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An extensive two-month voyage through the Australian Coast is being halted days after the tragic passing of an elderly woman who was stranded by the vessel on a remote tropical isle.

The elderly woman had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the cruise ship, but parted ways from the excursion for a rest. The liner left without her and went back after some time after the crew became aware the lady was unaccounted for.

A major rescue mission located her body the following day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the event, alongside law enforcement and the official investigator.

The CEO of the cruise operator announced that passengers and personnel on the ship were notified that the continuation of the journey had been called off due to the "sad loss and previous mechanical issues".

In a statement, he mentioned that guests would be provided a full refund, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also issued an updated statement, and said they had "delivered a order to the Captain" prohibiting any further travelers from getting on the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the liner in the Australian city upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The vessel initially left the coastal city on October 24th, and was merely two days into the voyage at the point of the elderly woman's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the journey.

Guests on board - who usually pay large sums of money to join the voyage - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of hiking or snorkeling.

Family Reaction

The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her relatives was "surprised and distressed that the vessel left Lizard Island after an scheduled outing without my mum".

Through her comments, she described her mother as an "active elderly person" who was a member of a hiking club.

"According to scant information we have been told, it seems that there was a breakdown of attention and common sense," she stated.

She further stated that she hoped the investigation would be able to determine what "the operator should have done that might have protected Mother's life".

"Based on information from the police that it was a very hot day, and mum took sick on the hill climb," she stated.

"They requested her to return, alone. Then the boat departed, reportedly without performing a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that sequence, or not long after, mother passed away, alone."

Organization Position

Via official communication, the Chief Executive affirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with investigators to assist their inquiry".

He said that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had offered its total backing to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Practices

The vessel serves up to 120 guests with nearly fifty staff, according to company data. It was purpose-built to enter distant regions of the Australian coastline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to transport individuals on shore trips.

Incidents like this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have protocols to track which passengers are embarking or leaving, according to industry experts.

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

Vessel operators take these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such events from occurring," the expert continued.

"This is presumably a shocking - and unfortunate - isolated incident."