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One two-month journey through the Land Down Under has been cancelled days after the death of an elderly female passenger who was left behind by the ship on a isolated island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the group for a break. The liner sailed away leaving her and returned later that day after the crew became aware the lady was missing.

A large-scale rescue mission discovered her body the following day.

Officials are examining the incident, in coordination with police and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator stated that guests and staff on the ship were informed that the rest of the journey had been called off due to the "tragic passing and prior engine troubles".

Via official communication, he added that travelers would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to coordinate the travel back of the passengers via chartered flights".

Officials also issued an latest announcement, and said they had "issued a order to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from boarding the liner.

The official said that they would inspect the liner in the port city upon its coming back.

Sequence of Occurrences

The liner originally sailed from the coastal city on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the expedition at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Travelers on the ship - who generally pay large sums of dollars to join the cruise - were ferried there for a day trip with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Reaction

The daughter of the elderly passenger said that her relatives was "surprised and grieved that the vessel left the location after an planned outing without my mother".

Via her announcement, she characterized her parent as an "active elderly person" who was a member of a bushwalking group.

"Based on limited information we have been informed, it seems that there was a lapse of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she stated.

She continued that she wished the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have undertaken that might have preserved Mum's existence".

"According to reports from the police that it was a extremely warm day, and mum took sick on the uphill trek," she revealed.

"She was asked her to go back, unescorted. Then the vessel sailed away, reportedly without conducting a passenger count.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or soon after, she died, alone."

Operator Position

In a statement, the Chief Executive affirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with authorities to support their inquiry".

He mentioned that the company was "very regretful that this has happened" and had provided its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The ship accommodates up to 120 guests with forty-six staff, according to official details. It was purpose-built to enter isolated locations of the Australian coast and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to take travelers on shore trips.

Incidents like this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have protocols to record which passengers are embarking or getting off, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship just isn't an choice," one expert commented.

Shipping companies regard these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to stop such incidents from happening," the authority continued.

"This appears to be most likely a shocking - and sad - one-off."