FBI probes suspicious death of passenger on Carnival cruise ship

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.