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A two-month voyage circling Australia is being halted following the death of an senior woman who was stranded by the cruise liner on a isolated island.

The passenger had been hiking on the remote island with shipmates from the vessel, but parted ways from the excursion for a rest. The ship departed without her and returned after some time after the crew realised the woman was not present.

An extensive hunt located her remains the following day.

Investigative bodies are looking into the event, in coordination with law enforcement and the official investigator.

Head of the shipping company said that passengers and crew on the ship were notified that the continuation of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and prior engine troubles".

In a statement, he mentioned that guests would be provided a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the passengers via private aircraft".

Authorities also published an revised communication, and said they had "issued a directive to the Commander" prohibiting any further travelers from entering the vessel.

The official said that they would attend the liner in the port city upon its coming back.

Chronology of Incidents

The ship originally sailed from Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the point of the elderly woman's passing. The tropical location was the opening port on the voyage.

Guests on board - who usually pay substantial amounts of dollars to participate in the voyage - were ferried there for a day trip with the possibility of hiking or snorkeling.

Family Statement

The child of the elderly passenger said that her relatives was "surprised and saddened that the ship left the location after an organised tour without my parent".

Through her comments, she characterized her mother as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a affiliate of a hiking organization.

"From the little facts we have been informed, it appears that there was a lapse of care and basic judgment," she said.

She further stated that she hoped the investigation would be able to determine what "the organization should have done that might have preserved Mum's life".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a extremely warm period, and mum became unwell on the hill climb," she stated.

"They requested her to return, unescorted. Then the ship departed, apparently without conducting a headcount.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or not long after, mother died, alone."

Company Position

In a statement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the organization was "working closely with investigators to assist their examination".

He mentioned that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had extended its full support to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Standards

The vessel caters for up to 120 passengers with nearly fifty staff, according to official details. It was purpose-built to reach remote locations of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on shore trips.

Incidents of this nature are rare, and passenger vessels have protocols to track which travelers are getting on or leaving, according to maritime specialists.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard just isn't an possibility," one expert commented.

Shipping companies consider these methods with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to avoid such incidents from taking place," the specialist continued.

"This seems to be presumably a stunning - and sad - one-off."