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One 60-day cruise circling the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the death of an elderly female passenger who was stranded by the ship on a distant tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on the tropical location with fellow passengers from the vessel, but parted ways from the party for a break. The liner left without her and came back several hours later after the ship staff realised the lady was missing.

A major rescue mission located her remains the next day.

Investigative bodies are examining the incident, in coordination with investigators and the state coroner.

The CEO of the cruise operator announced that passengers and personnel on the ship were informed that the rest of the journey had been called off due to the "sad loss and prior engine troubles".

Through an announcement, he added that passengers would be given a full refund, and said the company was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also released an revised communication, and said they had "delivered a order to the Master" banning any new passengers from boarding the vessel.

The official said that they would attend the vessel in the port city upon its coming back.

Timeline of Events

The vessel initially left the Australian port on October 24th, and was just two days into the journey at the point of the senior passenger's demise. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Travelers on the ship - who generally pay substantial amounts of dollars to take part in the cruise - were ferried there for a daily excursion with the option of walking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Response

The child of the victim said that her relatives was "stunned and grieved that the ship left the location after an organised tour without my parent".

In her statement, she described her mum as an "active elderly person" who was a member of a bushwalking organization.

"From the little facts we have been provided, it appears that there was a failure of care and common sense," she stated.

She added that she desired the inquiry would be able to identify what "the company should have done that might have protected Mother's life".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a extremely warm period, and mother took sick on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"Officials suggested her to go back, alone. Then the boat sailed away, apparently without doing a roll call.

"At some stage in that process, or shortly after, mum succumbed, by herself."

Operator Response

In a statement, the Head confirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with investigators to support their examination".

He said that the firm was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had extended its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Practices

The ship caters for up to 120 guests with nearly fifty staff, according to company details. It was purpose-built to reach distant locations of Australia's coast and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to take travelers on land visits.

Occurrences such as this are rare, and liners have procedures to track which travelers are embarking or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard just isn't an choice," a specialist stated.

Vessel operators take these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to avoid such occurrences from taking place," the authority added.

"This seems to be most likely a shocking - and unfortunate - single occurrence."