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One extended cruise through the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the death of an senior lady who was left behind by the cruise liner on a remote tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but separated from the group for a rest. The liner left without her and returned later that day after the crew discovered the passenger was not present.

A major search operation discovered her person the following day.

Investigative bodies are examining the event, together with police and the official investigator.

Head of the shipping company stated that travelers and staff on the ship were told that the remainder of the voyage had been called off due to the "tragic passing and prior mechanical issues".

In a statement, he further stated that guests would be given a full refund, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also published an revised statement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Captain" prohibiting any additional guests from boarding the liner.

The representative said that they would attend the liner in Cairns upon its return.

Timeline of Incidents

The liner initially left Cairns on 24 October, and was merely two days into the voyage at the moment of the senior passenger's demise. Lizard Island was the first stop on the journey.

Travelers on the vessel - who typically pay large sums of dollars to participate in the voyage - were transported there for a daily excursion with the choice of hiking or snorkeling.

Relatives Reaction

The child of the elderly passenger said that her family was "stunned and saddened that the vessel left the location after an scheduled outing without my parent".

Through her comments, she characterized her parent as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a member of a walking group.

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

She added that she hoped the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have done that might have saved Mother's life".

"Based on information from the police that it was a exceptionally warm day, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"They requested her to head down, without accompaniment. Then the ship sailed away, reportedly without performing a headcount.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or soon after, mum succumbed, by herself."

Organization Response

In a statement, the CEO confirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with officials to aid their examination".

He mentioned that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has transpired" and had extended its complete assistance to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The vessel caters for up to one hundred twenty passengers with forty-six staff, according to company information. It was specifically designed to access remote areas of the Australian coastline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on land visits.

Events like this are infrequent, and liners have procedures to record which passengers are embarking or getting off, according to travel authorities.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] aboard simply isn't an option," a specialist stated.

Cruise lines take these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such occurrences from occurring," the authority added.

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