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A 60-day cruise circling Australia is being halted days after the tragic passing of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the ship on a isolated coastal location.

The elderly woman had been hiking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but parted ways from the party for a break. The ship sailed away leaving her and returned later that day after the personnel realised the lady was unaccounted for.

A large-scale search operation found her body the subsequent day.

Investigative bodies are examining the event, together with investigators and the state coroner.

The CEO of the voyage organizer stated that travelers and personnel on the ship were informed that the continuation of the voyage had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and previous technical problems".

Through an announcement, he added that travelers would be given a full refund, and said the organization was working "to arrange the return journeys of the travelers via private aircraft".

Regulatory bodies also issued an latest statement, and said they had "issued a directive to the Commander" preventing any new passengers from boarding the liner.

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

Chronology of Events

The ship first departed Cairns on October 24th, and was merely two days into the journey at the point of the senior passenger's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the itinerary.

Passengers on the ship - who usually pay tens of thousands of money to participate in the cruise - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of trekking or snorkelling.

Family Reaction

The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her family was "shocked and distressed that the vessel left the island after an organised tour without my mother".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her mum as an "active elderly person" who was a affiliate of a bushwalking group.

"Based on limited details we have been informed, it seems that there was a breakdown of attention and basic judgment," she stated.

She added that she wished the inquiry would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have performed that might have preserved Mum's life".

"According to reports from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm afternoon, and mother fell ill on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to return, without accompaniment. Then the ship sailed away, reportedly without conducting a headcount.

"At some stage in that process, or not long after, mother passed away, without company."

Operator Position

In a statement, the Head verified that the organization was "working closely with officials to assist their examination".

He mentioned that the organization was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had offered its total backing to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Standards

The vessel caters for up to 120 guests with 46 staff, according to official data. It was specifically designed to access distant areas of Australia's coastline and is equipped with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to take individuals on land visits.

Occurrences like this are uncommon, and cruise ships have procedures to document which passengers are embarking or leaving, according to travel authorities.

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

Vessel operators take these processes very seriously and have "clever tech in place to stop such events from happening," the authority added.

"This appears to be most likely a shocking - and tragic - single occurrence."