A federal judge has found that Carnival Cruise Line is not responsible for the death of a 33-year-old mother-of-four who fell overboard from one of its ships in 2016.

Carnival Cruise Line will not be held liable for the death of Samantha Broberg, who died in May 2016 after falling from a Carnival Liberty cruise ship.

Her husband Karl Broberg sued Carnival last year, alleging that cruise line had not protected his wife and continued to serve her drinks when she was visibly intoxicated.

On the night of her death, which occurred just 13 hours after she set sail for the four-day Caribbean cruise, Broberg had consumed at least seven double vodka-sodas and two beers.

Carnival Cruise Line has been found not responsible for the death of Samantha Broberg (pictured with husband Karl), 33, who fell overboard from one of its ships in 2016

Carnival Cruise Line will not be held liable for the death of Samantha Broberg, who died in May 2016 after falling from a Carnival Liberty cruise ship (pictured)

Around 2.04am on May 13, Broberg stepped on a lounge chair so that she could sit on the ship's railing. She then fell into the water.

But Carnival Liberty's crew did not realize she had gone overboard until 15 hours later after reviewing the boat's security footage. Broberg's body was never found.

Karl Broberg claimed that Carnival had violated the Cruise Vessel Security Act, which requires ships to install automatic overboard detection technology.

The judge dismissed the claim prior to trial.

Broberg's lawyers presented video, photos, and drink receipts in their efforts to prove that the mother, who was from Galveston, Texas, had been visibly drunk.

Curtis Mase, the attorney for Carnival, argued that Broberg was a 'functioning alcoholic', according to the Miami Herald.

Her husband Karl Broberg sued Carnival last year, alleging that cruise line had not protected his wife and continued to serve her drinks when she was visibly intoxicated

On the night of her death, which occurred just 13 hours after she set sail for the four-day Caribbean cruise, Broberg had consumed at least seven double vodka-sodas and two beers

He argued that Carnival continued to serve her drinks because employees did not realize she was dangerously intoxicated.

'Someone who goes totally off the wagon bears responsibility,' Mase added. 'Just because she'd been drinking all day doesn't make you a danger to yourself.'

Federal judge Federico Moreno said the case was 'very sad' but that Carnival 'cannot be held responsible for what it did not know'.

Carnival releasead a statement following Moreno's ruling, saying the decision 'acknowledges the facts of this case'.

Carnival Liberty's crew did not realize she had gone overboard until 15 hours later after reviewing the boat's security footage

Video showed Broberg stepping on a lounge chair next to sit on the ship's railing. She then fell into the water

'Our thoughts remain with the Broberg family and out of respect, we will have no further comment,' the statement read.

The Coast Guard spent nearly three days and covered 4,300 sq miles in the desperate search for Broberg after she went missing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Broberg's two friends had notified staff that she was missing - first sparking a ship-wide search.