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A two-month cruise circling the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the fatal incident of an older woman who was left behind by the vessel on a isolated coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on the remote island with shipmates from the vessel, but separated from the excursion for a rest. The vessel left without her and came back after some time after the personnel became aware the woman was not present.

A major search operation found her body the subsequent day.

Authorities are looking into the event, together with law enforcement and the state coroner.

Head of the voyage organizer said that travelers and crew on the vessel were informed that the rest of the voyage had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and previous engine troubles".

Via official communication, he added that guests would be given a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the individuals via private aircraft".

Officials also released an revised announcement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Master" banning any additional guests from getting on the vessel.

The representative said that they would inspect the liner in Cairns upon its coming back.

Chronology of Occurrences

The liner originally sailed from the coastal city on 24 October, and was just two days into the journey at the point of the elderly woman's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Travelers on the vessel - who usually pay tens of thousands of currency to join the expedition - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of hiking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Response

The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "surprised and saddened that the vessel left the location after an organised excursion without my mum".

Through her comments, she described her mum as an "energetic elderly person" who was a member of a walking group.

"From the little information we have been informed, it looks that there was a failure of responsibility and basic judgment," she stated.

She continued that she hoped the inquiry would be able to determine what "the operator should have undertaken that might have protected Her existence".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a extremely warm day, and mother became unwell on the hill climb," she stated.

"They requested her to go back, unescorted. Then the vessel departed, seemingly without doing a headcount.

"At some stage in that sequence, or not long after, she died, without company."

Company Position

Through an announcement, the Head affirmed that the operator was "collaborating extensively with authorities to assist their inquiry".

He said that the company was "very regretful that this has happened" and had extended its total backing to the family.

Shipping Sector Standards

The ship accommodates up to 120 travelers with 46 crew, according to official information. It was specifically designed to access remote locations of the Australian shoreline and is fitted with "tenders" - minor craft used to take travelers on land visits.

Events such as this are uncommon, and cruise ships have protocols to record which passengers are boarding or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard really isn't an choice," one expert commented.

Cruise lines regard these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such incidents from occurring," the expert added.

"This is most likely a shocking - and tragic - single occurrence."