Carnival Firenze© Carnival Cruise Line

A woman who plunged to her death on a Carnival Cruise ship on Monday morning was reportedly arguing with her family moments before she jumped to her death.

One source familiar with the case said the FBI is still investigating the incident, which occurred aboard the Carnival Firenze. The source told The California Post the woman was identified as 24-year-old Briana Miller, and she jumped from her stateroom balcony before hitting the deck below.

Julie Leonardi, spokesperson for Carnival, confirmed the passenger’s death and added that the victim was traveling with her family, who alerted the ship’s crew of the horrific incident. “As is customary following these kinds of incidents, law enforcement was on board while the ship was in Catalina Island on Monday to collect information,” Leonard said.

A private investigator by the name of Kelly Duhs, who was also aboard the ship at the time of the incident, said that members of the ship’s staff told her that the victim had been fighting with her family before ending her life. “It’s horrible,” she told the outlet.

It was stated by a law enforcement officer that Miller’s body had been transported from the ship on Monday and that her family had left the same day. Reports later that day indicated that FBI agents boarded the ship to investigate the matter.

The source told The California Post the woman was identified as 24-year-old Briana Miller, and she jumped from her stateroom balcony before hitting the deck below.© Getty Images

“The FBI responded to the ship when it docked in Catalina Island on Monday and is investigating an incident on board which resulted in death,” FBI spokesperson Lourdes Arocho told The Post. “More specific details are not being provided at this time as the investigation is ongoing.”

It was reported that the Carnival Firenze sailed out of Long Beach on Sunday and holds up to 4,126 guests and 1,425 crew members. Accroding to Carnival’s website, the boat is 1,061 feet long.

It was stated by a law enforcement officer that Miller’s body had been transported from the ship on Monday and that her family had left the same day© Corbis via Getty Images

Fatal voyage

It was previously reported that the boat was heading to Mexico when the woman died. The ship’s “Terrazza staterooms”are described as a “stylish, comfy place to unwind from all the fun,” according to the cruise line.

The rooms also come with access to a private deck. Leonardi said the cruise line’s “Care Team” is supporting the woman’s family.

It was previously reported that the boat was heading to Mexico when the woman died© Corbis via Getty Images

She said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.” The death of Miller also marks the second cruise-related death this year.

The incident comes just months after 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon, leading authorities to arrest and charge her stepbrother with murder. Harrowing details about the November killing of Kepner on a Carnival cruise ship came to light months after she was allegedly murdered.

Kepner, an 18-year-old high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, was discovered dead beneath a bed in her cabin on a Carnival Horizon ship. The teen had been vacationing with her family at the time, including her father, Chris Kepner, stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, her step-siblings and grandparents.

Her death was ruled as mechanical asphyxia, and her 16-year-old stepbrother, with whom she had been sharing a cabin aboard the cruise ship, was identified as a suspect in the death. Few details were revealed about the case until February 2025, when authorities announced they had charged the stepbrother with homicide in connection to Kepner’s death.