The FBI is looking into the deaths that occurred on the Carnival Dream Cruise ship. An FBI spokesperson from the Houston office shared that the incident took place on July 23rd while the ship was near Belize City during its six-day journey through the Western Caribbean, returning to Galveston, Texas, on Saturday.
The spokesperson mentioned that the FBI Maritime Liaison Agent from the Texas City Resident Agency is working with the US Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and the Cruise Lines involved. However, they couldn’t disclose many details because the investigation is still ongoing.
A representative from Carnival confirmed the deaths to Fox News Digital, stating that it’s standard procedure for the FBI to verify deaths occurring on cruise ships.
“This routine protocol ensures transparency,” the Carnival spokesperson emphasized. “It doesn’t automatically mean something suspicious has occurred, and the details so far don’t indicate such a situation. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families affected during this tough time.”
The FBI also noted that it is the primary federal agency authorized to investigate possible crimes that happen on the high seas.
On the day of the incident, a passenger mentioned to a local news outlet that they were awakened by a siren around 3 or 4 a.m. There was an announcement requesting medical help on the adult-only Serenity deck.
The ship can accommodate up to 3,646 passengers and had made two stops in Mexico on this trip when the incident occurred.
According to CruiseMapper.com, the Carnival Dream was set to dock in Key West, Florida, as part of its itinerary to the Bahamas.
