Burials at Sea - San Diego Bay
Sea Burials are a low-cost alternative to the traditional land burial. While paying your loved one the respect, dignity and honor they deserve in their final resting place, a burial at sea also tends to be a more uplifting option to most land based services. Many famous people have chosen burials at sea including John F. Kennedy, Ingrid Bergman, Steve McQueen, Janis Joplin, Rock Hudson, Vincent Leonard Price, Robert Mitchum.
"It was calming and beautiful. There was path of rose petals floating into the path of the rising sun. The water was sparkling as we scattered the ashes of my husband."
"It was just very peaceful all around us. There were even dolphins, and it was as if they had come to guide our mother on her way."
There are several options for burials at sea. Please read through these and discuss your special needs with us by phoning us at the number above.
Burials at sea with Family in Attendance
The Captain will meet with the family 30 minutes before your scheduled burial at sea departure. After a quick briefing, the Captain will escort you onboard the motor yacht of your choice. After a brief cruise to the entrance of San Diego Bay we will stop at a location that is usually very calm with light breezes that will assist with cremains scattering and any flowers or petals you may wish to add. After your ceremony a small cruise around the bay will allow your group with the opportunity to reminisce, celebrate your loved one's life and perhaps share any refreshments you may have brought with you.
Burials at Sea with Family Observing from Ashore
In this option, your loved one's cremains are delivered to the yacht while all or some of your group observer from land. To view the ceremony, the Cabrillo National Monument or Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is an ideal location for the family to gather and pay their last respects. These locations both have a magnificent vista of the harbor and the location where the cremains will be scattered. The captain will provide you with a map and directions on how to get there if you are unfamiliar with the locations. Once you have arrived, you can contact the Captain by cell phone and he will perform your burial at sea ceremony while you observe from your vantage point.
Burials at sea where family cannot attend
Family or friends can send the cremains via courier along with a copy of the death certificate, payment, the Authorization Form, and the Services Order Form to California Cruisin. Once we have clearance, California Cruisin will perform your burial at sea ceremony, scattering the ashes and completing a commemorative certificate identifying the date, time, and latitude and longitude of the yacht when your burial at sea ceremony took place.
Pet Burials
By arrangement we can also arrange to have your beloved pet buried at sea either with or without your attendance. Please call us for details.
Where to meet the boat
Unless a special pickup location is arranged, we depart from Cabrillo Marina on Harbor island. This is only three minutes from San Diego Airport making it an ideal location if you and/or your relatives and friends are flying in from out of town.
What time is best
We will do our best to work within your schedule. Mornings are usually the calmest times and sometimes the evenings. As we have a number of yachts in our fleet we can usually meet your needs for timing and to comfortably accommodate the size of your group.
Do I need to bring someone to perform the cermony?
Most families arrange their burial at sea service according to their preferences. You may bring your minister, priest, or rabbi, or we can try to arrange one. If the family is not present, the captain will perform a brief ceremony.
Can I bring flowers
We recommend loose flowers or rose petals which float nicely and are more environmentally friendly than wreaths.
Will I get seasick?
San Diego bay is very calm and its most unusual for anyone to experience seasickness. If you have concerns please discuss the with us first.
