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An extensive extended journey circling the Land Down Under was terminated days after the tragic passing of an elderly woman who was stranded by the cruise liner on a isolated coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on the remote island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but separated from the party for a break. The liner departed without her and came back after some time after the personnel became aware the lady was missing.

An extensive hunt discovered her person the next day.

Investigative bodies are examining the tragedy, together with law enforcement and the medical examiner.

Head of the voyage organizer stated that guests and staff on the ship were informed that the rest of the journey had been terminated due to the "sad loss and earlier technical problems".

Via official communication, he further stated that guests would be provided a full refund, and said the organization was working "to arrange the return journeys of the travelers via chartered flights".

Authorities also released an revised communication, and said they had "provided a notice to the Master" preventing any new passengers from boarding the vessel.

The official said that they would visit the liner in Cairns upon its arrival.

Chronology of Incidents

The liner first departed the Australian port on October 24th, and was just two days into the voyage at the time of the senior passenger's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Guests on the vessel - who generally pay substantial amounts of money to take part in the voyage - were ferried there for a shore visit with the possibility of walking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Response

The child of the deceased woman said that her family was "shocked and saddened that the ship left the island after an planned excursion without my parent".

Through her comments, she described her parent as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a member of a walking club.

"Based on limited information we have been told, it appears that there was a breakdown of responsibility and basic judgment," she stated.

She added that she hoped the inquiry would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have undertaken that might have saved Mother's existence".

"According to reports from the police that it was a very hot day, and mum took sick on the hill climb," she explained.

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

"At some stage in that chain of events, or soon after, she passed away, alone."

Company Reaction

Via official communication, the CEO verified that the operator was "cooperating fully with investigators to aid their inquiry".

He said that the organization was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had extended its full support to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Practices

The ship serves up to one hundred twenty passengers with 46 staff, according to official details. It was specifically designed to access isolated locations of the Australian coast and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to transport passengers on day excursions.

Occurrences like this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have procedures to record which passengers are getting on or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship just isn't an possibility," a specialist stated.

Vessel operators regard these methods extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such occurrences from happening," the authority further stated.

"This seems to be probably a stunning - and unfortunate - single occurrence."