Weddings? Burials at sea? Unexpected things you can do on a cruise ship besides cruising

When thinking of a cruise, we generally imagine sailing away for a relaxing vacation of sun and fun. Lots of food, perhaps a drink with an umbrella in it and the magnificent ocean.

We're lucky in Florida, home to some of the world's busiest cruise ports including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT, and Port of Palm Beach. There is also a port in Key West, but this is mainly used for cruise ship calls rather than a homeport.

Most people know cruises offer a great value and are nearly all-inclusive with good food, accommodations and entertainment. Add to that exotic ports of call and shore excursions that strike all fancies, from beach bums to adrenaline junkies.

But there are some lesser-known accommodations available on most cruise ships.

From joyous occasions to celebrations of life, here are some extraordinary services cruise ships offer.

You can get married on a cruise ship

Want to say "I do" onboard a majestic ship or at an exotic location?

You can do that on a cruise ship and be on your honeymoon at the same time.

Many cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, offer weddings and wedding renewals aboard the ship or at scenic tropical locations.

Your guests don't even have to cruise with you.

For example, 50 non-sailing guests can take part in weddings aboard Carnival Cruise Line ships before the cruise sails from the port of embarkation.

Royal Caribbean allows for 75 of 150 wedding guests to be non-sailing. NCL permits up to 10 non-sailing guests free of charge, but a reception must be booked if you have up to 50 guests who are not sailing.

Check with your cruise line for availability and details.

Burial at sea: Scattering a loved one's ashes from a cruise ship

A loved one's remains can be buried at sea during a cruise.

Several cruise lines allow for the scattering of cremated remains from their ships, provided the guest can produce the decedent's death and cremation certificates.

The remains are generally required to be in a biodegradable urn and some cruise lines require the entire urn to be tossed into the sea.

Cruise lines work with guests to determine burial time and place. Guests are usually taken to a more secluded part of the ship and given privacy for scattering the remains.

Contact your cruise line before boarding for availability and policies.

Cruise ships have jails. Can you get arrested on a cruise ship?

While there are a lot of perks for traveling via cruise ship, there are some facilities available on most cruise ships that may surprise you.

For example, many cruise ships have a small jail, called a brig. The brig is generally located on one of the bottom decks.

Misbehavior or breaking the law on a cruise ship can see you confined to your cabin or locked up in the brig.

Do cruise ships have hospitals?

Most cruise ships sailing from U.S. ports have medical facilities, including a doctor, on board to treat minor illnesses and injuries, and to stabilize patients with more serious health issues until they can be transferred to land-based facilities.

While available, medical care on a cruise ship is not free. Your land-based health insurance is generally not accepted on board and medical service fees are charged to your sailing account.

Your health insurance may not cover you while you're on the ship and out of the country. Check with your provider before boarding and look into travel health insurance for concerns over recouping any out-of-pocket costs.

Is there a morgue on cruise ships?

Morbidly, yes, there's a morgue on board. It's legally required, according to Readers Digest.

In case of a death, the body is stored in the morgue until it can be transferred off the ship.

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cruise ships: Things you probably didn't know you could do on board