Family Sues Royal Caribbean After 66-Year-Old Dulcie White Falls Overboard from Allure of the Seas and Remains Missing Since 2024

When Dulcie White, a 66-year-old mother and devoted fan of Taylor Swift, boarded Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas for a themed cruise celebrating the pop superstar, her family imagined it would be a joyous escape. Instead, the voyage ended in tragedy. White fell overboard in October 2024 and has never been found.

More than a year later, her daughter, Megan Klewin, has filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade County, accusing the cruise line of negligence, over-serving alcohol, and failing to prevent or properly respond to her mother’s fatal fall. The case has reignited concerns over safety protocols, alcohol policies, and the ethical limits of “all-you-can-drink” packages on luxury cruises.

The lawsuit, brought against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., paints a haunting picture of a vacation gone wrong—one that unfolded amid music, dancing, and celebration, but ended with a mother lost at sea and a daughter demanding accountability. Klewin’s claims have drawn widespread attention, not only for the personal anguish they reveal but also for the broader implications for cruise ship safety and corporate responsibility on the high seas.

A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy

According to the lawsuit and accounts provided to CBS News and TMZ, Dulcie White purchased an unlimited alcoholic beverages package during her voyage aboard the Allure of the Seas, a sprawling floating city known for its extravagant entertainment and themed voyages. The particular trip, themed around Taylor Swift’s music, was a major draw for fans. With ticket packages starting at around $1,573 and drink packages costing an additional $80–$90 per day, passengers were encouraged to indulge in what was marketed as a carefree and festive experience.

However, Klewin’s lawsuit alleges that crew members on board repeatedly served her mother drinks even after she became visibly intoxicated. The complaint states that Dulcie White was served seven alcoholic beverages within just over six hours. Witnesses reportedly described her as slurring her speech and struggling to stand, signs that would have prompted responsible servers in many jurisdictions to refuse further service. Instead, White allegedly continued drinking until shortly before the fatal incident.

Klewin recalls the final moments with her mother in painful detail. Speaking to CBS News, she said she thought White had stepped away “to check her suitcase.” Moments later, when she looked up, she saw her mother perched on the edge of their balcony. “She was seated on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up,” Klewin said. “She was seated and then fell over before I could get to her.” The accident occurred approximately 17 miles off the coast of Nassau in the Bahamas.

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Panic spread quickly among the passengers. Rumors circulated that “somebody had jumped,” as fellow travelers Ashley and Marie Sindaco told TMZ. But Klewin insists her mother did not intentionally go overboard. She maintains that her mother’s fall was accidental, the result of extreme intoxication brought on by over-service and lack of intervention by the ship’s staff.

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In the hours that followed, chaos and disbelief gripped the cruise ship. The crew initiated an emergency search effort, and the Allure of the Seas reportedly spent around three hours combing the surrounding waters. Another Royal Caribbean vessel, the Utopia of the Seas, joined the search. Despite their efforts, no trace of White was ever found. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force also participated in the search, but after several hours, operations were called off. Her body remains lost to the sea, leaving her family without closure and seeking answers in court.

Allegations of Negligence and Overservice

The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County where Royal Caribbean is headquartered, centers on allegations that the cruise line and its employees failed to uphold their duty of care toward passengers. Specifically, it claims that bartenders and other staff continued to serve White alcohol long after she showed clear signs of intoxication. The complaint describes a pattern of “overconsumption” encouraged by the company’s unlimited drink packages—a system, it argues, that incentivizes both passengers and staff to prioritize consumption over safety.

Klewin’s attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, has been outspoken about what he sees as a dangerous corporate culture within the cruise industry. “A victory in this case,” he told reporters, “would be if Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines—Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian—decide to discontinue these all-you-can-drink alcohol packages.” Aronfeld argues that unlimited beverage plans, while profitable and popular, create conditions that foster irresponsible behavior and put passengers at risk.

The lawsuit also accuses the company of failing to implement adequate safety measures to prevent overboard incidents. This includes insufficient monitoring of intoxicated passengers, inadequate barriers or balcony safety features, and a lack of timely response protocols. Klewin further claims that, contrary to the company’s official statement, the Allure of the Seas did not immediately stop or properly deploy rescue services. Royal Caribbean has maintained that it “immediately launched a search and rescue effort” in collaboration with local authorities.

