carnival cruise death 2023

FBI investigating 'suspicious' death of Carnival cruise passenger

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Columbia, South Carolina field office is investigating a "suspicious" death of a Carnival Cruise Line passenger, the office said.

The woman died on the line's Carnival Sunshine ship during a cruise to the Bahamas that departed from Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb. 27.

"Medical staff and other crew members of Carnival's Sunshine were made aware of the passenger being unresponsive and immediately attempted life-saving measures," a spokesperson for the Columbia field office said in an emailed statement. "Despite their efforts, the passenger was pronounced deceased on the ship."

FBI Evidence Response Team members responded to the ship after it returned to Charleston on Saturday to process the guest's room.

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

Cooking at sea: Regent Seven Seas will sail 11 new culinary cruises through 2025

"The FBI investigates certain crimes on the high seas, as well as suspicious deaths of U.S. persons," the statement continued. The guest's death was an isolated incident, and no other passengers were at risk.

The woman's body and her husband were debarked in Nassau, according to Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli.

"We are fully cooperating," Lupoli said in an emailed statement on Monday. The investigation is ongoing, the FBI's Columbia field office spokesperson said.

In a separate statement provided by Lupoli, the cruise line said Tuesday that all indications suggest the passenger died "a natural death due to a medical condition."

"We will defer to the FBI on any specific details which may possibly be released at a later date as we fully respect the investigative process, but our initial emergency medical response was appropriate and it appears that this was indeed a medical situation that sadly resulted in the death of a guest," the statement said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

FBI investigating 'suspicious death' of woman on Carnival cruise ship

The unidentified female was pronounced dead on the ship of unknown causes.

The FBI is investigating a "suspicious death" of a female passenger aboard a Carnival cruise ship while it was en route to the Bahamas .

The incident occurred on Carnival's Sunshine during its Feb. 27 voyage from the United States to Nassau, Bahamas, when medical staff and other crew members aboard the ship were made aware of an unresponsive passenger and life-saving measures were immediately attempted, according to a statement from the FBI's field office in Columbia, South Carolina.

MORE: Fisherman missing after going overboard while hooking 'huge' tuna on fishing trip

Despite the crew's best efforts, the unidentified female passenger was pronounced dead on the ship of currently unknown causes, though Carnival released a subsequent statement indicating that they believe the passenger died of natural causes.

"While we continue to cooperate with authorities, all indications pertaining to the death of a guest on board Carnival Sunshine suggest that it was a natural death due to a medical condition," Carnival said in the statement released on Tuesday. "We will defer to the FBI on any specific details which may possibly be released at a later date as we fully respect the investigative process, but our initial emergency medical response was appropriate and it appears that this was indeed a medical situation that sadly resulted in the death of a guest."

This incident remains under investigation by the FBI.

"The FBI investigates certain crimes on the high seas, as well as suspicious deaths of U.S. persons," the FBI said. "As such, FBI Evidence Response Team (ERT) members responded to process the passenger's room once the ship returned to the Charleston port on March 4."

MORE: 9-year-old boy missing after falling off pontoon boat, being hit by propeller

The "suspicious death" was isolated, according to the FBI, and there was no threat to any other passengers before or after the passenger was found deceased.

Related Topics

Watch CBS News

FBI investigating "suspicious" death of a woman on a Carnival cruise ship

By Gina Martinez

Updated on: March 6, 2023 / 7:24 PM EST / CBS News

The FBI is investigating the "suspicious" death of a woman aboard a Carnival cruise ship traveling from Charleston, South Carolina, to Nassau, Bahamas, last month.

On Feb. 27, Carnival's Sunshine crew members and medical staff responded to an unresponsive female passenger, the FBI Columbia field office said in a news release. Despite their best efforts, the woman was pronounced dead on the ship, the release said. 

The incident was isolated and posed no threats to other passengers, according to the FBI.

When the ship returned to Charleston on March 4, FBI officials searched the dead passenger's room for evidence, according to the news release.  

The FBI said it investigates suspicious deaths of U.S. citizens as well as "certain crimes on the high seas." Officials have not disclosed the identity of the passenger or the cause of death and said the incident remains under investigation. 

Carnival said they are "fully cooperating" with the investigation and that the incident is being handled by authorities in the Bahamas and in Charleston. 

"Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy," the cruise line said in a statement to CBS News. 

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• South Carolina
• Cruise Ship

More from CBS News

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

FBI investigating suspicious death of passenger onboard Carnival cruise ship

Female passenger was found unresponsive during the ship’s 27 february cruise to nassau, bahamas, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the us, thanks for signing up to the evening headlines email.

The FBI is investigating the suspicious death of a female passenger onboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship, the agency announced.

The passenger was found unresponsive during the ship’s 27 February cruise to Nassau , Bahamas , according to the FBI field office in Columbia, South Carolina.

