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One two-month journey around Australia has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a isolated tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on the remote island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but parted ways from the group for a pause. The vessel sailed away leaving her and returned several hours later after the ship staff realised the woman was unaccounted for.

A large-scale hunt found her person the subsequent day.

Authorities are examining the incident, in coordination with law enforcement and the state coroner.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that guests and personnel on the vessel were told that the rest of the voyage had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and previous engine troubles".

Through an announcement, he added that guests would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also released an updated announcement, and said they had "provided a directive to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from boarding the vessel.

The spokesperson said that they would visit the vessel in the port city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Occurrences

The ship first departed the Australian port on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the journey at the moment of the senior passenger's passing. The tropical location was the initial destination on the journey.

Passengers on the ship - who usually pay large sums of dollars to join the voyage - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of hiking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Reaction

The child of the victim said that her relatives was "shocked and grieved that the vessel left the location after an scheduled tour without my mother".

In her statement, she described her mother as an "energetic elderly person" who was a affiliate of a bushwalking club.

"Based on limited details we have been told, it seems that there was a lapse of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she stated.

She added that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have performed that might have saved Mum's existence".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a extremely warm period, and she fell ill on the hill climb," she revealed.

"She was asked her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the boat departed, reportedly without doing a roll call.

"At a certain moment in that process, or not long after, mum succumbed, alone."

Operator Reaction

Through an announcement, the CEO confirmed that the organization was "collaborating extensively with officials to assist their investigation".

He stated that the company was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had provided its total backing to the family.

Maritime Business Procedures

The vessel accommodates up to 120 travelers with forty-six crew, according to official data. It was specifically designed to reach isolated locations of the nation's shoreline and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to ferry travelers on land visits.

Occurrences of this nature are rare, and passenger vessels have systems to document which passengers are boarding or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard simply isn't an option," an authority remarked.

Shipping companies consider these methods extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such occurrences from happening," the authority further stated.

"This seems to be probably a shocking - and sad - one-off."