An 80-year-old woman died on a remote tropical island over the weekend after the cruise ship she was traveling on left without her.

The daughter of a woman who was left behind by a cruise ship on a remote island and later died has accused the operator of a "failure of care and common sense".

"We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum felt ill on the hill climb," her daughter, Katherine Rees, said in a statement.