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One two-month journey around the Australian Coast has been cancelled days after the death of an older woman who was abandoned by the vessel on a distant coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on the remote island with fellow passengers from the cruise ship, but separated from the excursion for a pause. The liner left without her and came back later that day after the crew discovered the passenger was unaccounted for.

A major rescue mission discovered her body the following day.

Investigative bodies are examining the incident, together with law enforcement and the official investigator.

Head of the shipping company stated that travelers and personnel on the vessel were informed that the remainder of the cruise had been called off due to the "tragic passing and prior mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he added that guests would be given a full refund, and said the operator was working "to organize the travel back of the passengers via chartered flights".

Authorities also released an revised statement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Commander" preventing any new passengers from entering the liner.

The representative said that they would attend the liner in the port city upon its arrival.

Sequence of Incidents

The vessel first departed Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the point of the senior passenger's demise. The remote island was the opening port on the journey.

Passengers on board - who generally pay large sums of money to join the cruise - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of trekking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Reaction

The child of the elderly passenger said that her relatives was "stunned and saddened that the ship left the island after an scheduled excursion without my mum".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mum as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a affiliate of a walking club.

"Based on limited facts we have been told, it appears that there was a failure of care and common sense," she stated.

She further stated that she desired the inquiry would be able to identify what "the company should have performed that might have saved Her life".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to head down, unescorted. Then the ship departed, apparently without doing a roll call.

"During some point in that process, or soon after, she died, without company."

Operator Reaction

Via official communication, the Head verified that the organization was "cooperating fully with investigators to assist their investigation".

He stated that the firm was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had offered its total backing to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The ship accommodates up to 120 guests with forty-six crew, according to company details. It was specially constructed to access remote regions of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "small boats" - small boats used to ferry travelers on day excursions.

Incidents such as this are uncommon, and liners have protocols to track which passengers are embarking or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] on the ship just isn't an possibility," a specialist commented.

Cruise lines regard these procedures with great importance and have "clever tech in place to avoid such events from happening," the authority added.

"This seems to be most likely a surprising - and unfortunate - single occurrence."