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One extended cruise around the Australian Coast is being halted in the wake of the fatal incident of an senior lady who was stranded by the cruise liner on a remote island.

The elderly woman had been walking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but parted ways from the excursion for a break. The vessel departed without her and went back several hours later after the crew discovered the passenger was unaccounted for.

A major rescue mission discovered her body the following day.

Authorities are investigating the incident, together with police and the official investigator.

The CEO of the voyage organizer stated that guests and staff on the vessel were told that the continuation of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and previous engine troubles".

Through an announcement, he mentioned that passengers would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to organize the homeward trips of the travelers via chartered flights".

Regulatory bodies also released an updated communication, and said they had "issued a notice to the Commander" prohibiting any further travelers from getting on the liner.

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

Timeline of Events

The vessel originally sailed from Cairns on 24 October, and was just two days into the voyage at the point of the elderly woman's demise. The remote island was the opening port on the journey.

Guests on board - who usually pay large sums of currency to participate in the expedition - were taken there for a day trip with the possibility of trekking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Statement

The child of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "surprised and distressed that the ship left the island after an scheduled excursion without my mum".

Through her comments, she characterized her mum as an "vigorous 80-year-old" who was a affiliate of a walking organization.

"Based on limited facts we have been told, it looks that there was a lapse of care and common sense," she stated.

She continued that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have performed that might have preserved Mother's existence".

"We understand from the police that it was a exceptionally warm day, and she fell ill on the hill climb," she explained.

"She was asked her to return, alone. Then the vessel sailed away, apparently without doing a roll call.

"During some point in that sequence, or soon after, mum succumbed, alone."

Company Position

In a statement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the company was "working closely with officials to aid their investigation".

He stated that the company was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had extended its total backing to the family.

Maritime Business Practices

The vessel caters for up to 120 travelers with nearly fifty personnel, according to official information. It was specifically designed to enter remote areas of the Australian coastline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to transport passengers on day excursions.

Incidents like this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have procedures to document which travelers are embarking or leaving, according to industry experts.

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

Shipping companies consider these processes with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such incidents from occurring," the expert continued.

"This is presumably a stunning - and unfortunate - isolated incident."