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An extensive two-month journey around Australia has been cancelled days after the death of an older woman who was left behind by the cruise liner on a isolated coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but separated from the party for a break. The liner sailed away leaving her and came back after some time after the personnel became aware the lady was not present.

A major search operation discovered her body the next day.

Investigative bodies are looking into the incident, in coordination with investigators and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator stated that guests and staff on the vessel were told that the rest of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and earlier technical problems".

Through an announcement, he further stated that guests would be given a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to organize the homeward trips of the passengers via chartered flights".

Authorities also issued an revised communication, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Master" prohibiting any new passengers from boarding the ship.

The representative said that they would attend the vessel in Cairns upon its coming back.

Chronology of Incidents

The vessel first departed the coastal city on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. The remote island was the initial destination on the itinerary.

Guests on board - who generally pay substantial amounts of dollars to participate in the expedition - were ferried there for a shore visit with the possibility of trekking or snorkeling.

Family Statement

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her loved ones was "surprised and grieved that the liner left Lizard Island after an scheduled tour without my mother".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her mum as an "energetic elderly person" who was a member of a walking organization.

"Based on limited details we have been provided, it looks that there was a lapse of care and common sense," she mentioned.

She continued that she hoped the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have performed that might have preserved Mum's being".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and mum fell ill on the mountain ascent," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the vessel left, reportedly without performing a passenger count.

"During some point in that chain of events, or soon after, mum passed away, by herself."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the CEO confirmed that the company was "working closely with officials to aid their inquiry".

He mentioned that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had provided its total backing to the family.

Cruise Industry Standards

The ship accommodates up to 120 travelers with forty-six staff, according to corporate details. It was specially constructed to reach remote regions of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to transport passengers on shore trips.

Occurrences such as this are infrequent, and passenger vessels have protocols to document which passengers are embarking or getting off, according to maritime specialists.

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

Cruise lines regard these procedures extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such events from taking place," the authority continued.

"This seems to be presumably a stunning - and tragic - isolated incident."