FBI Investigating Death of Florida Teen on Carnival Cruise Headed to Caribbean
MIAMI, FLORIDA (November 12, 2025) – An 18-year-old Florida woman has tragically died while on a Carnival Horizon cruise ship that was headed to the Caribbean.
Florida officials are saying that the death occurred over the weekend. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has started investigating the death after the ship returned to Miami on Saturday.
The victim was described as a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville. There are very few details on what may have contributed to the death.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Deaths Aboard Carnival Cruise Ships
Many people have enjoyed going on cruise ships in three years, especially as pandemic-era limitations have lifted. But many of these trips have resulted in passengers being seriously injured or killed. According to one study in the International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, there were an estimated 623 reported deaths on cruise ships between the years 2000 and 2019. Falling into the water or onto lower decks was one of the leading causes of death. Companies that operate commercial cruises should take a number of measures to protect passengers.
- Fall Protection: Cruise ships should ensure that they have compliant guardrails that meet or exceed all safety requirements.
- Prevention: Cruise ships should install anti-climb rail designs that restrict access to exterior portions of the boat.
- Emergency Preparedness: Cruise ship staff should be well trained to respond to all of the emergency situations that they could encounter.
- Maintenance: All of the premises and systems on cruise ships should be routinely inspected and well maintained.
Companies that operate cruise ships have a legal obligation to ensure that they are reasonably safe. A cruise ship can be liable for a dangerous condition on their property that leads to an accident. This could include situations where a broken rail leads to someone falling overboard. If a cruise ship has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition with the premises and fails to act, this could serve as evidence of negligence. It is important that certain actions are taken after any person dies on a cruise ship.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence related to the death should be carefully collected and preserved. It should include surveillance footage and any autopsy records.
- Investigation: The incident should be reported to the Coast Guard as soon as possible so that they can begin an investigation.
- Legal Review: The family of any person who died on a cruise ship should seek the guidance of an experienced wrongful death attorney. An attorney can examine the unique facts of any case and help identify all liable parties.
Accidents on cruise ships are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where cruise ships are not being properly maintained. It can be expensive to operate cruise ships. This is why it’s fairly common for companies to take shortcuts where possible to keep costs down. But in far too many situations, this leads to compromises with key safety measures. The family of any person who died in a cruise ship accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Miami Cruise Ship Accidents
We at GLK Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of the girl who died in this Carnival Horizon cruise incident. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the FBI. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar incidents can be prevented.
Have you or a family member been harmed aboard a Carnival Cruise ship? You may have legal recourse. Our team of cruise ship accident attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
