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One extended cruise around Australia has been cancelled in the wake of the death of an older woman who was abandoned by the vessel on a distant coastal location.

The elderly woman had been trekking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the cruise ship, but parted ways from the group for a break. The ship left without her and returned several hours later after the crew became aware the lady was not present.

A major search operation discovered her person the next day.

Officials are examining the event, together with police and the official investigator.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that passengers and personnel on the vessel were informed that the remainder of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and previous mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he further stated that passengers would be given a complete reimbursement, and said the company was working "to organize the return journeys of the passengers via private aircraft".

Authorities also issued an updated statement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Master" preventing any further travelers from boarding the vessel.

The official said that they would visit the ship in the port city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Events

The ship originally sailed from Cairns on October 24th, and was just two days into the expedition at the point of the senior passenger's passing. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Passengers on the ship - who usually pay tens of thousands of money to join the cruise - were transported there for a day trip with the option of trekking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Reaction

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "shocked and grieved that the liner left the location after an organised outing without my mum".

Through her comments, she characterized her parent as an "energetic elderly person" who was a member of a walking organization.

"Based on limited information we have been provided, it appears that there was a breakdown of attention and basic judgment," she said.

She further stated that she wished the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have done that might have saved Mother's existence".

"We understand from the investigators that it was a exceptionally warm period, and she took sick on the uphill trek," she revealed.

"They requested her to return, alone. Then the vessel sailed away, reportedly without doing a passenger count.

"At some stage in that process, or shortly after, mum succumbed, without company."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the CEO confirmed that the organization was "collaborating extensively with authorities to aid their inquiry".

He stated that the firm was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had extended its complete assistance to the family.

Maritime Business Practices

The vessel caters for up to 120 travelers with nearly fifty crew, according to company details. It was purpose-built to access isolated regions of Australia's coast and is fitted with "small boats" - small boats used to ferry individuals on shore trips.

Incidents such as this are infrequent, and cruise ships have systems to record which travelers are getting on or getting off, according to maritime specialists.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard simply isn't an option," a specialist stated.

Cruise lines regard these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such incidents from taking place," the authority added.

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