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One two-month journey through the Australian Coast has been cancelled days after the fatal incident of an senior female passenger who was left behind by the vessel on a distant island.

The elderly woman had been hiking on the tropical location with other travelers from the cruise ship, but separated from the party for a break. The ship sailed away leaving her and went back later that day after the ship staff discovered the woman was missing.

A major hunt discovered her remains the next day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the event, alongside law enforcement and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the shipping company announced that travelers and crew on the vessel were told that the remainder of the journey had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and earlier mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he mentioned that guests would be given a full refund, and said the operator was working "to arrange the return journeys of the passengers via chartered flights".

Authorities also published an latest statement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Captain" prohibiting any additional guests from entering the ship.

The official said that they would attend the vessel in the port city upon its return.

Timeline of Incidents

The vessel first departed Cairns on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the expedition at the point of the elderly woman's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the itinerary.

Guests on the vessel - who typically pay substantial amounts of dollars to take part in the cruise - were ferried there for a shore visit with the option of hiking or snorkeling.

Family Response

The child of the victim said that her family was "surprised and grieved that the vessel left the island after an organised excursion without my parent".

In her statement, she characterized her mum as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a member of a hiking club.

"From the little information we have been provided, it appears that there was a breakdown of attention and basic judgment," she said.

She added that she hoped the examination would be able to determine what "the company should have done that might have saved Mum's being".

"Based on information from the police that it was a extremely warm period, and mum fell ill on the uphill trek," she stated.

"She was asked her to go back, alone. Then the boat left, apparently without conducting a passenger count.

"During some point in that chain of events, or shortly after, mum passed away, by herself."

Organization Reaction

Through an announcement, the CEO affirmed that the company was "collaborating extensively with authorities to support their investigation".

He stated that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had provided its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Practices

The vessel caters for up to 120 guests with 46 personnel, according to official details. It was purpose-built to access distant areas of Australia's coastline and is equipped with "small boats" - minor craft used to take passengers on land visits.

Events of this nature are uncommon, and liners have protocols to document which passengers are boarding or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] onboard simply isn't an choice," one expert stated.

Vessel operators consider these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to avoid such events from happening," the expert continued.

"This seems to be probably a surprising - and unfortunate - one-off."