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A extended journey around Australia is being halted days after the tragic passing of an elderly lady who was stranded by the ship on a isolated island.

The passenger had been walking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but separated from the group for a break. The vessel departed without her and returned several hours later after the personnel realised the passenger was unaccounted for.

An extensive search operation located her person the next day.

Investigative bodies are looking into the tragedy, alongside police and the official investigator.

Head of the shipping company announced that guests and personnel on the ship were told that the continuation of the journey had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and prior technical problems".

Through an announcement, he further stated that guests would be issued a full refund, and said the company was working "to arrange the travel back of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also issued an latest announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Commander" prohibiting any new passengers from boarding the liner.

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

Sequence of Occurrences

The ship first departed Cairns on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the journey at the time of the elderly woman's death. The tropical location was the opening port on the journey.

Passengers on the vessel - who usually pay substantial amounts of dollars to take part in the voyage - were taken there for a daily excursion with the possibility of trekking or snorkeling.

Next of Kin Response

The offspring of the victim said that her loved ones was "shocked and grieved that the liner left the location after an organised outing without my parent".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mum as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a participant of a walking group.

"According to scant details we have been told, it seems that there was a breakdown of attention and common sense," she stated.

She further stated that she wished the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have performed that might have saved Mum's existence".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm period, and mum fell ill on the hill climb," she explained.

"Officials suggested her to return, without accompaniment. Then the vessel left, seemingly without conducting a roll call.

"During some point in that sequence, or not long after, mother passed away, without company."

Organization Position

Through an announcement, the Head verified that the company was "working closely with authorities to assist their inquiry".

He said that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had extended its complete assistance to the relatives.

Maritime Business Practices

The ship accommodates up to one hundred twenty guests with 46 crew, according to official details. It was specifically designed to reach isolated locations of the Australian coastline and is outfitted with "small boats" - small boats used to ferry travelers on land visits.

Occurrences like this are rare, and liners have procedures to document which individuals are getting on or getting off, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard really isn't an option," an authority commented.

Cruise lines regard these processes very seriously and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such incidents from happening," the specialist added.

"This appears to be presumably a surprising - and tragic - isolated incident."