Royal Caribbean is facing a lawsuit claiming the ship crew was culpable for a woman going overboard during a Taylor Swift-themed Caribbean cruise.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges Dulcie White was overserved alcohol even when she was clearly inebriated.
She later went overboard from her stateroom balcony.
The 66-year-old’s body was never recovered from the ocean. White, of Westmoreland, NY, was a guest on Allure of the Seas mega ship, sharing a stateroom with her daughter.
Daughter Megan Klewin said her mother had purchased an unlimited alcoholic beverage package. This is a major factor in the complaint.
Family Claims Woman Still Served After Being Clearly Intoxicated
“Because of that she did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money’s worth,” Klewin said in an interview with CBS News. “She was completely intoxicated in a way I haven’t seen before. It saddens me that that is my last memory of her.”
The lawsuit says White was exhibiting signs of intoxication, but the crew continued serving her. The family’s lawyer, Spencer Aronfeld, alleged the crew was negligent for “continuing to serve her alcoholic beverages in her intoxicated state.”
“It will haunt us for the rest of our lives. I feel the overconsumption of alcohol and the over service of alcohol was the cause of this,” Kewin said. “These crew members are incentivized to continue to serve them because that’s how they make their tips.”
The family claimed the ship wasn’t turned around, and no rescue boats were deployed after the ship crew was informed of the overboard incident.
Later, air crews from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the US Coast Guard searched.
“The days of profiting from over-service while passengers die at sea are over,” Aronfeld said. Royal Caribbean Group responded to the lawsuit: “We don’t comment on pending litigation.”
Royal Caribbean offers a choice of inclusive beverage packages with the Deluxe package allowing guests to “enjoy bottomless beverages.” It advises all guests to “please drink responsibly.”
It should be noted that Taylor Swift had no affiliation with this cruise, as it was a fan-organized sailing.
