Woman falls to her death aboard Carnival cruise ship near Catalina Island

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The death of a woman who apparently fell from a balcony in her stateroom aboard a Carnival Cruise Line vessel near Catalina Island is under investigation Tuesday.

"Carnival confirmed the death of a Carnival Firenze guest who apparently went over the balcony of her stateroom early Monday morning and landed on a deck below," according to Julie Leonardi, senior public relations manager for the cruise line. "The female guest was traveling with family who alerted the ship's crew of the situation."

The Carnival Firenze, an approximately 1,000-foot ship, was on a cruise from Catalina to Ensenada, Mexico.

The dead woman's name and age were not immediately available, and the circumstances of her fall were under investigation. Carnival says her family is off the ship and back home.

It's unclear if there was any family dispute the night she fell.

"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," Leonardi said. "The family is now off the ship and has returned home. Carnival's Care Team is supporting the guest's family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one."

The FBI did respond to the ship and was investigating the reported death, a spokesperson for the bureau said in an email to ABC7.

The ship left Long Beach on Sunday night, several hours behind schedule, according to passengers. They say the fall was reported around 2 a.m. Monday, meaning it happened within the first few hours of the trip.

Eyewitness News on Tuesday afternoon spoke to a passenger who is currently on board the ship. She's concerned that passengers haven't been updated with any official message from the cruise line.

"We hear about this happening. We never think that we're going to be on the ship," passenger Kelly Duhs said. "It's very disturbing and sad."

"There's a lot of older people on this ship that are concerned. They don't know what happened," Duhs added. "Was she thrown over the side? Did she accidentally fall over the side? Did something criminal happen?"

The ship is set to return to Long Beach Thursday.

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