Luxury Cruise Cancellation Sparks Outrage After 80-Year-Old Woman Left Alone on Remote Island Dies
The luxury Coral Adventurer cruise line has been forced to cancel its remaining voyage after an elderly passenger was found dead on a remote Australian island, leaving her daughter and family in shock.
Suzanne Rees, 80, had joined the 60-day circumnavigation of Australia aboard the ship as part of a group excursion to Lizard Island. However, she became unwell during the hike to Cook's Look summit and was asked to head back alone, without being escorted by her group or crew members.
Tragically, Rees failed to make it back to the ship and was discovered deceased on the island five hours later. An investigation into her death is ongoing, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) launching an inquiry into why she was not accounted for during boarding.
The cruise line's chief executive officer, Mark Fifield, has apologized for the incident, stating that "delivering high-quality experiences to our guests" had become increasingly apparent as the circumstances of Rees' death unfolded. However, he admitted that it was clear the company could no longer guarantee this promise due to mechanical issues and the tragic events surrounding Rees' death.
The cancellation of the remaining voyage will have significant financial implications for passengers, who were told they would receive a full refund upon disembarkation. The crew, including those on charter flights back to Cairns, are also being assisted in their departure.
Rees' family has expressed outrage at the cruise line's actions, with her daughter Katherine stating that the ship had left the island without Rees after the organized excursion. "We're shocked and saddened by the way this has been handled," she said.
The incident raises serious questions about the safety protocols in place on luxury cruises and whether passengers are truly protected during excursions and disembarkation procedures. The Amsa's decision to issue a notice to the ship's master prohibiting new passenger embarkations is seen as a necessary measure to ensure public safety, but it also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within the cruise industry.
For Rees' family, however, nothing can bring back their loved one, who was left alone on that remote island. Her death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and uncertainties involved in traveling, even on what should be considered a luxury experience.
The luxury Coral Adventurer cruise line has been forced to cancel its remaining voyage after an elderly passenger was found dead on a remote Australian island, leaving her daughter and family in shock.
Suzanne Rees, 80, had joined the 60-day circumnavigation of Australia aboard the ship as part of a group excursion to Lizard Island. However, she became unwell during the hike to Cook's Look summit and was asked to head back alone, without being escorted by her group or crew members.
Tragically, Rees failed to make it back to the ship and was discovered deceased on the island five hours later. An investigation into her death is ongoing, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) launching an inquiry into why she was not accounted for during boarding.
The cruise line's chief executive officer, Mark Fifield, has apologized for the incident, stating that "delivering high-quality experiences to our guests" had become increasingly apparent as the circumstances of Rees' death unfolded. However, he admitted that it was clear the company could no longer guarantee this promise due to mechanical issues and the tragic events surrounding Rees' death.
The cancellation of the remaining voyage will have significant financial implications for passengers, who were told they would receive a full refund upon disembarkation. The crew, including those on charter flights back to Cairns, are also being assisted in their departure.
Rees' family has expressed outrage at the cruise line's actions, with her daughter Katherine stating that the ship had left the island without Rees after the organized excursion. "We're shocked and saddened by the way this has been handled," she said.
The incident raises serious questions about the safety protocols in place on luxury cruises and whether passengers are truly protected during excursions and disembarkation procedures. The Amsa's decision to issue a notice to the ship's master prohibiting new passenger embarkations is seen as a necessary measure to ensure public safety, but it also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within the cruise industry.
For Rees' family, however, nothing can bring back their loved one, who was left alone on that remote island. Her death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and uncertainties involved in traveling, even on what should be considered a luxury experience.
60 days at sea ain't no vacation, it's a ticking time bomb for elderly folks like Rees. She deserved better 
it's crazy how much money these cruise lines are making and still manage to prioritize profits over people 
the family deserves so much better, especially after everything that happened 
how could they just leave her there? 80 years old and no one to care for her not even an escort from the crew. what if she had fallen or hurt herself while trying to get back to the ship? the family is right the cruise line needs to be held accountable, this is a huge safety breach 
the fact that they cancelled the whole trip just because of one bad thing doesn't make it better 
The family's outrage is totally justified - they deserve so much better than this. And can we talk about how the crew knew she was "well" enough to be left alone, but not good enough to make it back to the ship? It's just not fair to them or their loved ones. 
safety first, not profits 
their apology sounds like bs mark fifield should be ashamed of himself and the company his handling of this situation is so unacceptable 
lets hope the amsa's investigation gets to the bottom of what happened and some real changes are made in the cruise industry 
i'm so sorry for Rees' family this must be an incredibly difficult time for them and it's just not fair that they're having to deal with all these questions about safety protocols without any answers 