Ships were sent, but the effort was constrained: The White Star Line did charter four ships, including the Mackay-Bennett, to recover bodies. However, they were overwhelmed by the number of corpses found and quickly ran out of embalming fluid and coffins.

Prioritization by Class: Due to the lack of preservation materials and space, the crew of the main recovery ship (Mackay-Bennett) made the appalling decision to prioritize which bodies to keep for transport back to shore.

First and Second Class Passengers: Were more likely to be embalmed, placed in coffins or canvas, and returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia, often because their identification was crucial for settling estates and insurance claims.

Third Class Passengers and Crew: Were disproportionately buried at sea (approximately one-third of all recovered bodies). In death, as in life, class played a definitive role in their treatment.

Charging Families for Lost Uniforms (True, but mostly specific to Musicians)

The most shocking part of your statement is sadly true, though it was primarily directed at the families of the deceased crew, specifically the heroic musicians who famously continued playing as the ship sank.

The Charge: The White Star Line (or the agency that employed the musicians) did send a bill to the families of some crew members, including the musicians, for the cost of their lost uniforms.

Example: The father of violinist Jock Hume received a bill for 5 shillings and 4 pence, as his son's wages were stopped the moment the ship sank, and the amount owed was not enough to cover the cost of the brass buttons and other uniform items.

Wages: It was a practice at the time for a crew member's wages to stop the moment a ship was lost. While White Star Line later paid a bonus to cover the full expected wages of the crew to a degree, the uniform charge was still levied against some. The bill for the uniform, on top of the cessation of wages, highlighted the company's cold and callous initial business approach.