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An extensive two-month journey through the Land Down Under is being halted days after the tragic passing of an elderly lady who was abandoned by the vessel on a distant coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the tropical location with fellow passengers from the cruise ship, but separated from the party for a rest. The liner left without her and went back later that day after the crew discovered the lady was unaccounted for.

An extensive hunt found her body the subsequent day.

Officials are examining the tragedy, in coordination with law enforcement and the official investigator.

The CEO of the shipping company announced that travelers and personnel on the ship were told that the continuation of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "sad loss and earlier engine troubles".

Via official communication, he further stated that guests would be provided a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also published an updated communication, and said they had "provided a order to the Commander" prohibiting any additional guests from getting on the vessel.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the ship in the port city upon its coming back.

Chronology of Events

The liner initially left Cairns on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the point of the elderly woman's passing. The tropical location was the opening port on the itinerary.

Guests on the vessel - who usually pay tens of thousands of dollars to take part in the cruise - were ferried there for a shore visit with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Statement

The offspring of the deceased woman said that her family was "surprised and saddened that the ship left the island after an planned outing without my mother".

Through her comments, she characterized her mum as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a affiliate of a walking club.

"From the little facts we have been told, it looks that there was a lapse of attention and common sense," she stated.

She added that she hoped the inquiry would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have undertaken that might have saved Her life".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a extremely warm day, and mother took sick on the uphill trek," she revealed.

"They requested her to return, unescorted. Then the ship departed, seemingly without performing a passenger count.

"At some stage in that process, or soon after, mother succumbed, by herself."

Company Position

In a statement, the Head verified that the organization was "working closely with authorities to support their examination".

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

Shipping Sector Procedures

The liner serves up to 120 travelers with 46 personnel, according to official data. It was specially constructed to enter distant locations of the nation's coastline and is fitted with "small boats" - minor craft used to take passengers on land visits.

Occurrences of this nature are uncommon, and liners have protocols to track which travelers are embarking or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard simply isn't an option," an authority remarked.

Shipping companies regard these procedures with great importance and have "clever tech in place to avoid such incidents from taking place," the expert further stated.

"This seems to be most likely a shocking - and unfortunate - isolated incident."