In October 2025, there were reports that a woman had been found dead on a Great Barrier Reef island having been left behind by a cruise ship.
For some, this raised some serious questions: What sort of responsibilities does a cruise ship have regarding passengers who, for whatever reason, get left behind? And if something happens to the passenger after having been left behind, is the cruise line liable?
How Often Do Cruise Ships Leave Passengers Behind?
Cruise ships almost never leave passengers behind. Cruise ships tend to have robust systems in place to record all passengers that embark or disembark.
However, rare that it is, sometimes passengers do get left behind. In many cases, this is due to negligent actions on the part of the passenger: A failure to stick to agreed boarding and disembarking times. In these cases, the passenger will be liable for anything that occurs afterwards, including any ongoing travel or accommodation expenses.
Yet there are some cases when a passenger may get left behind as a result of negligence on the part of the cruise line. And in these cases, if something goes wrong after the passenger is left behind, the cruise ship may be liable for all damages.
When Would A Cruise Ship Be Liable For a Left Passenger?
- If the cruise ship fails to communicate the itinerary, or if they neglect to tell passengers about changes to the itinerary.
- If there are errors in the ship’s records. This could mean that the crew may not immediately notice that a passenger has not returned.
- If the cruise ship takes no action to recover the passenger, then they may be liable for any subsequent losses. In the example we linked to above, the ship returned to the island where the passenger had gone missing a few hours later, to launch a search operation.
- If the passenger misses the ship’s departure because they are getting treatment for an injury caused by the ship’s crew, or by an affiliated tour operator, then the ship may be held liable for any subsequent expenses incurred.
- If a passenger, or a group of passengers, miss the departure time because they are detailed by an activity organised by the cruise line, then the cruise line will be liable for these passengers.
Cruise Ship Policy for Supporting Left Passengers
Cruise ships should have policies in place for preventing left passenger scenarios with registers, roll calls, and clear lines of communication. They should also have policies for how they respond to instances of left passengers.
If it is an emergency situation, and it is practical to do so, then the cruise ship may choose to return to recover the left passengers – as they did in the example we linked to above. But this recourse should be reserved for situations where there is a real threat to the left passenger’s wellbeing.
Beyond this, the cruise line should make it clear to all passengers that:
- They are personally responsible for ensuring that they get back to the ship in time for departure following an excursion.
- Left passengers may be able to rejoin the cruise at the next port of call. But you should highlight that, in most cases, it will be the passenger’s responsibility for organising and funding their journey to the next port.
You should make these policies and procedures as clear and transparent as possible. And you should ensure that all passengers sign a declaration confirming that they understand their responsibilities, along with the ship’s duty of care to them.
Does Your Insurance Cover Left Passengers?
As we have seen, there may be some situations where the cruise line will be held liable for any expenses or other issues that arise after a passenger is left behind. But even if the cruise line is not liable, a left passenger may still choose to make a claim against you. So you may face costly legal fees, along with potential compensation payments, following any instance of left passengers.
Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine division of accredited Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited. We can help you ensure that your maritime insurance covers you for the risks and expenses associated with left passengers.