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FLORIDA - A Florida family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Group after 66-year-old Dulcie White allegedly fell overboard from the Allure of the Seas during a Taylor Swift-themed cruise in October 2024.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County, claims that White was overserved alcohol by crew members before her death.
According to court filings, White purchased an unlimited drink package offered by the cruise line.
Over a six-hour period, she was allegedly served seven alcoholic beverages despite showing visible signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and difficulty standing.
The lawsuit states that a fellow passenger helped White back to her cabin, where she was last seen by her daughter, Megan Klewin, before falling from the balcony.
White’s body was never recovered, and her family alleges the ship failed to turn around or deploy rescue boats after she went overboard.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Attorneys representing White’s estate argue that the company and its crew neglected their duty to ensure passenger safety and failed to intervene when White’s level of intoxication became apparent.
They claim that the all-you-can-drink policy onboard encourages overconsumption of alcohol.
The lawsuit seeks accountability under maritime law but notes that damages may be limited by the Death on the High Seas Act.
The family’s attorney said their goal is not financial gain but to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.