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An extensive 60-day cruise circling Australia has been cancelled days after the death of an senior lady who was stranded by the cruise liner on a distant tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but parted ways from the party for a rest. The vessel sailed away leaving her and went back after some time after the personnel realised the woman was missing.

A major rescue mission found her remains the following day.

Officials are investigating the incident, together with law enforcement and the medical examiner.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that travelers and staff on the vessel were informed that the rest of the voyage had been called off due to the "tragic passing and earlier technical problems".

In a statement, he further stated that guests would be given a full refund, and said the operator was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also published an revised announcement, and said they had "issued a directive to the Captain" banning any additional guests from entering the liner.

The representative said that they would attend the vessel in the port city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Incidents

The vessel originally sailed from Cairns on the 24th of October, 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 journey.

Guests on board - who typically pay large sums of money to take part in the voyage - were transported there for a shore visit with the choice of hiking or snorkelling.

Family Response

The child of the victim said that her relatives was "shocked and saddened that the liner left the location after an planned outing without my mum".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mum as an "vigorous octogenarian" who was a member of a bushwalking organization.

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

She continued that she hoped the investigation would be able to identify what "the company should have performed that might have saved Mother's life".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm period, and she became unwell on the hill climb," she stated.

"She was asked her to return, alone. Then the vessel left, reportedly without performing a passenger count.

"During some point in that chain of events, or not long after, mother passed away, without company."

Company Response

Through an announcement, the CEO confirmed that the operator was "collaborating extensively with authorities to aid their inquiry".

He stated that the firm was "very regretful that this has happened" and had extended its complete assistance to the family.

Cruise Industry Standards

The vessel serves up to a hundred twenty passengers with forty-six crew, according to company data. It was specifically designed to access distant regions of the nation's shoreline and is fitted with "tenders" - small boats used to transport individuals on shore trips.

Events of this nature are rare, and liners have procedures to track which individuals are embarking or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship really isn't an possibility," one expert stated.

Cruise lines regard these methods with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such occurrences from happening," the expert added.

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