I've only been on one cruise, but you had to sign out and sign back in. So it would be really obvious that pax were missing. Seems odd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s fine. She was a ripe old age. Everyone is going to die someday, and she died doing what she loved. Even if they had done the headcount and gone back she might have already been dead. People make such a fuss about these incidents. Mistakes happen.

Wait till you or someone you care about gets killed in a car crash or from a medical oopsie. Mistakes happen, huh?

That would be a tragedy now because I am young with young kids. If it happened when I was 81 it would be sad for my immediate family, but it wouldn’t be a tragedy that people on the opposite side of the world need to care about.

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s fine. She was a ripe old age. Everyone is going to die someday, and she died doing what she loved. Even if they had done the headcount and gone back she might have already been dead. People make such a fuss about these incidents. Mistakes happen.

Wait till you or someone you care about gets killed in a car crash or from a medical oopsie. Mistakes happen, huh?

I went on a similar cruise with that company. The shore excursions were staffed by crew and expedition guides. If they only had one taking them up that trail that's not enough. If they had 2 one should have stayed with her or radioed for a staff to come walk down with her.

Neither happened.

Their passengers tend to be elderly.

Whether she fell off the cliff (found at base of cliff) trying to go back immediately, after realizing they were leaving without her, in the dark seeking help from the resort; whether she had a medical event before or after the boat left; or a combination the indisputable fact is they left her, did not realize she was not on boat for hours, and reportedly first assumed she fell overboard. The latter and call for ocean search is indisputable evidence they did not count or count correctly before hauling anchor.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine deciding to be an 81 year old solo traveler on a cruise though. Doesn’t seem smart. If she had enough money for this expensive cruise she should have paid for a nurse of something to go with her.

This is exactly who cruising is for - people who have lost their partner(or never had one) but still want to travel, socialize and eat well.

My MIL took the QEll by herself at 81. They did a great at accommodating her as a traveler with organized group events and communal dinner tables.

I think it’s fine. She was a ripe old age. Everyone is going to die someday, and she died doing what she loved. Even if they had done the headcount and gone back she might have already been dead. People make such a fuss about these incidents. Mistakes happen.

I have only been on two cruises and we didn’t do ship-planned excursions - would there have been more than one staff member hiking with this group? If so then one should have definitely stayed with Rees and/or walked her back to the ship. If there was only one guide that would be a much harder call.

As a former camp counselor whose camp left a kid (not in my group) at the Bethesda Pool which made the cover of the Montgomery Journal, someone definitely skipped the head count.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine deciding to be an 81 year old solo traveler on a cruise though. Doesn’t seem smart. If she had enough money for this expensive cruise she should have paid for a nurse of something to go with her.

I can. Suppose you don't have a living spouse, your kids or other family can't take that much time off work, you don't have a friend who can afford it, but it's something you want to do... why wouldn't you? And I can't imagine paying a stranger to come along.

+1 My dad was only in his 70s but he took a train trip across Asia following the Silk Road by himself because he had always wanted to, my mom had passed, and his kids were all busy with work and young kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine deciding to be an 81 year old solo traveler on a cruise though. Doesn’t seem smart. If she had enough money for this expensive cruise she should have paid for a nurse of something to go with her.

She was an experienced bush walker. I grantee this woman was more fit that you ever have been.

Have to agree. I know several extremely fit 80 year olds who happily go hiking and do walking trips in the Alps. I suspect she seemed completely fit and active to the tour so they felt fine leaving her alone to return to the ship. The cruise was absolutely negligent in failing to notice she hadn't returned.

I am reminded of a grandmother who was healthy and fit with no health issues who one day felt a bit tired and decided to take a short nap, which she never woke from. Sometimes that is what happens.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine deciding to be an 81 year old solo traveler on a cruise though. Doesn’t seem smart. If she had enough money for this expensive cruise she should have paid for a nurse of something to go with her.

I can. Suppose you don't have a living spouse, your kids or other family can't take that much time off work, you don't have a friend who can afford it, but it's something you want to do... why wouldn't you? And I can't imagine paying a stranger to come along.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You NEVER hike by yourself!

She went with people so don't blame the victim. Sounds like the others left her behind.

You think a group of people willingly left an elderly woman alone on a hike?

They obviously did.

+1!

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine deciding to be an 81 year old solo traveler on a cruise though. Doesn’t seem smart. If she had enough money for this expensive cruise she should have paid for a nurse of something to go with her.

She was an experienced bush walker. I grantee this woman was more fit that you ever have been.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You NEVER hike by yourself!

She went with people so don't blame the victim. Sounds like the others left her behind.

You think a group of people willingly left an elderly woman alone on a hike?

They obviously did.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine deciding to be an 81 year old solo traveler on a cruise though. Doesn’t seem smart. If she had enough money for this expensive cruise she should have paid for a nurse of something to go with her.

Most 81 year olds don’t need a nurse. And she was clearly fit enough that she was able to do the hike. Which is why it sounds like a medical issue came up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You NEVER hike by yourself!

She went with people so don't blame the victim. Sounds like the others left her behind.

You think a group of people willingly left an elderly woman alone on a hike?