise voyages occur most frequently from natural causes. When a passenger dies at sea, staff place the body in the onboard morgue until docking, when officials remove it from the vessel.
The worker stated that an average of about three people die each week on cruise ships. Over 72 percent of cruise passengers are older than 60 years old.
Tourist Convicted Over Overseas Misconduct
In a separate incident regarding tourist misconduct, a court on the Indonesian resort island of Bali sentenced a Swiss tourist to one year in prison in August. The court punished the man for showing disrespect toward local traditions.
Judges sentenced 26-year-old Lucian Andrin Zgraggen after he boasted on social media about breaking behavioral rules during the sacred local Day of Silence, also known as Nyepi. Nyepi is a traditional Balinese Hindu holiday observed with quietness, self-reflection, and island-wide public restrictions.
