A Florida family is suing Royal Caribbean after 66-year-old Dulcie White fell overboard and was never found during a Taylor Swift–themed cruise aboard Allure of the Seas. What was meant to be a fun, five-day mother-daughter trip in October 2024 ended in tragedy — and now, the lawsuit claims the cruise line’s unlimited drink package and crew negligence played a direct role in her death.
A Mother, a Daughter, and a Devastating Night
According to the lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County, Dulcie had purchased Royal Caribbean’s unlimited alcoholic drink package, which typically costs about $80-$90 per day. Her daughter says she was just trying to “get her money’s worth.” Over the course of roughly six hours that afternoon, servers reportedly gave her seven drinks — even as she became visibly intoxicated, slurred her speech, and had trouble standing.
A fellow passenger eventually helped Dulcie back to her stateroom around 7:30 p.m. Megan says she thought her mom was simply stepping out to check a suitcase stored on their balcony when she last saw her. “I wasn’t looking, and the next time I did, I saw her back,” she told CBS News. “She was seated on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up… and then she fell before I could get to her.”
The ship was about 17 miles (27 km) from Nassau when Dulcie went overboard. What happened next — and how the ship responded — is now central to the family’s wrongful-death suit.
The Lawsuit: Over-Service and a Slow Response
Filed by Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, the complaint accuses Royal Caribbean of over-serving alcohol to a clearly intoxicated guest and failing to conduct an adequate search and rescue once she fell. It says the ship didn’t immediately turn around or launch any rescue boats after she fell.
Royal Caribbean, however, told multiple outlets that its crew “immediately launched a search and rescue effort and worked with local authorities.” Reports from the time show the U.S. Coast Guard, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and even nearby Royal Caribbean ships — including the Utopia of the Seas — joining the search. Still, after 15 hours, authorities called it off. Dulcie’s body was never recovered.
Her family’s attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, says they’re not chasing a big payout. Under the High Seas Act, damages in such cases are limited. “This is about accountability,” he told PEOPLE. “We hope this case pushes cruise lines to rethink the ‘all-you-can-drink’ business model.”
Why Drink Packages Are Under Scrutiny
Drink packages are one of cruising’s most popular add-ons. On Royal Caribbean ships, the “Deluxe Beverage Package” allows up to 15 alcoholic drinks every 24 hours for a flat fee — a deal many passengers love because it removes the worry of a growing bar tab. But that flat-rate structure can also encourage guests to “get their money’s worth,” especially on shorter sailings or themed party cruises.
Servers are trained to stop serving intoxicated guests, but the lawsuit argues that enforcement is inconsistent — particularly when crew members rely on drink sales and service tips. It’s a fine line: no one wants to ruin a guest’s vacation, yet overserving can have real consequences. As Klewin put it, “These crew members are incentivized to continue to serve them because that’s how they make their tips.”
The case raises a bigger question many cruisers are now asking: How much responsibility should the cruise line take for keeping passengers safe from themselves?
The Harsh Reality of Overboard Incidents
While rare, overboard cases are every cruise line’s worst nightmare. Large ships like Allure of the Seas — which can carry more than 5,000 guests — are equipped with advanced man-overboard sensors and trained protocols. But a single moment of risk, distraction, or impaired judgment can be fatal.
Once someone goes into the water, the odds of survival drop sharply within minutes. Even when the alarm is raised immediately, finding a person in the dark ocean is like looking for a needle in a haystack. That’s why the exact timing of the ship’s response is such a key issue in this case — every minute matters.
A Family’s Grief — and a Push for Change
For Megan Klewin, the pain goes far beyond the lawsuit. “It saddens me that my last memory of her was in that state,” she said. “It will haunt us for the rest of our lives.” Her family hopes the case will spark reforms across the cruise industry — not just at Royal Caribbean, but also Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, and others that promote similar “unlimited” packages.
Their lawyer’s goal is clear: to make the industry prioritize safety over sales. “We’re putting cruise lines on notice,” Aronfeld said. “The days of profiting from over-service while passengers die at sea need to end.”
Royal Caribbean, for its part, has declined to comment on pending litigation.
What This Means for Future Cruisers
For most cruisers, this tragedy is a reminder that while ships feel like carefree floating resorts, safety still depends on personal responsibility. Enjoying a few drinks on deck is part of the fun — but knowing your limits isn’t just about manners, it’s about staying safe at sea.
If you do buy a drink package, pace yourself, drink water between rounds, and look out for your travel companions. Don’t assume that bartenders, however well-trained, will always step in when someone’s had too much.
Cruises thrive on fun and celebration — and most trips end with nothing worse than a sunburn or a hangover. But as this heartbreaking story shows, even one night of going too far can change everything.
Related articles:
