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One extended voyage circling Australia has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an older lady who was abandoned by the ship on a distant tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on the remote island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but broke off from the excursion for a pause. The vessel sailed away leaving her and came back several hours later after the personnel became aware the lady was missing.

An extensive search operation found her body the next day.

Officials are investigating the tragedy, together with law enforcement and the official investigator.

Head of the shipping company said that passengers and staff on the ship were told that the continuation of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "sad loss and previous engine troubles".

In a statement, he further stated that guests would be given a total repayment, and said the operator was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the passengers via chartered flights".

Authorities also issued an latest statement, and said they had "provided a notice to the Commander" preventing any further travelers from getting on the liner.

The official said that they would inspect the ship in the Australian city upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The liner originally sailed from the Australian port on 24 October, and was just two days into the journey at the time of the senior passenger's demise. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the journey.

Guests on the vessel - who usually pay large sums of dollars to join the cruise - were transported there for a daily excursion with the option of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Statement

The offspring of the deceased woman said that her family was "shocked and distressed that the ship left the location after an organised tour without my mother".

Through her comments, she characterized her parent as an "active elderly person" who was a participant of a walking organization.

"From the little details we have been informed, it seems that there was a lapse of attention and basic judgment," she stated.

She further stated that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have undertaken that might have preserved Mum's life".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm period, and mother fell ill on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"They requested her to go back, unescorted. Then the ship sailed away, seemingly without conducting a passenger count.

"During some point in that process, or not long after, mum passed away, by herself."

Company Response

In a statement, the CEO affirmed that the operator was "collaborating extensively with officials to support their examination".

He mentioned that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had offered its complete assistance to the family.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The ship caters for up to a hundred twenty guests with nearly fifty staff, according to official data. It was specially constructed to access distant areas of Australia's coast and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to ferry individuals on day excursions.

Occurrences like this are rare, and passenger vessels have protocols to track which travelers are boarding or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

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

Vessel operators consider these processes with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such events from happening," the authority continued.

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