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An extensive extended journey around the Australian Coast is being halted in the wake of the tragic passing of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the vessel on a isolated coastal location.

The passenger had been trekking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but separated from the excursion for a rest. The ship sailed away leaving her and came back after some time after the crew became aware the woman was unaccounted for.

A large-scale rescue mission found her remains the subsequent day.

Authorities are investigating the event, in coordination with police and the medical examiner.

Head of the cruise operator announced that guests and crew on the ship were informed that the remainder of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and previous mechanical issues".

In a statement, he added that guests would be provided a full refund, and said the operator was working "to arrange the homeward trips of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also released an revised communication, and said they had "provided a directive to the Captain" prohibiting any additional guests from getting on the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would visit the ship in Cairns upon its coming back.

Timeline of Events

The ship first departed the Australian port on October 24th, and was merely two days into the voyage at the moment of the 80-year-old's passing. Lizard Island was the opening port on the itinerary.

Passengers on board - who usually pay large sums of money to join the cruise - were ferried there for a daily excursion with the choice of hiking or underwater exploration.

Family Statement

The child of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "surprised and distressed that the liner left the island after an organised tour without my mother".

Through her comments, she described her mother as an "active octogenarian" who was a member of a bushwalking organization.

"From the little facts we have been informed, it seems that there was a failure of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she mentioned.

She further stated that she hoped the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have done that might have protected Her life".

"According to reports from the authorities that it was a extremely warm period, and she became unwell on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"They requested her to return, alone. Then the boat sailed away, apparently without performing a passenger count.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or shortly after, she died, alone."

Company Reaction

Through an announcement, the CEO verified that the organization was "working closely with officials to support their examination".

He said that the organization was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had offered its full support to the family.

Shipping Sector Standards

The ship accommodates up to 120 guests with forty-six staff, according to corporate information. It was specially constructed to access distant locations of Australia's shoreline and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to take travelers on shore trips.

Events such as this are rare, and liners have protocols to record which travelers are embarking or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship simply isn't an possibility," an authority stated.

Cruise lines consider these methods very seriously and have "clever tech in place to avoid such events from taking place," the authority continued.

"This appears to be presumably a shocking - and sad - single occurrence."