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An extensive extended journey through Australia is being halted following the tragic passing of an elderly woman who was abandoned by the vessel on a distant tropical isle.

The passenger had been trekking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the cruise ship, but broke off from the excursion for a break. The liner left without her and went back several hours later after the ship staff realised the passenger was unaccounted for.

A large-scale search operation found her body the following day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the event, alongside law enforcement and the medical examiner.

Head of the cruise operator said that guests and crew on the ship were told that the remainder of the journey had been called off due to the "unfortunate death and previous engine troubles".

In a statement, he mentioned that guests would be given a complete reimbursement, and said the company was working "to coordinate the travel back of the individuals via private aircraft".

Authorities also published an updated announcement, and said they had "issued a directive to the Commander" prohibiting any further travelers from boarding the vessel.

The official said that they would visit the ship in Cairns upon its return.

Timeline of Incidents

The liner originally sailed from Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the expedition at the time of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the voyage.

Travelers on the vessel - who generally pay tens of thousands of currency to join the cruise - were taken there for a daily excursion with the possibility of hiking or snorkeling.

Next of Kin Response

The child of the victim said that her loved ones was "shocked and saddened that the vessel left the location after an planned tour without my mother".

Through her comments, she characterized her mum as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a participant of a hiking club.

"From the little facts we have been told, it seems that there was a lapse of care and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She further stated that she wished the investigation would be able to identify what "the operator should have undertaken that might have saved Mother's being".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a very hot day, and mum fell ill on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"She was asked her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the boat sailed away, reportedly without conducting a headcount.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or soon after, she died, without company."

Organization Response

In a statement, the CEO confirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with investigators to assist their investigation".

He said that the company was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had offered its full support to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Practices

The liner accommodates up to one hundred twenty travelers with forty-six crew, according to company data. It was specifically designed to reach isolated regions of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to ferry travelers on day excursions.

Incidents like this are infrequent, and passenger vessels have protocols to document which passengers are getting on or getting off, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard really isn't an option," a specialist commented.

Cruise lines take these methods extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such occurrences from happening," the expert continued.

"This appears to be probably a shocking - and unfortunate - isolated incident."