FBI Investigating Incident Aboard Carnival Dream Cruise Ship

GALVESTON, Texas — Federal authorities have launched a death investigation aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship, which operates out of Galveston, Texas.

While details remain limited, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Houston office confirmed the agency is aware of an incident that occurred around July 23 while the vessel was at sea.

“An FBI maritime liaison agent, based out of the Texas City Resident Agency, is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and the cruise line regarding this incident,” the FBI said in a statement.

It has not been confirmed whether the death is being investigated as a criminal matter.

The Carnival Dream is a weeklong cruise that departs from Galveston and makes stops in Costa Maya, Belize, and Cozumel before returning to Texas. Passengers aboard the ship reported waking up around 3 or 4 a.m. to the sound of emergency sirens. One passenger said an announcement over the intercom called for medical assistance at the Serenity Deck.

In the days since, speculation has circulated online, with guests sharing unverified theories about the nature of the incident. Carnival Cruise Line pushed back against the rumors.

“There is no investigation about a suspicious death on the Carnival Dream, and it’s disappointing to learn that many guests might be spreading rumors about something they know nothing about,” the company said in a statement to Houston news outlet KHOU.

The FBI serves as the lead federal agency in investigating crimes at sea, but jurisdiction can depend on the ship’s location, the origin and destination of the voyage, and the nationalities of those involved.

The investigation remains ongoing.