Cruise Ship Deaths: Hundreds Occur Per Year, Here's What the Data Reveals
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The death of a passenger aboard the Carnival Dream last week has reignited scrutiny on safety standards and investigative protocols on cruise ships.
While hundreds of cruise ship deaths occur each year, that translates to roughly one death per 150,000 guests, according to analysis cited by Emma Cruises.
Why It Matters
As cruise vacations attract tens of millions annually, there's a renewed interest in the data behind the likelihood of dying aboard a cruise ship.
The FBI confirmed to Newsweek it was "aware of an incident that occurred around July 23, 2025, on the Carnival Dream cruise ship." Coordination is ongoing with the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the cruise line regarding the death of a 48-year-old Texas man.
Carnival Miracle, a 88,500 GT Spirit-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, sails the Tagus River after departure from the cruise terminal on June 03, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal.
Carnival Miracle, a 88,500 GT Spirit-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, sails the Tagus River after departure from the cruise terminal on June 03, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal.
Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
What To Know
The FBI is currently investigating the death of Euvelester Villarreal Jr. of Rio Grande City, Texas, aged 48.
Carnival Cruise told Fox 26 Houston that the FBI investigation is a standard protocol for all deaths that occur at sea and doesn't necessarily imply suspicious circumstances.
"It is standard practice for the FBI to review deaths that occur on cruise ships. This routine protocol ensures transparency," Carnival said in a statement. "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."
However, the death has sparked larger questions over your chances of dying at sea and the larger protocols of if a death occurs onboard a cruise ship.
Approximately 200 cruise ship deaths occur each year, according to Emma Cruises, but that number is likely underrepresented due to limited reporting requirements across international jurisdictions.
With 30 million passengers in 2019 alone, this translates to about one death per 150,000 guests or an average of three to four deaths each week.
Most deaths are natural, resulting from heart attacks or medical emergencies. However, accidents, suicides, and rare cases of violence contribute to the toll.
In addition to medical events, the cruise industry recorded 48 alleged crimes, from sexual assaults to serious bodily injuries, reported to the FBI between January and March 2025. This was considerably higher than pre-pandemic years.
High-profile cases, such as the disappearance of Amy Bradley from Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas in 1998, continue to drive public interest in how cruise lines and authorities respond to onboard incidents.
A report from John Foy & Associates Personal Injury Law discovered that Carnival Cruise Line had the most deaths between 2000 and 2019, but this could be in part because it remains one of the most popular cruise lines.
While 29 percent of reported passenger deaths occurred on Carnival ships, 12 percent of deaths happened on Royal Caribbean's cruises, and 10 percent took place on Norwegian.
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for the FBI told Newsweek in a statement: "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 (USCG), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the cruise line regarding this incident. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, I am not able to provide additional details at this time."
Carnival Cruise told Fox 26 Houston in a statement: "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."
What Happens Next
While the FBI, alongside U.S. maritime agencies, continues to investigate the Carnival Dream death, new details may emerge. Cruise lines will also need to navigate both industry regulations and public scrutiny in the wake of high-profile cases.
Passengers are urged to be aware of safety procedures and ensure proper travel insurance coverage in the event of medical emergencies.
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