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One extended journey around the Land Down Under was terminated days after the death of an older woman who was abandoned by the vessel on a remote tropical isle.

The elderly woman had been trekking on the tropical location with other travelers from the cruise ship, but parted ways from the excursion for a break. The vessel left without her and came back several hours later after the crew became aware the passenger was missing.

A major rescue mission found her remains the next day.

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

Chief Executive of the cruise operator announced that guests and staff on the vessel were informed that the remainder of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and previous mechanical issues".

In a statement, he added that travelers would be given a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to arrange the homeward trips of the travelers via chartered flights".

Authorities also issued an latest communication, and said they had "delivered a order to the Commander" banning any additional guests from getting on the vessel.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its coming back.

Sequence of Occurrences

The vessel originally sailed from Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the time of the elderly woman's demise. The tropical location was the first stop on the voyage.

Travelers on the ship - who generally pay substantial amounts of currency to join the voyage - were transported there for a shore visit with the option of trekking or snorkeling.

Family Reaction

The child of the elderly passenger said that her family was "stunned and grieved that the vessel left the location after an planned outing without my mother".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mother as an "active elderly person" who was a affiliate of a hiking group.

"According to scant information we have been informed, it appears that there was a failure of care and basic judgment," she said.

She added that she wished the inquiry would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have undertaken that might have preserved Mother's life".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a exceptionally warm afternoon, and mother took sick on the mountain ascent," she explained.

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

"At a certain moment in that process, or shortly after, she succumbed, by herself."

Company Response

Via official communication, the CEO verified that the organization was "working closely with investigators to aid their investigation".

He said that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had provided its total backing to the family.

Maritime Business Procedures

The liner serves up to 120 guests with nearly fifty staff, according to company details. It was specifically designed to access remote areas of the nation's coast and is outfitted with "tenders" - minor craft used to ferry individuals on day excursions.

Incidents such as this are uncommon, and liners have systems to track which passengers are boarding or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard really isn't an possibility," an authority stated.

Cruise lines regard these processes extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to avoid such occurrences from happening," the expert further stated.

"This appears to be probably a stunning - and sad - one-off."