Despite medical staff and crew members performing life-saving measures, the woman was pronounced dead on the ship.

Both the deceased passenger and her husband were taken off the ship in the Bahamas, where an autopsy will take place.

“The FBI joined Carnival Sunshine upon its return to Charleston on Saturday to conduct an investigation into the death of a guest. Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy. We are fully cooperating,” Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson Matt Lupoli told The Independent in a statement.

“This is a matter for authorities in The Bahamas and Charleston and we have no further comments.”

• A woman on TikTok claimed a cruise ship left her ‘stuck on an island’ - but is that what really happened?
• Hollywood stars and cruise ship passenger memories feature in photo exhibition
• Cruise passengers kicked off ship and told to go home early due to ‘technical issue with catering’

“We are fully cooperating. This is a matter for authorities in the Bahamas and Charleston and we have no further comments.”

Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team conducted a search of the passenger’s room when the ship returned to its home port of Charleston, South Carolina, on 4 March.

The FBI investigates suspicious deaths of US nationals as well as “certain crimes on the high seas.” The death remains under investigation.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

latest in US News

Four out of five Americans favor Israel over Hamas, most back...

Photo shows disturbing moment bully knocks NYC grandma...

Furious NYC lawmakers call for Adams, FDNY to 'right this wrong'...

Hunter Biden lawyers threaten Fox News with lawsuit over...

Winner of $1.3B Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who...

Reputed Genovese mobster has ‘no regrets’ about viral punch...

Voters sick of Biden, Trump aren't sold on RFK Jr. either, poll...

Cops raid illegal NYC pot shop just one day after defiant worker...

Breaking news, fbi probes suspicious death of passenger on carnival cruise ship.

• View Author Archive
• Email the Author
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

A female passenger was found dead under suspicious circumstances on a Carnival cruise ship during a voyage to the Bahamas — and the FBI has launched a criminal investigation.

The woman, who has not been identified, died on the Carnival Sunshine, which departed from Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb. 27 for the trip to Nassau, CNN reported .

“Medical staff and other crew members of Carnival’s Sunshine were made aware of the passenger being unresponsive and immediately attempted life-saving measures,” a spokesperson for the FBI’s Columbia field office told USA Today .

“Despite their efforts, the passenger was pronounced deceased on the ship,” the rep added.

The FBI Evidence Response Team responded to the Carnival Sunshine after it returned to Charleston on Saturday to process the woman’s cabin.

“The FBI investigates certain crimes on the high seas, as well as suspicious deaths of U.S. persons,” the agency statement said. “The guest’s death was an isolated incident, and no other passengers were at risk.”

Carnival rep Matt Lupoli told CNN in a statement: “Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy.”

He added: “We are fully cooperating. This is a matter for authorities in the Bahamas and Charleston and we have no further comments.”

The 103,000-ton Sunshine, which was launched in 1995, carries 3,000 passengers and 1,040 crew members, according to Carnival.

Share this article:

Advertisement

FBI investigates 'suspicious death' of cruise ship passenger

The FBI is investigating the "suspicious death" of a woman who was on a five -day cruise from South Carolina to the Bahamas, the agency announced .

The 44-year-old woman, who was not identified by name in the announcement, died on a voyage to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, the FBI's field office in Columbia, South Carolina, said Sunday.

The cruise left Charleston on Feb. 27, said Matt Lupoli, Carnival Cruise Line's senior manager of public relations. She most likely died early Feb. 28, said Kevin Wheeler, a public affairs specialist for the FBI's Columbia field office.

Medical staff and crew members attempted lifesaving measures, the FBI said.

The woman had been traveling with her husband, Lupoli said. Her husband got off the cruise in Nassau on March 1, and her remains were also removed, he said.

FBI's evidence investigators processed the passenger's room once the ship returned to Charleston as planned on Saturday, the agency said.

The FBI said that the death was an isolated incident and that other passengers faced no threat before or after the woman was found dead.

Nobody is in custody, Wheeler said. He said he could not comment on the circumstances of the woman's death or on any information about her husband or the status of the autopsy.

Lupoli said in a statement that authorities in the Bahamas "have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy" and that Carnival is "fully cooperating."

"This is a matter for authorities in The Bahamas and Charleston and we have no further comments," Lupoli said.

Spokespeople for the Royal Bahamas Police Force could not immediately be reached for comment.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Human Interest

Carnival Cruise Line Says Passenger Died 'Natural Death' on Its Ship After FBI Said It Was 'Suspicious'

The cruise line said the victim died following "a medical situation" on the boat in a new statement released Tuesday

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

The passenger who died on a Carnival Cruise Line ship over the weekend likely died a natural death, according to the company.

