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An extensive two-month voyage through Australia was terminated in the wake of the tragic passing of an older lady who was left behind by the cruise liner on a isolated coastal location.

The passenger had been walking on the remote island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but separated from the party for a break. The ship sailed away leaving her and went back later that day after the personnel discovered the passenger was not present.

An extensive rescue mission discovered her person the next day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the incident, together with law enforcement and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the shipping company announced that passengers and staff on the ship were notified that the continuation of the voyage had been terminated due to the "unfortunate death and previous mechanical issues".

In a statement, he added that guests would be issued a total repayment, and said the operator was working "to organize the travel back of the individuals via chartered flights".

Officials also issued an latest communication, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Captain" preventing any additional guests from getting on the ship.

The representative said that they would visit the ship in Cairns upon its coming back.

Timeline of Events

The vessel first departed the coastal city on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the voyage at the moment of the elderly woman's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the itinerary.

Passengers on the vessel - who generally pay large sums of money to join the cruise - were taken there for a daily excursion with the possibility of trekking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Reaction

The child of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "shocked and distressed that the liner left the island after an planned tour without my parent".

In her statement, she described her mother as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a member of a bushwalking group.

"Based on limited information we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of attention and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She continued that she wished the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have undertaken that might have preserved Mother's life".

"We understand from the investigators that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and mother fell ill on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"They requested her to return, unescorted. Then the vessel left, reportedly without performing a headcount.

"At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, mum died, without company."

Company Response

In a statement, the Head confirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with investigators to aid their investigation".

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

Shipping Sector Standards

The vessel caters for up to 120 guests with 46 personnel, according to corporate data. It was purpose-built to reach remote locations of the nation's coastline and is outfitted with "tenders" - small boats used to transport travelers on shore trips.

Events of this nature are infrequent, and liners have systems to document which passengers are getting on or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship just isn't an option," a specialist stated.

Vessel operators consider these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such events from happening," the specialist further stated.

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