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An extensive two-month journey circling the Australian Coast is being halted days after the tragic passing of an older woman who was left behind by the cruise liner on a isolated tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but parted ways from the excursion for a rest. The liner left without her and went back later that day after the ship staff discovered the woman was unaccounted for.

A large-scale rescue mission located her person the subsequent day.

Authorities are looking into the tragedy, together with investigators and the official investigator.

Chief Executive of the shipping company stated that travelers and crew on the vessel were informed that the continuation of the cruise had been called off due to the "sad loss and earlier engine troubles".

Through an announcement, he further stated that travelers would be provided a full refund, and said the company was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the travelers via private aircraft".

Officials also issued an revised announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Captain" banning any additional guests from entering the vessel.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the liner in Cairns upon its coming back.

Sequence of Incidents

The ship first departed Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the time of the senior passenger's death. The tropical location was the first stop on the itinerary.

Travelers on board - who generally pay large sums of money to take part in the expedition - were ferried there for a daily excursion with the option of walking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Reaction

The offspring of the victim said that her relatives was "surprised and grieved that the vessel left the location after an planned excursion without my mother".

In her statement, she characterized her parent as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a participant of a walking club.

"According to scant information we have been told, it appears that there was a breakdown of responsibility and basic judgment," she said.

She further stated that she hoped the examination would be able to determine what "the operator should have done that might have saved Mum's existence".

"Based on information from the police that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and mum fell ill on the mountain ascent," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to head down, alone. Then the ship departed, reportedly without performing a roll call.

"At some stage in that sequence, or soon after, she passed away, without company."

Operator Reaction

In a statement, the CEO affirmed that the organization was "working closely with investigators to aid their examination".

He stated that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had extended its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Practices

The vessel serves up to one hundred twenty passengers with forty-six staff, according to official details. It was purpose-built to reach isolated locations of the Australian shoreline and is outfitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to transport passengers on land visits.

Events such as this are infrequent, and liners have procedures to document which individuals are embarking or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard really isn't an choice," a specialist commented.

Cruise lines regard these processes extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such occurrences from happening," the specialist continued.

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