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One two-month voyage circling the Australian Coast is being halted following the tragic passing of an elderly female passenger who was stranded by the cruise liner on a isolated island.

The passenger had been hiking on the tropical location with fellow passengers from the vessel, but parted ways from the group for a rest. The liner sailed away leaving her and went back several hours later after the ship staff discovered the lady was not present.

A major hunt located her person the subsequent day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the incident, alongside investigators and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator stated that travelers and staff on the ship were told that the continuation of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and previous technical problems".

In a statement, he mentioned that guests would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to arrange the travel back of the travelers via private aircraft".

Officials also released an revised statement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Commander" preventing any further travelers from entering the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the ship in Cairns upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The vessel initially left the coastal city on 24 October, and was just two days into the voyage at the point of the senior passenger's death. The remote island was the first stop on the journey.

Passengers on the vessel - who usually pay large sums of currency to take part in the voyage - were taken there for a shore visit with the choice of trekking or snorkeling.

Relatives Response

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her family was "shocked and grieved that the liner left the location after an scheduled tour without my mother".

Through her comments, she described her parent as an "active elderly person" who was a member of a bushwalking club.

"Based on limited information we have been told, it seems that there was a breakdown of responsibility and basic judgment," she stated.

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

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a exceptionally warm period, and mum took sick on the uphill trek," she explained.

"She was asked her to go back, unescorted. Then the boat left, apparently without conducting a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that sequence, or soon after, she died, alone."

Company Response

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the organization was "working closely with officials to aid their investigation".

He stated that the firm was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had offered its total backing to the family.

Maritime Business Procedures

The vessel caters for up to one hundred twenty guests with 46 staff, according to company details. It was specifically designed to access isolated regions of the nation's coastline and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on shore trips.

Events such as this are uncommon, and liners have protocols to track which passengers are getting on or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

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

Cruise lines take these methods extremely carefully and have "clever tech in place to prevent such events from occurring," the expert further stated.

"This seems to be probably a surprising - and tragic - single occurrence."