A woman is dead and federal authorities are investigating after she fell from the balcony of her stateroom aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship sailing near California’s Catalina Island early Monday.
The Carnival Firenze was near Catalina Island when the unidentified woman fell from her stateroom balcony and landed on a deck below. She was traveling with her family, who alerted the ship’s crew.
The ship had departed Long Beach on Sunday for a four-day Baja Mexico cruise. The woman fell early Monday morning and was pronounced dead. The vessel later arrived at Catalina Island, where law enforcement and FBI officials boarded to collect evidence.
Julie Leonardi, a Carnival spokeswoman, confirmed the death in a statement.
“As is customary following these kinds of incidents, law enforcement was on board while the ship was in Catalina Island on Monday to collect information,” she said. “Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.”
The FBI’s Los Angeles office said it “responded to the ship when it docked in Catalina Island on Monday and is investigating an incident on board which resulted in death,” adding that the matter remains ongoing. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said its search and rescue team from the Avalon Sheriff’s Station assisted in recovering the passenger and directed further questions to the FBI.
The woman’s identity has not been released. Investigators have not yet determined whether the fall was accidental, intentional or involved foul play.
The 1,000-foot-long Carnival Firenze is an Italian-themed ship with bars, restaurants and space for more than 5,000 guests. The ship was bound for Ensenada, on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
The death is the latest in a series of tragedies tied to Carnival vessels. Just last week, two separate emergencies turned deadly during a single voyage on the Carnival Splendor — a 67-year-old woman died while snorkeling off Australia’s Moreton Island, and hours later a separate passenger reportedly climbed over the ship’s safety railing and went overboard. The cruise line also drew scrutiny after 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon in November; her stepbrother was federally charged with her murder and pleaded not guilty at a hearing last week.
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