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An extensive two-month cruise circling the Australian Coast is being halted in the wake of the tragic passing of an senior woman who was stranded by the cruise liner on a distant island.

The passenger had been walking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but broke off from the excursion for a pause. The vessel sailed away leaving her and returned later that day after the crew realised the lady was unaccounted for.

An extensive search operation found her remains the subsequent day.

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

Chief Executive of the voyage organizer stated that travelers and crew on the vessel were notified that the rest of the journey had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and earlier technical problems".

Via official communication, he added that passengers would be provided a full refund, and said the organization was working "to organize the travel back of the individuals via chartered flights".

Authorities also released an updated communication, and said they had "provided a notice to the Captain" preventing any new passengers from getting on the ship.

The official said that they would attend the liner in the port city upon its return.

Timeline of Incidents

The liner originally sailed from Cairns on October 24th, and was merely two days into the journey at the point of the senior passenger's passing. The remote island was the first stop on the itinerary.

Passengers on the ship - who typically pay tens of thousands of dollars to join the expedition - were ferried there for a day trip with the possibility of trekking or snorkeling.

Family Response

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "stunned and distressed that the ship left Lizard Island after an planned excursion without my mum".

In her statement, she described her mum as an "active octogenarian" who was a participant of a bushwalking club.

"From the little information we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of attention and common sense," she said.

She further stated that she desired the inquiry would be able to determine what "the operator should have performed that might have preserved Mother's being".

"According to reports from the police that it was a exceptionally warm day, and mum took sick on the mountain ascent," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to return, without accompaniment. Then the boat departed, reportedly without performing a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or not long after, she died, without company."

Operator Response

Via official communication, the Chief Executive confirmed that the company was "collaborating extensively with investigators to support their examination".

He mentioned that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had provided its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Maritime Business Procedures

The vessel caters for up to 120 guests with forty-six personnel, according to company data. It was specially constructed to access remote locations of Australia's coastline and is equipped with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to transport individuals on shore trips.

Incidents of this nature are infrequent, and cruise ships have systems to track which travelers are boarding or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

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

Shipping companies take these methods very seriously and have "clever tech in place to avoid such occurrences from taking place," the specialist continued.

"This seems to be presumably a surprising - and tragic - single occurrence."