Cruise ships are governed by complex maritime laws, and accidents at sea often fall under the jurisdiction of the High Seas Act, which can limit the damages that families are eligible to recover. This legal framework, designed to balance international liability and maritime commerce, can make it difficult for victims’ families to receive large settlements. Nevertheless, Klewin and her legal team say their objective goes beyond monetary compensation. They hope to prompt meaningful reform in the industry’s handling of alcohol sales and passenger safety.

At the heart of the lawsuit is a difficult question of responsibility. How much obligation does a cruise line have to monitor and protect passengers who may drink excessively? Klewin insists her mother was not reckless by nature. She describes White as a loving parent who was simply trying to enjoy a rare vacation. “Because of that she did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money’s worth,” she said. “She was completely intoxicated in a way I haven’t seen before. It saddens me that that is my last memory of her.”

Safety, Accountability, and the Cruise Industry’s Dilemma

Incidents of passengers falling overboard are relatively rare but not unheard of in the cruise industry. According to data compiled by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), an average of around 19 overboard incidents occur annually worldwide, with survival rates below 25%. The combination of alcohol consumption, open balconies, and the vastness of the ocean creates a perilous environment when even a momentary lapse in judgment occurs.

Royal Caribbean, like most major cruise lines, has faced scrutiny in the past regarding its alcohol policies and safety protocols. Unlimited drink packages have long been a lucrative offering, appealing to vacationers seeking a carefree, all-inclusive experience. Yet critics argue that such programs encourage overindulgence and make it harder for staff to regulate consumption responsibly. Bartenders and servers on large vessels often handle thousands of passengers daily, and consistent enforcement of intoxication limits can be difficult to maintain.

The lawsuit against Royal Caribbean may also draw renewed attention to the technology used—or not used—to prevent and detect overboard incidents. Some ships have installed advanced motion sensors, infrared cameras, and detection systems capable of alerting crew members immediately when someone goes overboard. However, these technologies are expensive and not universally adopted across fleets. Advocates for maritime safety say that mandatory overboard detection systems could save lives, particularly in cases where immediate response is crucial.

In recent years, several high-profile cases have underscored the risks associated with alcohol and cruising. Victims’ families have repeatedly called for stricter policies, including limits on daily alcohol consumption and clearer passenger safety education. Critics argue that the cruise industry has been slow to change, prioritizing profitability and customer satisfaction over regulation. The industry’s self-governed nature and reliance on international maritime law make oversight challenging.

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For the Klewin family, the legal battle is deeply personal. Beyond their grief, they are confronting the complexities of holding a massive global corporation accountable in a system designed to protect maritime commerce. “This isn’t about revenge,” Aronfeld said. “It’s about preventing the next tragedy.”

As the case proceeds through the Florida courts, it may test the boundaries of corporate liability at sea. If successful, it could force Royal Caribbean and other companies to rethink not only how they sell alcohol but also how they handle passenger safety and emergency response. The potential ripple effects could extend across an industry that carries millions of passengers every year.

Meanwhile, the human dimension of the story remains stark. For Klewin, there is no closure—no funeral, no resting place, and no final goodbye. She continues to grapple with the reality that her mother’s last moments were filled with confusion and fear, rather than the joy they had both anticipated. “It was supposed to be a fun trip,” she said. “She was so excited. Now I can’t stop thinking about that night, wondering if she knew she was falling, if she called my name.”

The tragedy has also prompted conversations among cruise-goers and travel safety advocates about the broader culture of vacation drinking. Cruise vacations, often marketed as escapes from everyday responsibilities, can blur the lines between enjoyment and excess. The constant availability of alcohol, combined with festive atmospheres and limited oversight, can lead to dangerous situations. While passengers bear some responsibility for their actions, critics argue that companies should not exploit that vulnerability for profit.

In the wake of White’s death, Royal Caribbean has not indicated any changes to its drink policies or onboard safety practices. The company has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and cooperation with authorities. However, without stronger regulatory standards, meaningful change may depend on the outcome of cases like Klewin’s.

For now, the lawsuit stands as both a legal and moral challenge to one of the world’s largest cruise operators. It raises uncomfortable but necessary questions about the true cost of leisure, the limits of corporate duty, and the fragility of life at sea. As the waves continue to conceal the fate of Dulcie White, her daughter’s fight seeks not only justice for her family but also a measure of protection for the millions who sail after her.