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An extensive 60-day journey around the Australian Coast has been cancelled days after the death of an elderly female passenger who was stranded by the cruise liner on a remote coastal location.

The elderly woman had been trekking on the remote island with other travelers from the vessel, but broke off from the group for a pause. The vessel left without her and returned later that day after the ship staff realised the passenger was unaccounted for.

A large-scale rescue mission located her person the next day.

Officials are looking into the tragedy, in coordination with law enforcement and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the voyage organizer stated that travelers and personnel on the vessel were told that the remainder of the voyage had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and earlier technical problems".

In a statement, he mentioned that travelers would be provided a full refund, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the travelers via private aircraft".

Officials also published an updated statement, and said they had "issued a directive to the Master" prohibiting any additional guests from getting on the liner.

The official said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its arrival.

Chronology of Occurrences

The vessel first departed the coastal city on October 24th, and was merely two days into the journey at the moment of the senior passenger's passing. The tropical location was the opening port on the voyage.

Guests on the ship - who typically pay tens of thousands of money to participate in the cruise - were transported there for a shore visit with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Response

The child of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "shocked and saddened that the vessel left Lizard Island after an organised outing without my mother".

In her statement, she described her mum as an "active octogenarian" who was a affiliate of a walking group.

"Based on limited details we have been provided, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense," she mentioned.

She continued that she wished the inquiry would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have performed that might have protected Mum's life".

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

"They requested her to go back, unescorted. Then the ship left, seemingly without conducting a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that sequence, or shortly after, she succumbed, by herself."

Company Position

Through an announcement, the Head confirmed that the organization was "working closely with officials to assist their examination".

He stated that the organization was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had provided its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Standards

The liner caters for up to 120 guests with nearly fifty staff, according to official data. It was specially constructed to enter remote regions of the nation's coast and is fitted with "small boats" - small boats used to ferry travelers on land visits.

Events like this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have systems to document which travelers are getting on or disembarking, according to industry experts.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] onboard simply isn't an possibility," an authority remarked.

Cruise lines take these processes extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such occurrences from happening," the expert added.

"This is probably a shocking - and unfortunate - one-off."