Key Aspects:
- The deceased guest onboard Carnival Horizon over the weekend has been identified as 18-year-old Anna Kepner.
- Kepner was a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida with strong ties to the community.
- The investigation into Kepner’s death is ongoing and no cause of death has yet been confirmed.
While few details have yet been confirmed about the deceased passenger aboard Carnival Horizon‘s recent sailing, family members have come forward to identify their lost loved one as Anna Kepner.
The 18-year-old high school senior was from Titusville, Florida, where she attended Temple Christian School, a private, faith-based school founded in 1994.
According to local news, Talk of Titusville, Kepner was slated to graduate in May and had just completed testing to join the US military before the family cruise vacation.
Kepner was found unresponsive aboard the Vista-class Carnival Horizon during the ship’s November 2, 2025 sailing, a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary that included a relief supply stop (but not a port visit) in Jamaica.
Following a medical emergency alert to Deck 8 near the end of the sailing, she was confirmed as deceased before the ship returned to Miami.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was alerted to the incident and has begun investigating Kepner’s death. Carnival Cruise Line is cooperating in every way with the investigation.
Because the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not released any details about Kepner’s cause of death or if there are any leads about the incident. It may be some time before the investigation is complete.
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There has been no delay to Carnival Horizon, and the ship began its next cruise, an 8-night Southern Caribbean “ABC” voyage on Saturday, November 8.
Teen Remembered by School and Community
Kepner is described by her school administrators as a “bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom.” She was high-achieving and had plans for her future that have now been abruptly cut short.
She had previously attended Titusville High School, but transferred to Temple Christian School over the summer for her senior year. She was a varsity cheerleader, had earned both her boater’s license and scuba certification, and worked at a local aquarium supply store.
“She was always smiling,” her employer said in a Facebook post. “There won’t be a single day that goes by that we don’t think of her and remember all the good times we shared.”
Gentle, curious, kind, sweet, selfless, compassionate, and caring are other attributes ascribed to Kepner, who was honored on Monday morning at Temple Christian School with tributes on her car in the senior students’ parking area.
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Flowers, toys, and balloons show off Kepner’s bright spirit and the love of her classmates and teachers.
“I want to thank everyone that came out this morning for Anna and her family. The parking lot was full of so many that knew and loved her,” commented Andrea Stoner, the school’s administrator.
Temple Christian School is providing support to any students with counseling services. Carnival Cruise Line is likewise supporting the family as the investigation continues.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with Kepner’s family, friends, and classmates at this very difficult time.