In a statement on Tuesday, the cruise line said "all indications" suggest the woman died of a medical condition while on board Carnival Sunshine in The Bahamas, according to NBC and CBS News.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) previously labeled the Feb. 27 death as "suspicious."

"It appears that this was indeed a medical situation that sadly resulted in the death of a guest," Carnival said in Tuesday's statement, per the reports.

The cruise line did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was found unresponsive on Carnival Sunshine last Monday as the ship sailed to Nassau, according to a statement released Sunday by the FBI Columbia field office.

Medical staff and crew members attempted to revive the woman, the FBI said. The victim was later pronounced dead on the ship.

The cruise line previously said the Sunshine returned to Charleston, S.C., on Saturday.

Carnival said it believes the initial response to the emergency medical "was appropriate," per the reports.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

FBI officials previously said the death posed "no threat to any other passengers" and that the incident was isolated.

An FBI Evidence Response Team processed the passenger's room after the ship returned to the Charleston port on March 4.

"Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau," a Carnival spokesperson previously told PEOPLE, "and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy."

Related Articles

• Updated Terms of Use
• New Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Closed Captioning Policy

Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by  Factset . Powered and implemented by  FactSet Digital Solutions .  Legal Statement .

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy

FBI investigating 'suspicious' death of Carnival Sunshine cruise ship passenger

Carnival cruise line says deceased woman, husband taken off ship in nassau, bahamas.

Carnival cruise ship rescues 5 migrants in small vessel floating toward Florida

Crew members aboard the Carnival Celebration cruise ship spotted five people in distress on a small vessel about 29 miles northwest of Cuba on Monday. (Mark Stachowski/LOCAL NEWS X /TMX)

The FBI says it is investigating the "suspicious death" of a female passenger onboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship during a sailing to the Bahamas. 

The Columbia field office says the woman, who has not been publicly identified, died during the Sunshine’s Feb. 27 voyage operating out of Charleston, South Carolina. 

"Medical staff and other crew members of Carnival’s Sunshine were made aware of the passenger being unresponsive and immediately attempted life-saving measures," the FBI said. "Despite their efforts, the passenger was pronounced deceased on the ship. 

When the ship returned to Charleston on March 4, the FBI "responded to process the passenger’s room." 

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE WARNS THAT UNRULY SPRING BREAK PASSENGERS COULD FACE $500 FINES  

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship is seen in New York City in September 2017. The FBI announced that it is investigating a "suspicious death" onboard the ship during a Feb. 27, 2023 sailing. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)

"This incident was isolated and there was no threat to any other passengers before or after the passenger was found deceased," the FBI also said. 

CRUISE INDUSTRY POISED TO MAKE STRONG COMEBACK IN 2023  

Carnival Cruise Line told FOX Business that it is fully cooperating with the FBI’s investigation. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS      

Carnival Cruise Line tells FOX Business that it is cooperating in the FBI's investigation. Shown above is theCarnival Valor cruise ship setting sail from the Port of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 3, 2022. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

  "Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy," the company said in a statement. 

The death on the 3,000-capacity ship comes as Carnival has warned that unruly spring break passengers could face $500 fines. 

FBI investigating 'suspicious death' aboard Carnival Sunshine

by Joseph Erickson

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Investigators with the FBI Columbia field office responded to Charleston on Saturday to investigate the suspicious death of a passenger aboard a cruise ship, a spokesperson with the field office confirmed to ABC News 4 Monday morning.

Officials say the female passenger was found unresponsive on the Carnival Sunshine during its Feb. 27 voyage to Nassau, Bahamas. Medical staff responded and attempted to save the woman, but she was pronounced dead on the ship.

TRENDING: Judge Clifton Newman spotted cheering on the Gamecocks at SEC tournament game

The cruise ship returned to Charleston on Saturday. Members of the FBI's Evidence Response Team (ERT) responded to process the passenger’s room.

Officials say the passenger's death was an isolated incident and that there was no other threat to any other passengers. As of Monday, no arrests have been made.

A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line says the company is cooperating fully with authorities' investigations.

The FBI joined Carnival Sunshine upon its return to Charleston on Saturday to conduct an investigation into the death of a guest. Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy. We are fully cooperating. This is a matter for authorities in The Bahamas and Charleston and we have no further comments.

FBI investigating ‘suspicious death’ of Carnival cruise passenger

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The FBI Columbia field office is investigating a suspicious death that happened aboard a cruise ship that ports in Charleston.

Crew members of Carnival Cruise Sunshine were made aware of an unresponsive woman during the cruise that left the Charleston port on Feb. 27, FBI spokesperson Kevin Wheeler said. Wheeler said staff attempted life-saving measures, but the woman was pronounced dead on the ship.

Once the ship ported in Charleston on March 4, members of the FBI Evidence Response Team responded to process the passenger’s room, Wheeler said.

