Tragedy At Sea As Carnival Cruiser Falls To Her Death

A ripple of sadness washed over the cruise community tonight as news spread that a passenger aboard the Carnival Elation had fallen from her balcony and to her death. Although some at first hoped it might prove to be a rumor, the news was sadly confirmed by Carnival Cruise Line late Friday evening.

Little Is Known At This Point

Carnival spokeswoman Christine de la Huerta confirmed the tragic news in a statement. “A guest fell from her balcony to several decks below,” it read in part. “The ship’s medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family.”

The statement from Carnival also indicated that all proper authorities had been contacted and that support was being offered to both the family of the woman as well as any traumatized passengers on board.

The Carnival Elation had departed Jacksonville, Florida — where it is presently based — on a four-day sailing to the Bahamas on Thursday.

The victim’s personal information was not released as of Friday night. But as details become available, it’s important to keep in mind that a life was cut tragically short. In the days to come, questions will arise regarding the circumstances. People will ask how this happened, and some will look to assign blame, whether to the cruise line or the woman whose vacation turned into a nightmare for her friends and loved ones. As we send our thoughts and prayers to everyone involved, we also hope that our fellow cruisers will keep the woman’s family in their hearts and minds even as they discuss the incident.