Pacific Explorer docks in Melbourne after body of young woman recovered in waters off Limestone Coast

The Pacific Explorer has completed its journey back to Melbourne after the body of a young woman believed to have fallen overboard was found off the SA coast.

Days after a woman died after she reportedly fell from the Pacific Explorer cruise ship, the vessel has completed its journey back to Melbourne.

The flagship cruiseliner was expected to dock at 7am local time on Friday morning, but reportedly arrived ahead of schedule on Thursday afternoon.

Passenger Sharon Edwards told The Advertiser the cruise liner travelled back slowly, but she wasn’t sure why.

“I don’t know, but I would presume it takes that long to get back at a slow pace considering the weather,” she said.

It is understood passengers will disembark at staggered intervals.

The Pacific Explorer has returned to Melbourne. Picture: P & O

Just before 7am on Wednesday morning, PolAir, assisted by the Challenger aircraft from Essendon, recovered the 23-year-old’s body from waters 70km off the coast of Cape Jaffa in South Australia’s southeast.

Police were alerted to the incident just after midnight and an extensive search-and-rescue operation lasted approximately nine hours in 5m-high seas.

Ms Edwards said she and her mother were woken to the sound of an automated call about a fire alarm.

“They told us to go to our muster area … then we heard a man overboard announcement,” she said.

“We were then told to go back to our cabin and they announced someone was overboard and they turned the boat around.

“They have been great in the terrible circumstances.”

Mrs Edwards added restaurants, bars and entertainment services were operating on the vessel shortly after the woman’s body was found.

Another passenger told 7NEWS she left her room to investigate the commotion.

“We saw several lifebuoys that had been deployed … these lifebuoys had flashing lights because it was pitch black” she said.

BREAKING: The body of a cruise ship passenger who went overboard off Cape Jaffa in the state's south-east has been found. The voyage has now been abandoned. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/XelWUpoQXh@haydennelson#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/gxdLZYamPk

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) December 14, 2022

The Pacific Explorer at Outer Harbor during an earlier visit to SA. Picture: Tom Huntley

The cruiseliner left Melbourne on Tuesday for a four-night return trip to Kangaroo Island with a capacity to carry nearly 2000 passengers.

The visit to Kangaroo Island was cancelled and the ship was turned around, to return to Melbourne.

Victoria Police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A spokesman for Carnival Australia said the situation was “incredibly distressing” for all involved.

In an updated statement, a spokesman expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.

“We continue to provide care and assistance to the family member this guest was travelling with and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones,” the spokesman said.

“As you can appreciate this has also deeply impacted our remaining guests and crew.
“We thank all involved who supported this distressing and challenging search operation.”

The Pacific Explorer was sitting off the coast of Cape Jaffa, but has since started travelling back towards Melbourne. Picture: Cruise Mapper

Cape Jaffa Holiday Park owner Rebecca Ireland said the cape was notoriously windy and the seas would have been rough.

“I’m so glad they found her for closure for the family,” she said.

“It’s a horrible, horrible thing to have happened and it’s not knowing that would be the hardest part.”

She said the cruise ships that came past the cape were not visible often.

The search effort would have happened a long way from the shore and locals would have had no indication of the drama unfolding at sea, she said.

Local Heather Kirkland was at the Cape Jaffa Harbour jetty after hearing the news and said she was saddened for the family of the victim.

“A friend got killed on a fishing boat down this way after falling in,” she said.

“You would not last long in waters like that.”

“It’s just so sad to have family go on a cruise and then they are just gone … it’s just terrible.

“I’m glad they found the body so the family doesn’t have to go on not knowing.”