A two-month journey through the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the death of an older female passenger who was stranded by the cruise liner on a isolated coastal location.
Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the cruise ship, but broke off from the party for a rest. The vessel sailed away leaving her and returned several hours later after the crew discovered the passenger was not present.
A major rescue mission located her body the subsequent day.
Investigative bodies are looking into the incident, in coordination with police and the official investigator.
Head of the cruise operator announced that passengers and staff on the ship were told that the remainder of the cruise had been terminated due to the "unfortunate death and previous technical problems".
Through an announcement, he further stated that travelers would be provided a full refund, and said the organization was working "to organize the homeward trips of the passengers via specially arranged planes".
Officials also published an latest statement, and said they had "provided a order to the Captain" preventing any new passengers from boarding the ship.
The official said that they would attend the vessel in the Australian city upon its coming back.
The liner originally sailed from Cairns on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the expedition at the time of the 80-year-old's passing. The tropical location was the first stop on the voyage.
Guests on the vessel - who generally pay substantial amounts of currency to participate in the expedition - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of hiking or snorkelling.
The daughter of the deceased woman said that her loved ones was "stunned and saddened that the vessel left the location after an organised outing without my mum".
Through her comments, she portrayed her mother as an "vigorous elderly person" who was a member of a walking group.
"From the little details we have been informed, it seems that there was a lapse of care and ordinary reasoning," she stated.
She continued that she wished the inquiry would be able to identify what "the organization should have done that might have protected Her being".
"Based on information from the authorities that it was a very hot afternoon, and mum took sick on the mountain ascent," she explained.
"They requested her to return, without accompaniment. Then the ship sailed away, reportedly without conducting a roll call.
"At some stage in that chain of events, or not long after, mum passed away, by herself."
Through an announcement, the Head verified that the organization was "collaborating extensively with officials to aid their examination".
He mentioned that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had extended its complete assistance to the family.
The liner serves up to 120 travelers with 46 personnel, according to company details. It was specifically designed to reach remote regions of the Australian shoreline and is outfitted with "small boats" - minor craft used to ferry travelers on day excursions.
Occurrences of this nature are infrequent, and cruise ships have protocols to record which passengers are getting on or disembarking, according to travel authorities.
"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard just isn't an option," one expert commented.
Cruise lines take these processes very seriously and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such occurrences from occurring," the authority further stated.
"This appears to be probably a surprising - and tragic - single occurrence."
Elara Vance is a seasoned betting analyst with over a decade of experience in sports journalism and statistical modeling for UK markets.