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An extensive two-month journey circling the Land Down Under is being halted in the wake of the tragic passing of an elderly female passenger who was abandoned by the ship on a distant coastal location.

The elderly woman had been trekking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but broke off from the excursion for a pause. The ship left without her and went back later that day after the ship staff realised the lady was missing.

An extensive search operation located her body the next day.

Authorities are looking into the tragedy, alongside police and the medical examiner.

The CEO of the voyage organizer stated that passengers and crew on the ship were told that the remainder of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and prior mechanical issues".

Via official communication, he further stated that passengers would be provided a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the travel back of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also released an updated announcement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Master" prohibiting any further travelers from entering the ship.

The representative said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its return.

Sequence of Occurrences

The ship originally sailed from the Australian port on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the voyage at the moment of the senior passenger's demise. The remote island was the opening port on the journey.

Guests on the ship - who typically pay substantial amounts of currency to join the cruise - were taken there for a day trip with the choice of hiking or snorkeling.

Relatives Reaction

The daughter of the victim said that her loved ones was "surprised and saddened that the ship left the location after an organised excursion without my mother".

Through her comments, she described her mother as an "active octogenarian" who was a participant of a bushwalking organization.

"Based on limited details we have been provided, it appears that there was a lapse of care and basic judgment," she said.

She further stated that she desired the examination would be able to identify what "the company should have done that might have preserved Her being".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a very hot period, and mum became unwell on the hill climb," she stated.

"They requested her to go back, unescorted. Then the boat left, apparently without conducting a passenger count.

"At some stage in that process, or shortly after, she died, by herself."

Company Response

Via official communication, the Chief Executive confirmed that the operator was "working closely with officials to support their inquiry".

He stated that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had offered its full support to the family.

Shipping Sector Standards

The vessel accommodates up to one hundred twenty guests with forty-six personnel, according to official data. It was specifically designed to reach distant locations of the Australian shoreline and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on day excursions.

Events of this nature are uncommon, and passenger vessels have protocols to document which passengers are boarding or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard really isn't an choice," an authority commented.

Cruise lines consider these procedures very seriously and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such occurrences from happening," the specialist added.

"This is presumably a shocking - and unfortunate - single occurrence."