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One two-month cruise around the Australian Coast is being halted following the death of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the ship on a isolated tropical isle.

The elderly woman had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the vessel, but broke off from the party for a rest. The ship sailed away leaving her and went back after some time after the personnel discovered the passenger was unaccounted for.

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

Investigative bodies are investigating the tragedy, in coordination with investigators and the official investigator.

The CEO of the voyage organizer stated that travelers and staff on the vessel were told that the remainder of the voyage had been called off due to the "tragic passing and earlier technical problems".

Via official communication, he mentioned that guests would be given a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also issued an revised announcement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Commander" preventing any new passengers from getting on the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the ship in Cairns upon its arrival.

Chronology of Events

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

Travelers on the ship - who typically pay large sums of money to participate in the expedition - were ferried there for a shore visit with the choice of hiking or snorkeling.

Next of Kin Reaction

The offspring of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "stunned and saddened that the liner left the island after an scheduled excursion without my mother".

In her statement, she described her mum as an "energetic elderly person" who was a participant of a hiking organization.

"From the little information we have been informed, it seems that there was a breakdown of attention and common sense," she said.

She continued that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have done that might have protected Mother's existence".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a extremely warm period, and mum became unwell on the hill climb," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the ship departed, apparently without performing a passenger count.

"At some stage in that process, or not long after, mother succumbed, alone."

Operator Response

In a statement, the Chief Executive verified that the operator was "working closely with officials to support their investigation".

He said that the company was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had provided its complete assistance to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Practices

The liner accommodates up to 120 passengers with nearly fifty personnel, according to corporate data. It was specifically designed to enter isolated locations of the nation's coast and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to ferry individuals on shore trips.

Events like this are infrequent, and liners have protocols to record which passengers are embarking or leaving, according to maritime specialists.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] on the ship really isn't an option," a specialist remarked.

Vessel operators regard these methods with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such incidents from occurring," the specialist added.

"This is most likely a stunning - and tragic - one-off."