Horror at sea as police investigate sexual assault onboard Carnival cruise ship
The Carnival Breeze ship departed from Galveston, Texas, for a five-day cruise to Cozumel and Progreso on Monday afternoon.
It remains unclear when the alleged incident took place.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation told Daily Mail in a statement: ' FBI Houston is aware of allegations of sexual assault that occurred on the Carnival Breeze cruise ship which docked in Galveston on 07/28/2025.
'As is customary with crimes aboard a cruise ship, an FBI Maritime Liaison Agent, based out of the Texas City Resident Agency, is coordinating with the US Coast Guard (USCG), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the cruise line regarding this incident.
'Also keeping in line with case reviews or open investigations, the FBI will not be providing additional details or updates regarding these matters.'
Carnival Cruise Lines said in a statement to KHOU 11: 'Matters of potential criminal conduct, should they occur, are turned over to local law enforcement for their review. We will defer to the appropriate agency for further comment.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Carnival Cruise Lines for comment.
The investigation into the incident comes just days after a separate investigation was launched into the death of a holidaymaker on the Carnival Dream on July 23.
The Dream was out at sea around the Western Caribbean after leaving from Galveston, Texas, when passengers were awoken from their sleep to alarms blaring at around 3am.
One anonymous passenger told the outlet that she had heard an announcement calling for medical assistance on the Serenity Deck of the ship.
The Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office identified the deceased passenger to KHOU 11 as Euvelester Villarreal Jr., 48, of Rio Grande City, Texas.
Passengers had also told the outlet that they saw federal agents board the ship while disembarking on Saturday.
Speculation about what unfolded onboard has also started circulating online, with one woman claiming the man was attacked.
Amanda Meadows shared a video to her Facebook saying she was onboard the ship at the time, and woke up to the alarms and decided to investigate.
She said she had tried to go to an upper deck to vape but was told she couldn't by staff. Meadows claims she then mentioned going to the casino, but again staff said she couldn't go there either, and told her to return to her room.
Meadows said she returned to her room and after leaving some time later, she claims a staff member approached her and told her somebody had been attacked.
She added: 'They said someone was attacked on the ship and they lost their life because they won in the gambling place.'
A statement from Carnival on the death investigation said: 'There is no investigation about a suspicious death on Carnival Dream and it's disappointing to learn that any guests might be spreading rumors about something they know nothing about.'
After the FBI said they were probing the death, the operator said: 'It is standard practice for the FBI to review deaths that occur on cruise ships.
'This routine protocol ensures transparency. It does not automatically imply suspicious circumstances, and the facts of this matter do not suggest any such activity.
'We extend our heartfelt sympathy to our guest's family and loved ones in this difficult time.'
A spokesperson for the FBI Houston office said: 'I can confirm FBI Houston is aware of an incident that occurred around July 23, 2025 on the Carnival Dream cruise ship.
'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.
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