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One 60-day voyage circling the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the tragic passing of an older female passenger who was left behind by the cruise liner on a distant tropical isle.

The elderly woman had been trekking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but separated from the party for a rest. The liner sailed away leaving her and came back several hours later after the personnel became aware the lady was missing.

A major search operation found her body the subsequent day.

Officials are examining the event, together with investigators and the medical examiner.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that travelers and crew on the ship were notified that the remainder of the voyage had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and earlier technical problems".

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

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

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

Chronology of Incidents

The ship first departed the Australian port on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the expedition at the time of the 80-year-old's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Passengers on the vessel - who typically pay large sums of dollars to participate in the voyage - were transported there for a daily excursion with the possibility of hiking or snorkeling.

Family Reaction

The daughter of the elderly passenger said that her relatives was "surprised and distressed that the ship left the location after an scheduled tour without my mum".

Through her comments, she portrayed her parent as an "vigorous elderly person" who was a member of a bushwalking organization.

"From the little facts we have been provided, it appears that there was a lapse of care and basic judgment," she said.

She further stated that she desired the inquiry would be able to determine what "the organization should have done that might have saved Her being".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a very hot afternoon, and mother fell ill on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"She was asked her to return, without accompaniment. Then the boat left, apparently without performing a roll call.

"During some point in that chain of events, or soon after, mother died, without company."

Operator Response

In a statement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with officials to aid their inquiry".

He said that the firm was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had offered its full support to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Standards

The vessel caters for up to one hundred twenty passengers with forty-six personnel, according to company data. It was specially constructed to access distant locations of Australia's coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - small boats used to ferry passengers on day excursions.

Events like this are rare, and liners have protocols to track which passengers are getting on or disembarking, according to industry experts.

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

Vessel operators consider these methods very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such events from happening," the specialist continued.

"This seems to be most likely a shocking - and tragic - one-off."