Authorities are investigating how a cruise ship allegedly left behind an 80-year-old Australian woman who was later found dead on a Queensland tropical island.

A widescale search was launched on Saturday night after the woman was reported missing hours after the Coral Adventurer cruise ship visited Lizard Island, off the coast of Cooktown, 320 kilometres north of Cairns.

Her body was recovered on Sunday.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority [AMSA] confirmed it was investigating the incident and intended to speak with the crew when the cruise ship arrived in Darwin in the coming days.

The woman had been on a group-hiking tour of Lizard Island, but did not return to the ship, which was seen departing the surrounding waters around sunset between 6pm and 7pm.

Emergency services, with

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