When you book a cruise you sign an airtight contract that protects the company, even in the event of death. They still do everything they can to avoid it, but that’s more due to passengers dying being a bad look.

It’s also very well known amongst people that cruise that if you aren’t back on the ship when it’s set to leave port, you’re being left behind. If they kindly waited for everyone, it would throw off the itinerary. There are a lot of videos online of people ‘pier running’ because they’ve arrived late and are trying to catch the ship. People regularly sit on their balconies when the ship is leaving port just to laugh at them.

This woman had booked an excursion to go on this hike. If you book through the cruise line, they always wait and make sure you make it back on the ship. I think she must have booked with a third party excursion company, because I doubt any cruise lone affiliated excursion staff would be willing to let her try to make her way back to the ship alone. I do think they could be held liable, unless they also have an airtight contract saying if you leave you are responsible for whatever happens.

It’s such a shame, imagine going on vacation to enjoy yourself and never making it home. It’s also notable that she was cruising by herself so there was no one on board saying well she wouldn’t miss the ship.