A woman plunged overboard the MSC Meraviglia off the coast of Florida and died (Picture: Getty Images)

A woman died after going overboard a cruise ship – and passengers who were not let off the ship when it docked appeared to get into a massive brawl.

The unnamed 36-year-old passenger fell off the MSC Meraviglia around 5am on Thursday as it was about 18 miles off of Port Canaveral in Florida on the way back from the Bahamas.

Coast guard crews searched for the woman using a 45-foot vessel and a chopper. A pilot boat found her body around 7.30am.

‘Unfortunately, despite the rapid rescue operation, the passenger sustained fatal injuries,’ stated MSC Cruises.

‘We are offering our full support to authorities as they investigate this matter. We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincerest condolences to the family and those affected.’

It was not immediately clear what caused the woman to go overboard.

Video obtained by the Daily Mail showed passengers fighting when they were not allowed to get off the cruise when it arrived at the port.

US Customs and Border Protection officials at the port arrested several passengers, the news outlet reported.

Witnesses said the woman’s body was uncovered in the back of a pickup truck next to the cruise ship.

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Cruise ship passengers were recorded fighting when they were not allowed to disembark after the woman died.