“The FBI investigates certain crimes on the high seas, as well as suspicious deaths of U.S. persons,” Wheeler said in the statement.

Officials said the incident was isolated and there was no threat to the other passengers.

A spokesperson for Carnival provided a statement on the incident on Sunday:

The FBI joined Carnival Sunshine upon its return to Charleston yesterday morning to conduct an investigation into the death of a guest. Both the deceased and her husband were debarked in Nassau and Bahamian authorities have already investigated the circumstances and are conducting an autopsy. We are fully cooperating. This is a matter for authorities in The Bahamas and Charleston and we have no further comments.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Two 20-year-old women identified as victims in Downtown Charleston hit-and-run

Family frustrated over problem with new Lennar home in Moncks Corner

Body recovered from Georgetown Co. river identified

4 teenagers die in high-speed chase after trooper uses PIT maneuver

Fire reported at Mount Pleasant Seafood

Latest news.

Officials address odor, environmental testing for homes near Bees Ferry landfill

VIDEO: Officials address odor, environmental testing for homes near Bees Ferry landfill

Folly Beach community remembers ‘Super Dave’ after house fire

Family of pedestrian hoping for answers after 2 killed in Charleston hit-and-run

Early voting for Dorchester School Dist. Two’s $200 million referendum underway

• Entertainment
• Sports Sports Betting Podcasts Better Planet Vault Mightier Autos Newsletters Unconventional Vantage Experts Voices
• Subscribe for $1
• Sports Betting
• Better Planet
• Newsletters
• Unconventional

Cruise Ship 'Stabbing' of Passenger Sparks FBI Investigation: Report

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into the stabbing of a passenger aboard a cruise ship on its return voyage to Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday night.

According to a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines, the company that owns the cruise ship where the incident took place, the passenger was traveling on board the Carnival Magic and was on the return leg of the cruise when they were stabbed in the ship's theater.

The Carnival Magic ship was on an eight-day cruise to Canada and New England.

"There was an incident on Carnival Magic on Friday evening involving a guest attacking another guest with a bar glass while in the theater," said a statement by Carnival Cruise Lines sent to Newsweek . "The victim received treatment from the medical team, and the assailant was confined to his room for the remainder of the cruise."

The victim's identity has not yet been revealed to the public. Their condition, as well as the severity of their wounds, is not yet known.

The passenger who stabbed the other was permanently banned from sailing on any other Carnival cruise ships in the future. According to the company's protocol, a security team member should have sat outside the room.

"The FBI and local law enforcement were contacted and came on board the ship upon its arrival to Norfolk on Sunday morning to conduct an investigation," the Carnival Cruise Lines' statement reads. "Carnival security and medical officials fully cooperated with law enforcement should the guest decide to press charges. We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior and the assailant guest has been permanently banned from sailing on Carnival in the future but this is now a matter for law enforcement."

• Man, 76, fatally crushed between parked cars during police chase
• I live half my life on cruise ships and have been to 108 countries so far
• Cruise ship sets sail and does the "unthinkable" due to strict maritime law

Earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Lines announced it was going to beef up security aboard its ships amid an increase in unruly behavior.

A spokesperson for the FBI told Newsweek : "I can confirm FBI Norfolk is investigating an assault on the cruise ship. The FBI typically has jurisdiction to investigate incidents on the high seas, and works to collect the evidence and facts of cases. I have no further details beyond that to provide at this time."

Newsweek contacted the Norfolk police for comment by email on Monday.

The cruise was the Carnival Magic's last trip of the year for Norfolk. The cruise ship has one last trip to the Caribbean this year, after which it will not be back until 2025.

Another passenger aboard the cruise ship told 3WTKR that she witnessed the incident in the theater, which she described as "terrifying."

"Out of nowhere, we heard this horrifying scream, multiple screams, louder than the production itself," she told the television station, explaining that the incident happened during a production.

"When they turned on the light, everybody on that side of the theater was scampering around moving trying to get out of the way," the passenger said. "We were on the opposite side of the theater and had no idea what was happening over there, but I knew it wasn't anything good."

Update 10/24/23, 4:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comments from Carnival Cruise Lines and the FBI.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer

Giulia Carbonaro is a Newsweek Reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. and European politics, global affairs and housing. She has covered the ups and downs of the U.S. housing market extensively, as well as given in-depth insights into the unfolding war in Ukraine. Giulia joined Newsweek in 2022 from CGTN Europe and had previously worked at the European Central Bank. She is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University. Languages: English, Italian, French.

You can get in touch with Giulia by emailing [email protected].

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

• Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
• Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
• Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
• Comment on articles
• Newsweek app updates on-the-go

Top stories

Morehouse College Gives Update on Biden Commencement Amid Revolt

America's Retirement Dream is Dying

Russia Loses Control of Key Island

How Playboy Model Blew Lid On Donald Trump Payments