The luxury cruise ship Coral Adventurer found itself in an unexpected maritime situation this weekend, running aground near Papua New Guinea's eastern coastline and prompting a range of passenger responses from alarm to calm.

The vessel, carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew members, became grounded approximately 90 kilometers from Lae, PNG's second-largest city, on Saturday. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained during the incident, which was quickly addressed by maritime professionals.

Passenger accounts varied dramatically, with some travelers expressing significant concern while others remained remarkably composed. Ursula Daus told the ABC she felt her life was in "danger" and declared she would "never, ever again" travel with the company. In stark contrast, fellow passenger Marilyn Walter described the grounding as merely "just a little jar".

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detained the vessel due to potential seaworthiness concerns, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched a comprehensive investigation. A preliminary report is expected within approximately two months, unless critical safety issues are discovered that would necessitate a more immediate response.

This incident follows another concerning event involving the Coral Adventurer, where an 80-year-old passenger, Suzanne Rees from Sydney, tragically died after allegedly being left behind during a previous excursion on Lizard Island in October.

Coral Expeditions, the Cairns-based cruise line operating the vessel, has been transparent about the situation. Initial inspections by certified divers found no significant hull damage, and the company has committed to assisting local authorities in their investigation. All passengers have been safely repatriated, with the company offering refunds or future travel credits.

The vessel was successfully refloated on Tuesday with tugboat assistance and is currently anchored, awaiting further assessment. Coral Expeditions has expressed sincere regrets about the disruption to passengers' travel plans and remains focused on resolving the situation professionally and compassionately.