Death on Carnival Cruise Ship Sparks FBI Investigation

The FBI’s Miami office is investigating after a passenger died while traveling on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, officials said on Saturday.

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed to Newsweek it is cooperating fully with federal authorities in the investigation, though no additional details about the passenger or the circumstances surrounding the death have been released.

Newsweek reached out to the FBI via email on Saturday for comment.

What It Matters

Deaths aboard cruise ships, while rare given the volume of passengers traveling annually, raise questions about passenger safety, emergency protocols, and the procedures cruise lines follow when incidents occur.

Approximately 200 cruise ship deaths occur each year, according to The Cruise Globe co-founder Emma Cruises, but that number is likely underrepresented due to limited reporting requirements across international jurisdictions.

With 30 million passengers in 2019 alone, this translates to about one death per 150,000 guests or an average of three to four deaths each week.

Most deaths are natural, resulting from heart attacks or medical emergencies. However, accidents, suicides, and rare cases of violence contribute to the toll.

In addition to medical events, the cruise industry recorded 48 alleged crimes, from sexual assaults to serious bodily injuries, reported to the FBI between January and March 2025. This was considerably higher than pre-pandemic years.

What To Know

FBI Miami spokesperson James Marshall told the Associated Press the office responded to the scene, but he said no further information was available.

The Carnival Horizon is a major cruise ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The vessel, which can accommodate 3,960 guests and operates Caribbean sailings, returned to PortMiami as scheduled Saturday morning.

The authorities in Miami initiated the investigation on Saturday upon the ship’s return to port.

In July, the FBI confirmed to Newsweek the death of Euvelester Villarreal Jr. of Rio Grande City, Texas, on the Carnival Dream cruise ship. Carnival Cruise told Fox 26 Houston that the FBI investigation was standard protocol for all deaths that occur at sea and didn’t necessarily imply suspicious circumstances.

What People Are Saying

Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson Chris Chiames told Newsweek on Saturday: “Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that it is working with the Miami office of the FBI in the investigation of the death of a guest traveling on Carnival Horizon. The ship returned to PortMiami as planned on Saturday morning, Nov. 8. Since this is an ongoing matter under the jurisdiction of law enforcement, all media inquiries need to be directed to the FBI’s Miami public affairs office. Our focus is on supporting the family of our guest and cooperating with the FBI.”

What Happens Next?

The FBI, alongside U.S. maritime agencies, will continue to investigate the Carnival Horizon death.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.