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One two-month cruise through the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the tragic passing of an older woman who was stranded by the ship on a remote coastal location.

The passenger had been trekking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but broke off from the party for a rest. The vessel departed without her and came back after some time after the ship staff became aware the passenger was unaccounted for.

A major hunt found her remains the following day.

Investigative bodies are looking into the incident, alongside law enforcement and the official investigator.

The CEO of the voyage organizer said that travelers and personnel on the ship were told that the remainder of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and prior engine troubles".

In a statement, he further stated that travelers would be issued a total repayment, and said the operator was working "to coordinate the travel back of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also issued an updated communication, and said they had "issued a notice to the Captain" banning any additional guests from getting on the vessel.

The official said that they would inspect the ship in the Australian city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Incidents

The ship initially left the Australian port on 24 October, and was just two days into the journey at the point of the senior passenger's demise. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Guests on the vessel - who usually pay large sums of money to participate in the voyage - were transported there for a day trip with the choice of hiking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Response

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her loved ones was "shocked and distressed that the vessel left the island after an planned tour without my mum".

Via her announcement, 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 seems that there was a lapse of care and basic judgment," she mentioned.

She continued that she wished the examination would be able to identify what "the operator should have done that might have protected Her existence".

"Based on information from the police that it was a very hot afternoon, and mum became unwell on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to head down, alone. Then the vessel sailed away, seemingly without performing a passenger count.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or shortly after, she passed away, without company."

Operator Response

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive affirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with officials to support their examination".

He mentioned that the company was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had extended its total backing to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Practices

The vessel serves up to a hundred twenty guests with forty-six staff, according to company information. It was specifically designed to access distant regions of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to ferry individuals on day excursions.

Occurrences such as this are infrequent, and liners have procedures to track which travelers are boarding or leaving, according to industry experts.

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

Shipping companies regard these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such incidents from taking place," the expert further stated.

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