Local News

Catalina Island Carnival Cruise passenger death investigation underway after woman fatally falls

By Julie Sharp

April 28, 2026 / 3:05 PM PDT / CBS LA

CBS News Los Angeles

Officials with Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the death of a 24-year-old female passenger who fell from her room's balcony and onto a deck below early Monday morning.

As the Carnival Firenze ship was at Catalina Island on Monday, law enforcement was on board to investigate. The FBI is also assisting with the death investigation.

The approximately 1,000-foot ship was on a cruise from Long Beach, traveling to Catalina Island before continuing to Ensenada, Mexico.

"The female guest was traveling with family who alerted the ship's crew of the situation," Carnival said in a statement, noting 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," Carnival said in a statement.

The woman has been identified as Briana Miller, 24.

Julie Sharp

Julie Sharp is a digital producer at CBS Los Angeles. She is a South Bay native and majored in print journalism at Cal State University Long Beach. Julie previously reported for the Beach Reporter, contributed to the Palos Verdes Pulse and worked as a video journalist for CBS News before joining the CBS News Los Angeles website team.