Update: Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed with TMZ that all guests have been accounted for aboard Carnival Radiance.
The cruise line stated, “The crew completed a full guest and crew headcount as is our standard safety protocol and all guests and crew have been accounted for. The splash could have very well been a whale but there is no way to confirm that. In any case, all on board are accounted for and the ship will resume its itinerary.”
Original article:
Carnival Radiance stopped off the coast of Baja California on November 20, 2025 after passengers reported that someone went overboard during the ship’s return to Long Beach, California. The overboard incident first surfaced on Reddit, where guests onboard began sharing real-time updates as the ship initiated emergency procedures.
TMZ has also confirmed with Carnival Cruise Line that an overboard incident has occurred onboard and crew members are responding to the emergency. The ship turned back toward a potential sighting in the water to conduct the rescue operation.
Passengers told TMZ the individual was supposedly watching dolphins near the back of the ship before going overboard.
AIS tracking on CruiseMapper.com confirms the ship has reversed its planned course. Carnival Radiance is currently sailing at just 2 knots while authorities coordinate the response. Nearby, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas also appears to be assisting, based on the ship’s close proximity.
The ship was sailing a 4-day Baja Mexico itinerary from Long Beach to Ensenada and back when the guest was reported overboard. Carnival Radiance is scheduled to return to Long Beach, California tomorrow, November 21, 2025.
One Reddit user noted that the ship “will stay there until the local authorities say they can go,” while several others reported that the crew had already ordered a full shipwide head count, instructing guests to return to their cabins.
Another commenter onboard wrote: “Same. I’m on Radiance right now awaiting headcount.”
Additionally, passengers onboard Carnival Radiance also reported that many onboard activities were halted during the emergency. According to one user, “They’re refunding at least everyone who participated in bingo… I’d assume the same for dinner or slot bonuses.”
Overboard incidents are rare, but they do happen
It’s extremely rare for a cruise passenger to go overboard, and survival rates are low. According to CLIA data covering 2009–2019, there were 212 overboard cases involving passengers and crew, with only 48 people (28%) successfully rescued. Most individuals were never recovered.
The report shows the rate of overboard events has declined by 64% over that decade, dropping to just 0.00004 incidents per lower berth in 2019.
CLIA also notes that nearly all confirmed causes involved intentional or reckless actions, though some cases couldn’t be definitively explained. Across the 10-year period, 66% of incidents involved passengers, while 33% involved crew.
About Carnival Radiance
Carnival Radiance is one of Carnival Cruise Line’s Sunshine-class ships and sails year-round from Long Beach, California. The ship, formerly known as Carnival Victory, was transformed and fully rebuilt with a $200 million bow-to-stern renovation before debuting as Carnival Radiance in 2021.
The ship carries roughly 2,900 guests and operates some of Carnival’s most popular short Baja Mexico itineraries, typically visiting Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina Island on 3- and 4-day sailings.
As part of its redesign, Carnival Radiance received upgraded staterooms, new dining venues like Cucina del Capitano and Guy’s Pig & Anchor, an expanded WaterWorks with more waterslides, and refreshed public spaces throughout the ship.
