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One 60-day voyage through the Australian Coast was terminated days after the fatal incident of an elderly female passenger who was left behind by the ship on a isolated coastal location.

The passenger had been trekking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but separated from the party for a break. The vessel sailed away leaving her and returned several hours later after the personnel discovered the passenger was missing.

A large-scale rescue mission found her body the next day.

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

Chief Executive of the cruise operator said that travelers and staff on the ship were informed that the rest of the cruise had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and prior technical problems".

In a statement, he further stated that travelers would be given a complete reimbursement, and said the company was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also published an latest statement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Master" prohibiting any new passengers from boarding the liner.

The representative said that they would visit the liner in the port city upon its coming back.

Timeline of Events

The liner initially left the coastal city on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the expedition at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. The remote island was the opening port on the journey.

Passengers on the ship - who typically pay tens of thousands of money to join the cruise - were taken there for a day trip with the option of hiking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Statement

The child of the deceased woman said that her family was "surprised and grieved that the ship left the location after an planned tour without my parent".

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

"According to scant details we have been told, it appears that there was a lapse of care and basic judgment," she stated.

She continued that she hoped the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have undertaken that might have saved Her being".

"We understand from the police that it was a extremely warm day, and she took sick on the hill climb," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the boat sailed away, apparently without performing a passenger count.

"During some point in that process, or shortly after, mother succumbed, by herself."

Company Reaction

In a statement, the CEO verified that the operator was "cooperating fully with authorities to support their investigation".

He mentioned that the organization was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had provided its complete assistance to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Standards

The vessel accommodates up to one hundred twenty guests with forty-six staff, according to corporate data. It was specifically designed to reach distant areas of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "small boats" - compact vessels used to transport individuals on land visits.

Events like this are rare, and cruise ships have systems to record which passengers are embarking or leaving, according to maritime specialists.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] aboard really isn't an choice," one expert remarked.

Vessel operators consider these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to stop such occurrences from happening," the authority continued.

"This appears to be presumably a stunning - and unfortunate - single occurrence."