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A two-month journey around the Australian Coast is being halted following the fatal incident of an elderly lady who was left behind by the vessel on a remote tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on the remote island with shipmates from the vessel, but broke off from the excursion for a pause. The ship left without her and returned several hours later after the ship staff became aware the passenger was missing.

An extensive search operation found her body the next day.

Officials are investigating the event, alongside law enforcement and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator said that guests and personnel on the vessel were told that the remainder of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and previous mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he mentioned that guests would be issued a total repayment, and said the operator was working "to organize the travel back of the travelers via chartered flights".

Authorities also released an updated statement, and said they had "issued a directive to the Captain" banning any new passengers from getting on the ship.

The official said that they would attend the ship in Cairns upon its return.

Chronology of Occurrences

The ship originally sailed from the coastal city on 24 October, and was just two days into the voyage at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Guests on the vessel - who generally pay large sums of dollars to take part in the cruise - were transported there for a shore visit with the choice of trekking or underwater exploration.

Family Reaction

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "surprised and distressed that the liner left the island after an scheduled outing without my parent".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mother as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a member of a bushwalking group.

"According to scant facts we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and basic judgment," she stated.

She further stated that she desired the investigation would be able to determine what "the operator should have undertaken that might have protected Mum's being".

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

"She was asked her to go back, alone. Then the ship departed, reportedly without doing a roll call.

"During some point in that chain of events, or soon after, mother succumbed, alone."

Organization Position

In a statement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the operator was "working closely with investigators to assist their investigation".

He mentioned that the organization was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had provided its full support to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Standards

The liner caters for up to 120 travelers with forty-six personnel, according to official information. It was specially constructed to reach remote locations of the nation's shoreline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to take travelers on day excursions.

Incidents such as this are rare, and passenger vessels have protocols to record which passengers are embarking or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

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

Vessel operators consider these methods very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such incidents from happening," the expert continued.

"This appears to be most likely a stunning - and unfortunate - isolated incident."