The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation after a passenger died Monday morning after falling from the balcony of her stateroom aboard a Carnival cruise ship.
NBC News initially reported that the guest fell from the balcony of her stateroom while the 135,156 gross-ton ship was near Catalina Island on a four-night cruise.
The article stated that the cruise line had alerted the appropriate authorities, who boarded the ship in Catalina Island to begin their investigation. However, the FBI later confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is also actively looking into the circumstances surrounding the death.
"The FBI responded to the ship and is currently investigating the reported death," said the bureau’s Los Angeles field office.
The unidentified woman was traveling with her family aboard the Carnival Firenze ship, who alerted the ship's crew members after she fell. It remains unclear what caused her to fall over the balcony's high railings.
Amber Reinhold, a passenger on the cruise, told NBC News that crew members shared minimal details with guests about the incident.
"A couple of staff members said a young lady was with her family and had fallen from her balcony...In order to fall over this railing, I’m 5'9 and it's up to my rib cage, you would have to be sitting on the railing," she said.
According to Cruise Mapper, the Carnival Firenze departed from Long Beach, California, on Sunday, April 26. Catalina Island was the first port of call on the four-night itinerary, followed by Ensenada, Mexico, on Tuesday, April 28.
The 4,126-passenger ship joined Carnival's fleet in 2024. Before that, she sailed as the Costa Firenze (for Costa Cruises) from July 2020 to February 2024. As such, she's one of the most unique vessels in Carnival's fleet, with distinctive elements honoring her Italian heritage.
"Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one," a company spokesperson said.
Read more: Cruise passenger dies after falling over balcony on ship, Carnival confirms
"I’m glad her family will have closure as she fell to another deck below and is not lost [at] sea"
Following the incident, people flocked to social media to express sympathy for the victim’s family and try to process what happened.
Although many believed it was the result of drunken or dangerous actions, others said there might be more to the story.
"Maybe she was in a mental health crisis before everyone here passes [judgment]. May peace be upon her," wrote one Redditor.
Another added, "Sounds like there's evidence beyond the usual drunk or Instagram picture tragic fall," with someone chiming in that it may have been more than a drunken accident.
Not the first cruise-related death reported this week
Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that there was a cruise crew overboard incident on the Norwegian Breakaway ship over the weekend.
The unidentified crew member was caught falling from the ship into the Atlantic Ocean via CCTV footage. The cruise line then launched its search-and-rescue protocols, alerting the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England.
The search was suspended just after noon on Sunday "pending new information." Before that, the Coast Guard had deployed a search helicopter, along with crew from Coast Guard Station Provincetown.
Consequently, the next sailing's boarding process was delayed since the vessel was stuck at sea during the initial search.
"Overnight and into the early morning hours, the ship remained engaged in search and rescue efforts following a man overboard situation, working closely with maritime authorities," read the email sent to guests.
It continued, saying, "These efforts required the vessel's full attention before the voyage could safely resume toward Boston. Situations such as these are never easy, and the safety and well-being of those at sea remain at the heart of every decision we make."
Read more: Crew member reported overboard from 4,000-passenger cruise ship, Norwegian confirms
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
