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One two-month journey around the Australian Coast was terminated in the wake of the death of an senior female passenger who was stranded by the vessel on a remote island.

The passenger had been trekking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the cruise ship, but separated from the group for a rest. The vessel departed without her and went back several hours later after the ship staff discovered the woman was unaccounted for.

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

Officials are examining the tragedy, alongside investigators and the official investigator.

Chief Executive of the shipping company announced that travelers and crew on the vessel were informed that the continuation of the journey had been cancelled due to the "sad loss and prior engine troubles".

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

Officials also published an latest communication, and said they had "provided a directive to the Captain" banning any further travelers from boarding the ship.

The official said that they would inspect the ship in the port city upon its return.

Chronology of Incidents

The vessel originally sailed from the coastal city on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the voyage at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. The remote island was the first stop on the journey.

Guests on the ship - who typically pay tens of thousands of dollars to join the expedition - were taken there for a day trip with the option of walking or snorkelling.

Relatives Reaction

The daughter of the victim said that her family was "shocked and grieved that the vessel left Lizard Island after an organised tour without my parent".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mother as an "energetic elderly person" who was a member of a bushwalking club.

"From the little information we have been provided, it looks that there was a breakdown of attention and basic judgment," she mentioned.

She continued that she hoped the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have done that might have protected Mum's life".

"We understand from the investigators that it was a very hot period, and she took sick on the uphill trek," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to return, alone. Then the boat sailed away, reportedly without conducting a passenger count.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or shortly after, mother died, without company."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive verified that the company was "working closely with officials to support their inquiry".

He stated that the company was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had extended its full support to the family.

Shipping Sector Procedures

The ship serves up to a hundred twenty passengers with 46 personnel, according to company data. It was specially constructed to access distant areas of the nation's coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to take passengers on shore trips.

Incidents of this nature are uncommon, and cruise ships have systems to document which travelers are getting on or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship simply isn't an option," an authority remarked.

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

"This appears to be most likely a stunning - and unfortunate - one-off."