Authorities will probe how an 80-year-old cruise passenger died while hiking on Lizard Island. Photo: Sarah Motherwell/AAP PHOTOS

An ill-fated cruise ship is returning to shore after the death of an elderly female passenger who was allegedly left stranded on a remote Australian tropical island.

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The Coral Adventurer is expected back in far north Queensland on Tuesday, with Australian Maritime Safety Authority investigators set to board the vessel when it arrives in Cairns.

A full investigation is underway after passenger Suzanne Rees' death, with head count policies and ship staffin

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