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A extended cruise through the Land Down Under has been cancelled days after the fatal incident of an older lady who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a isolated coastal location.

The passenger had been hiking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but broke off from the group for a pause. The vessel departed without her and went back after some time after the personnel became aware the lady was not present.

An extensive rescue mission discovered her body the next day.

Authorities are examining the event, alongside police and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the shipping company announced that passengers and personnel on the ship were told that the continuation of the voyage had been called off due to the "unfortunate death and prior technical problems".

Through an announcement, he added that guests would be provided a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also released an updated statement, and said they had "issued a order to the Captain" banning any further travelers from boarding the ship.

The official said that they would attend the vessel in Cairns upon its arrival.

Sequence of Events

The vessel initially left the Australian port on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the journey at the point of the 80-year-old's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the journey.

Passengers on the ship - who generally pay large sums of dollars to participate in the voyage - were transported there for a shore visit with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Relatives Response

The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her family was "stunned and distressed that the ship left the island after an planned excursion without my mum".

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

"According to scant information we have been informed, it appears that there was a failure of attention and basic judgment," she stated.

She continued that she wished the examination would be able to identify what "the company should have performed that might have saved Mother's life".

"We understand from the police that it was a exceptionally warm day, and she fell ill on the uphill trek," she stated.

"They requested her to go back, unescorted. Then the ship sailed away, reportedly without conducting a headcount.

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

Company Position

In a statement, the CEO confirmed that the operator was "working closely with investigators to support their inquiry".

He mentioned that the firm was "very regretful that this has happened" and had offered its total backing to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Standards

The vessel serves up to one hundred twenty travelers with nearly fifty crew, according to official details. It was purpose-built to access isolated areas of Australia's coast and is equipped with "small boats" - minor craft used to take individuals on land visits.

Events of this nature are uncommon, and passenger vessels have procedures to document which passengers are getting on or getting off, according to industry experts.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] aboard just isn't an option," a specialist stated.

Cruise lines regard these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such occurrences from taking place," the authority further stated.

"This is probably a stunning - and tragic - one-off."