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An extensive 60-day cruise through the Australian Coast is being halted in the wake of the tragic passing of an senior woman who was left behind by the cruise liner on a distant coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but broke off from the excursion for a rest. The vessel left without her and returned after some time after the personnel discovered the woman was unaccounted for.

A major rescue mission found her person the following day.

Authorities are investigating the incident, in coordination with police and the official investigator.

The CEO of the cruise operator stated that travelers and staff on the ship were told that the remainder of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and previous technical problems".

In a statement, he further stated that travelers would be issued a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to arrange the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also issued an updated announcement, and said they had "issued a order to the Commander" preventing any further travelers from entering the ship.

The spokesperson said that they would visit the liner in the port city upon its return.

Timeline of Incidents

The ship first departed the Australian port on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the expedition at the moment of the senior passenger's death. Lizard Island was the first stop on the itinerary.

Travelers on board - who typically pay large sums of dollars to join the voyage - were transported there for a shore visit with the choice of trekking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Response

The daughter of the victim said that her loved ones was "surprised and grieved that the ship left the island after an organised tour without my parent".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her parent as an "vigorous elderly person" who was a affiliate of a bushwalking organization.

"Based on limited details we have been provided, it looks that there was a lapse of attention and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She added that she hoped the inquiry would be able to identify what "the organization should have done that might have protected Mum's existence".

"We understand from the police that it was a very hot afternoon, and mum took sick on the hill climb," she explained.

"She was asked her to head down, unescorted. Then the vessel sailed away, apparently without doing a passenger count.

"During some point in that process, or soon after, mother succumbed, by herself."

Organization Reaction

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the operator was "working closely with investigators to support their inquiry".

He said that the company was "very regretful that this has happened" and had provided its full support to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Practices

The ship caters for up to 120 passengers with forty-six personnel, according to official details. It was specifically designed to reach remote locations of the Australian coast and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to ferry individuals on day excursions.

Events like this are rare, and cruise ships have protocols to track which passengers are boarding or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship simply isn't an possibility," an authority remarked.

Shipping companies regard these methods very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such occurrences from taking place," the authority added.

"This appears to be most likely a stunning - and tragic - one-off."