Woman left behind by cruise ship dies on remote tropical island

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News on Oct 29, 2025

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An 80-year-old woman died on a remote island after she was left behind by a luxury cruise ship during its glamorous voyage around Australia, sparking an investigation.

The passenger, who has not yet been identified, was first reported missing to authorities Saturday night, after a search revealed she was not onboard the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, BBC News reported.

Earlier in day, the vessel docked at Lizard Island, a resort destination with a nature preserve some 20 miles off the Queensland coast. The woman was hiking Cook’s Look peak there with other passengers, authorities said, but at some point separated from the group to take a break. She ultimately “failed to board” the ship, and the cruise liner set off at around sunset as scheduled, the Australian Broadcasting Company reported.

Queensland Police confirmed the woman’s body was found early Sunday morning during a subsequent search of the island. They described her death as “sudden and non-suspicious,” but added that an investigation into the matter is ongoing.

No official cause has yet been provided, but news.com.au reported that she may have fallen down a cliff on the island. Also still unclear is why it took hours for the ship’s crew to realize the woman was missing.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said its investigation will include “the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for” amid the boarding process.

“The Coral team have been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process,” said CEO of Coral Expeditions Mark Fifield said, per news.com.au. “We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation.”

According to records cited by CNN, the Coral Adventurer, which boasts a capacity for 120 passengers and 46 crew, had left the port of Cairns just a day earlier on October 24.

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