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One two-month cruise through Australia has been cancelled days after the fatal incident of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on the tropical location with other travelers from the cruise ship, but parted ways from the excursion for a rest. The vessel left without her and went back several hours later after the personnel became aware the woman was missing.

An extensive hunt found her remains the subsequent day.

Authorities are examining the incident, alongside law enforcement and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the voyage organizer announced that passengers and personnel on the vessel were informed that the continuation of the journey had been called off due to the "unfortunate death and previous technical problems".

In a statement, he further stated that travelers would be given a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via private aircraft".

Regulatory bodies also released an revised statement, and said they had "delivered a order to the Master" banning any additional guests from boarding the ship.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the liner in the Australian city upon its arrival.

Chronology of Events

The ship initially left the coastal city on October 24th, and was just two days into the journey at the moment of the 80-year-old's death. The remote island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Guests on the vessel - who generally pay tens of thousands of money to take part in the voyage - were taken there for a shore visit with the choice of walking or snorkeling.

Relatives Statement

The child of the deceased woman said that her family was "shocked and saddened that the liner left the island after an scheduled outing without my mum".

In her statement, she portrayed her mother as an "active elderly person" who was a participant of a bushwalking organization.

"Based on limited information we have been informed, it looks that there was a breakdown of attention and basic judgment," she said.

She added that she hoped the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have undertaken that might have protected Her life".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a very hot day, and mum became unwell on the hill climb," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to go back, alone. Then the vessel sailed away, seemingly without conducting a headcount.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or shortly after, mum passed away, alone."

Company Response

Via official communication, the CEO verified that the organization was "cooperating fully with authorities to assist their inquiry".

He stated that the organization was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had offered its full support to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The liner caters for up to one hundred twenty guests with nearly fifty crew, according to company information. It was specifically designed to reach remote locations of Australia's shoreline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to transport individuals on land visits.

Events of this nature are uncommon, and cruise ships have procedures to record which individuals are getting on or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard really isn't an choice," one expert commented.

Shipping companies regard these methods with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to stop such incidents from occurring," the authority further stated.

"This seems to be probably a surprising - and unfortunate - single occurrence."