During an excursion to the island, the woman felt unwell and did not climb with everyone to the top of the island. Her daughter, Katherine Reese, said her mother was asked to go downstairs on her own without an escort. As it turned out later, she never returned to the ship.
The ship left Lizard Island at 15.40. Authorities were not notified of the missing passenger until five hours later, after which a search and rescue operation was launched on land and at sea. Reese was found only the next day, by which time she was already dead.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued the ship's captain a notice not to accept new passengers. According to the department, the ship should return to Cairns. The agency is investigating why Reese's absence may have been missed during boarding.
Passengers on the ship were informed that they would receive full compensation for the cruise.
