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One extended cruise around the Land Down Under has been cancelled days after the death of an senior woman who was stranded by the vessel on a distant coastal location.

The passenger had been walking on the tropical location with shipmates from the vessel, but broke off from the group for a rest. The ship departed without her and came back later that day after the crew realised the woman was unaccounted for.

An extensive search operation located her remains the next day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the event, in coordination with police and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator stated that passengers and personnel on the ship were informed that the rest of the voyage had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and earlier mechanical issues".

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

Authorities also published an revised announcement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Master" banning any further travelers from boarding the ship.

The official said that they would visit the liner in the Australian city upon its return.

Timeline of Events

The liner initially left Cairns on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the first stop on the journey.

Passengers on the vessel - who typically pay large sums of money to join the expedition - were ferried there for a day trip with the choice of hiking or underwater exploration.

Relatives Statement

The offspring of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "stunned and distressed that the vessel left the island after an planned excursion without my mum".

Via her announcement, she characterized her mother as an "vigorous 80-year-old" who was a affiliate of a walking organization.

"Based on limited information we have been told, it looks that there was a lapse of attention and common sense," she mentioned.

She continued that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have done that might have protected Mum's life".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm day, and mum became unwell on the hill climb," she revealed.

"She was asked her to return, without accompaniment. Then the vessel departed, seemingly without performing a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or shortly after, mum succumbed, alone."

Organization Response

Via official communication, the Chief Executive confirmed that the operator was "collaborating extensively with investigators to assist their inquiry".

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

Cruise Industry Practices

The vessel caters for up to 120 guests with nearly fifty crew, according to corporate data. It was specially constructed to access distant locations of Australia's coastline and is fitted with "tenders" - compact vessels used to take passengers on land visits.

Events such as this are rare, and passenger vessels have procedures to document which passengers are embarking or disembarking, according to industry experts.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] onboard just isn't an possibility," one expert remarked.

Shipping companies consider these processes with great importance and have "clever tech in place to avoid such occurrences from occurring," the specialist further stated.

"This appears to be probably a shocking - and tragic - one-off."