New York Family Sues Royal Caribbean After Intoxicated Passenger Falls Overboard on Allure of the Seas
The family of Dulcie White, a cruise passenger who died after falling overboard on the Allure of the Seas, has filed a maritime wrongful death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Group in the Southern District of Florida. The case, Case No. 1:25-cv-24972-WPD, was brought by her widower, Terry White, as personal representative of her estate, and her daughter, Megan Klewin, who witnessed the incident.
Family Alleges Royal Caribbean Over-Served Alcohol Before Fatal Overboard Incident on Allure of the Seas
According to the complaint, Dulcie White was a paying passenger on a themed “Taylor Swift Cruise” sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas in October 2024. The lawsuit alleges that over the course of roughly six hours on the day of her death, Royal Caribbean bartenders served Dulcie at least seven alcoholic drinks, despite visible signs of intoxication including slurred speech, glassy eyes, and an unsteady gait. She was reportedly observed by crew and other passengers as being heavily intoxicated hours before the fatal fall.
The suit claims that Royal Caribbean’s crewmembers continued to serve her alcohol in violation of maritime duties and internal safety procedures. That evening, after returning to her cabin, Dulcie fell overboard from her balcony. The complaint alleges that she was so impaired by alcohol that she could not safely navigate the space or appreciate the risk of her surroundings. Her daughter, who witnessed the fall, immediately notified ship personnel, but no rescue was attempted in time to recover her.
Cruise Line Accused of Failing to Conduct Search and Rescue After Overboard Incident
The lawsuit further alleges that Allure of the Seas failed to initiate a timely and adequate man overboard (MOB) response, despite being notified by Dulcie’s daughter and having surveillance footage of the fall. According to the complaint, the ship did not execute a Williamson turn, deploy a rescue vessel, or activate a formal MOB protocol. Royal Caribbean allegedly delayed notifying maritime authorities and failed to inform nearby vessels or family members about the status of the search.
The plaintiffs argue that Royal Caribbean was required under maritime law, U.S. Coast Guard regulations, and international safety protocols to attempt a rescue or locate Dulcie in a timely fashion. Her body was never recovered. The suit alleges that the cruise line’s lack of action violated both internal safety standards and external legal obligations, including provisions of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA), SOLAS, and the International Safety Management Code.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleges Negligent Overservice of Alcohol and Failure to Prevent Balcony Fall
The lawsuit argues that Royal Caribbean deliberately encourages excessive alcohol consumption through its marketing and all-you-can-drink “Cheers” beverage packages, while failing to monitor passenger intoxication levels. It further claims that the cruise line designed its vessels—including balcony areas—in a way that creates foreseeable hazards when intoxicated passengers are present. The presence of lounge chairs near balcony rails allegedly reduced the effective barrier height, increasing the risk of falls.
The family contends that Royal Caribbean knew or should have known of the risks posed by intoxicated passengers and had a duty to intervene, escort Dulcie to her cabin safely, or refuse further alcohol service. The complaint draws attention to the cruise industry’s history of overboard deaths and claims Royal Caribbean has failed to invest in available detection technologies and safety features to reduce such risks.
Daughter Files Emotional Distress Claim After Witnessing Mother Fall Overboard on Cruise Ship
In addition to the wrongful death claim, the lawsuit includes a count for negligent infliction of emotional distress on behalf of Dulcie’s daughter, Megan Klewin. The complaint states that Klewin was physically present on the balcony when her mother fell and tried to prevent the incident. She was allegedly placed in immediate danger herself during the incident and has suffered lasting psychological trauma including depression, insomnia, and anxiety. The complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean’s negligence caused this harm by creating and failing to mitigate the hazardous conditions that led to the overboard event.
Cruise Ship Overboard Incidents Linked to Alcohol May Involve Cruise Line Liability
Cruise passengers who suffer injury or death due to over-service of alcohol and subsequent falls overboard may have legal recourse under U.S. maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to supervise intoxicated guests, limit alcohol service, and initiate immediate rescue operations when a man overboard situation arises. If a family member was lost at sea or you witnessed a preventable cruise tragedy, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for wrongful death, emotional damages, or negligent rescue.
Contact us today to speak with a cruise ship wrongful death attorney.
Disclaimer:
Our firm does not represent the plaintiffs in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
