FBI Probes Passenger Death Aboard Carnival Horizon After Ship Returns to Miami

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has opened an inquiry into the death of a passenger who had been sailing on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. The investigation began when the vessel arrived in Miami over the weekend, and the agency’s Miami field office confirmed it is now handling the case.

According to the FBI, agents responded to the scene on November 8, when the ship docked in Florida. Officials have so far declined to release the passenger’s identity or details regarding the cause of death, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation and privacy concerns.

A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line, Chris Chiames, confirmed the company is cooperating fully with federal authorities. “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,” he said. Chiames added that Carnival’s priority is supporting the passenger’s family during this time.

The Carnival Horizon, a ship with capacity for nearly 3,960 guests, continued its scheduled Caribbean itinerary and disembarked passengers in Miami without changes to its operations. The cruise line emphasized that it provided all necessary information to investigators and followed standard protocols for handling such incidents.

While deaths at sea often draw public and media attention, they remain rare considering the scale of the cruise industry. Tens of millions of passengers sail every year, and the overwhelming majority of voyages conclude without serious issues. Industry statistics show that most onboard fatalities stem from natural causes, such as medical emergencies, though accidents and isolated incidents can occur.

This case follows a similar situation earlier in the year, when a death aboard the Carnival Dream also triggered an FBI investigation. In that instance, Carnival noted that federal probes are routine procedure for any death reported at sea and do not automatically indicate suspicious circumstances.