It's good the wife stayed on the ship and got off where family was waiting to assist her. I was rather appalled that anyone would have the nerve to question that decision, btw. It's obviously easier to spend another day on the ship to return to the port of origin where you have return transportation than to get off the ship in another port. Exactly what good would it have done for a distraught spouse to disembark in an unplanned port and then have to arrange transportation? It won't bring the loved one back, and I don't think they'll need a traveling companion.
My family has had a little experience with death on vacation, and there can be real difficulties getting a body back into the U.S. I can't imagine a grieving spouse dealing with it all alone. My father drowned on vacation when I was little and had to be flown from Canada back to the U.S.. Also, my pregnant sister-in-law was vacationing in Italy when her unborn child died in utero. She had to get the consulate involved because she wanted to return to the U.S. to give birth, and the Italian govt. was not cooperative (don't ask me why). Anything that makes it easier (and staying on the ship certainly could) is a good thing.
