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One 60-day journey around Australia is being halted in the wake of the tragic passing of an elderly woman who was stranded by the ship on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on the tropical location with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the group for a rest. The liner left without her and went back later that day after the crew became aware the lady was unaccounted for.

An extensive search operation found her person the following day.

Officials are looking into the tragedy, alongside police and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the voyage organizer announced that guests and staff on the Coral Adventurer were told that the remainder of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and previous engine troubles".

In a statement, he added that travelers would be issued a full refund, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the individuals via private aircraft".

Authorities also released an latest statement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Master" banning any new passengers from entering the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would visit the liner in the port city upon its arrival.

Chronology of Occurrences

The ship originally sailed from the coastal city on 24 October, and was merely two days into the journey at the time of the 80-year-old's passing. The tropical location was the first stop on the journey.

Travelers on board - who generally pay substantial amounts of dollars to join the cruise - were taken there for a daily excursion with the choice of hiking or snorkelling.

Family Statement

The daughter of the victim said that her family was "surprised and saddened that the vessel left Lizard Island after an scheduled excursion without my mother".

In her statement, she described her mum as an "vigorous 80-year-old" who was a affiliate of a bushwalking club.

"Based on limited information we have been told, it seems that there was a breakdown of responsibility and common sense," she said.

She further stated that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have done that might have preserved Mum's being".

"According to reports from the police that it was a exceptionally warm afternoon, and mum became unwell on the uphill trek," she stated.

"They requested her to head down, alone. Then the vessel left, apparently without conducting a passenger count.

"During some point in that process, or shortly after, mother passed away, by herself."

Company Response

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

He mentioned that the firm was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had provided its full support to the relatives.

Maritime Business Procedures

The ship serves up to 120 guests with nearly fifty crew, according to company data. It was purpose-built to enter remote locations of Australia's shoreline and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to take passengers on land visits.

Incidents such as this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have protocols to document which passengers are boarding or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

"Leaving covertly or [back] onboard really isn't an option," one expert stated.

Shipping companies take these processes very seriously and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such events from taking place," the expert further stated.

"This appears to be presumably a shocking - and sad - isolated incident."