Woman in New York was given too much alcohol before she fell overboard on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise.

Family Sues Cruise Line After Mother’s Overboard Incident

A New York mother tragically fell overboard during a Taylor Swift-themed Royal Caribbean cruise, leading her family to accuse the crew of serving her too much alcohol. They have filed a wrongful death lawsuit following the incident that occurred a year ago.

Dulcie White, 66, vanished while on the Allure of the Seas, according to her family. The cruise was headed to the Bahamas when she fell. The family made their announcement about the lawsuit on Tuesday.

Originally from Westmoreland, New York, White was reportedly intoxicated when she fell from a balcony during the cruise with her daughter, Megan Klewin, on October 22, 2024, about 27 miles from Nassau.

Klewin mentioned that her mother purchased an “unlimited alcoholic drinks” package to enjoy the voyage fully. The lawsuit claims that White was served seven consecutive drinks over a period of a little over six hours.

“I think that really pushed her to try and get her money’s worth,” Klewin shared. She recalled that it was difficult to see her mother so inebriated, saying, “I’m sad that this is the last memory I have of her.”

The lawsuit further alleges that crew members ignored signs of White’s intoxication. According to their lawyer, Spencer Aaronfeld, White exhibited slurred speech, had cloudy eyes, and smelled of alcohol in front of the crew who were responsible for her care.

“The crew’s negligence in continuing to serve her while clearly intoxicated is concerning,” Aaronfeld stated.

After another passenger assisted White back to her cabin around 7:30 p.m., she and her daughter moved their belongings onto the balcony to create more space. Klewin thought her mother was retrieving clothes from her bag, but when she glanced back, she saw White climbing onto the railing facing the water.

“I assumed she was just checking on her suitcase,” Klewin said. “When I looked again, she was on the edge. I couldn’t get to her in time before she fell.”

White went missing around 9:40 p.m., but her family claims the ship did not initiate a search or dispatch a rescue boat. Two helicopters from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the U.S. Coast Guard joined the search, but sadly, her body was never recovered.

“This is something that will haunt us forever,” Klewin reflected. “I believe this is all tied to excessive alcohol and service.”

Klewin criticized the crew for prioritizing profit over safety, stating, “They’re incentivized to keep serving drinks to earn tips.”

Aaronfeld cautioned about the risks associated with cruise lines offering “unlimited alcoholic beverages” at sea. He argued that Royal Caribbean was not merely selling drinks, but also potentially endangering lives, saying, “This isn’t just an accident; it highlights a troubling trend in the industry.”

The lawsuit was filed by White’s husband, Terry, on behalf of her estate in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Miami, Florida. “If Royal Caribbean, along with others in the industry, reconsider these unlimited drink packages, maybe this case could signal a positive change,” Aaronfeld suggested.