The Royal Caribbean Group faces a wrongful death lawsuit over alcohol served on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise.<\/p>\n
Dulcie White, 66, went overboard Oct. 22, 2024. A year later, her body is still missing at sea. White’s family blames the crew of “Allure of the Seas.”<\/p>\n
Drink package cited in lawsuit<\/p>\n
Royal Caribbean offers passengers “unlimited alcoholic beverages” on a deluxe drink package that costs an additional fee.<\/p>\n
White purchased the package, her daughter Megan Klewin said.<\/p>\n
“Because of that (drink package, White) did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money’s worth,” Klewin said. “She was completely intoxicated in a way I haven’t seen before. It saddens me that that is my last memory of her.”<\/p>\n
White and Klewin took a girl’s trip on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise, Klewin said.<\/p>\n
Crew served seven drinks in hours<\/p>\n
Royal Caribbean’s crew on board the ship served White “seven alcoholic beverages continually within a span of approximately six hours and eight minutes,” according to a lawsuit Klewin and her family filed on behalf of White’s estate in Miami-Dade County on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit also claims staff ignored White’s slurring speech, swaying, stammering, and struggling to stand up. A passenger noticed White’s behavior and helped her to her cabin, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
Daughter saw mother on balcony<\/p>\n
Once inside the cabin, Klewin saw White go toward the balcony. White and her daughter kept their luggage on the balcony to create more space in their cabin, Klewin said.<\/p>\n
“I assumed that’s what she was doing was going to check her suitcase,” Klewin said. “I wasn’t looking and the next chance that I did look up, I saw her back. She was seated on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up. She was seated and then fell over before I could get to her.”<\/p>\n
Ship did not attempt rescue<\/p>\n
The cruise ship never turned around or used rescue boats, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group sent a statement that said, “We don’t comment on pending litigation.”<\/p>\n
Family seeks accountability, not payout<\/p>\n
“It will haunt us for the rest of our lives,” Klewin said. “I feel the overconsumption of alcohol and the over service of alcohol was the cause of this.”<\/p>\n
“These crew members are incentivized to continue to serve them because that’s how they make their tips.”<\/p>\n
Attorney Spencer Aronfeld said the High Seas Act limits any potential winnings in court. However, he said Dulcie White’s family wants accountability.<\/p>\n
“I think a victory in this case would be if Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, decide to discontinue these all-you-can-drink (alcohol) drink packages.”<\/p>\n
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