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A two-month cruise circling Australia has been cancelled days after the death of an elderly female passenger who was stranded by the ship on a remote tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with other travelers from the vessel, but broke off from the group for a break. The ship sailed away leaving her and came back several hours later after the crew became aware the lady was missing.

A large-scale rescue mission located her body the next day.

Authorities are investigating the incident, together with investigators and the state coroner.

Head of the voyage organizer announced that travelers and staff on the vessel were informed that the continuation of the voyage had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and earlier engine troubles".

Via official communication, he mentioned that travelers would be provided a complete reimbursement, and said the company was working "to arrange the travel back of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Officials also released an updated announcement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Master" banning any additional guests from getting on the ship.

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

Timeline of Incidents

The liner first departed the Australian port on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the moment of the 80-year-old's demise. The remote island was the first stop on the journey.

Guests on the ship - who generally pay substantial amounts of currency to participate in the cruise - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Reaction

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "shocked and saddened that the vessel left the island after an planned excursion without my mum".

Via her announcement, she characterized her mother as an "active elderly person" who was a participant of a walking group.

"According to scant information we have been told, it looks that there was a breakdown of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She further stated that she hoped the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have undertaken that might have saved Mum's life".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to head down, unescorted. Then the boat left, reportedly without conducting a headcount.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or not long after, mum died, without company."

Organization Position

Via official communication, the Chief Executive verified that the company was "working closely with investigators to aid their examination".

He said that the firm was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had extended its total backing to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Standards

The vessel serves up to 120 travelers with 46 staff, according to official data. It was specially constructed to reach distant regions of the nation's coastline and is equipped with "small boats" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on day excursions.

Occurrences such as this are uncommon, and cruise ships have systems to record which passengers are boarding or getting off, according to industry experts.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] on the ship simply isn't an possibility," a specialist stated.

Shipping companies take these procedures with great importance and have "clever tech in place to avoid such occurrences from occurring," the specialist added.

"This is probably a stunning - and sad - single occurrence."