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An extensive two-month cruise circling Australia has been cancelled in the wake of the death of an senior lady who was left behind by the vessel on a remote coastal location.

The elderly woman had been hiking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but parted ways from the excursion for a rest. The liner departed without her and returned after some time after the personnel discovered the passenger was unaccounted for.

An extensive rescue mission located her remains the next day.

Authorities are investigating the tragedy, in coordination with police and the state coroner.

Head of the shipping company stated that guests and personnel on the vessel were told that the continuation of the journey had been called off due to the "tragic passing and earlier technical problems".

In a statement, he added that guests would be provided a complete reimbursement, and said the company was working "to arrange the homeward trips of the passengers via chartered flights".

Regulatory bodies also published an updated statement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Commander" prohibiting any further travelers from entering the liner.

The official said that they would attend the ship in Cairns upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The ship originally sailed from the coastal city on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Passengers on board - who typically pay large sums of dollars to join the expedition - were transported there for a day trip with the choice of trekking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Reaction

The offspring of the victim said that her family was "surprised and saddened that the vessel left Lizard Island after an planned tour without my mother".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her mum as an "vigorous octogenarian" who was a participant of a bushwalking club.

"Based on limited facts we have been informed, it appears that there was a lapse of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she mentioned.

She added that she desired the investigation would be able to identify what "the organization should have performed that might have protected Her being".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm day, and she took sick on the uphill trek," she explained.

"They requested her to head down, unescorted. Then the vessel sailed away, reportedly without performing a headcount.

"During some point in that process, or shortly after, mother passed away, alone."

Operator Reaction

Through an announcement, the CEO affirmed that the company was "working closely with officials to assist their examination".

He stated that the company was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had offered its full support to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Practices

The vessel accommodates up to a hundred twenty passengers with nearly fifty crew, according to official data. It was purpose-built to reach isolated areas of the Australian coastline and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to ferry travelers on shore trips.

Events like this are uncommon, and cruise ships have procedures to record which passengers are getting on or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard just isn't an choice," one expert commented.

Shipping companies consider these procedures with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such incidents from occurring," the specialist added.

"This is presumably a shocking - and sad - one-off."