The family of a woman that authorities say jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and was never found, is suing the cruise line.
On October 22, 2024, a cruise ship passenger was reported overboard while sailing on Allure of the Seas while on a 4-night Taylor Swift-themed cruise.
The woman was later identified as Dulcie White, and her family blames crew members serving her too many drinks because she had a drink package.
According to CBS News, a lawsuit specifies the unlimited drink package played a role in White's death.
What happened last year
Photo by X user @Navaleye1
While Allure of the Seas was about 17 miles north of Nassau, a 66-year-old woman went overboard.
Local authorities later confirmed the woman jumped, and did not fall, from the 14th deck of the ship.
The Royal Bahamas Defense Force, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, responded and conducted search and rescue efforts, using helicopters and airplanes.
Royal Caribbean also brought two other cruise ships, Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, to assist in the search.
At the time of the incident, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement, "Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort and is working with local authorities."
Rescue efforts were unsuccessful and called off the next day.
Family blames the cruise line
Ms. White's daughter, Megan Klewin, said her mom had purchased the alcohol package and said the drink package is part of the problem.
"Because of that (drink package, White) did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money's worth," she told 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."
According to a lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County on Thursday, crew members served Ms. White, "seven alcoholic beverages continually within a span of approximately six hours and eight minutes."
The lawsuit claims crew members ignored slurred speech, stammering, and difficulty standing up by White. It also claims another passenger noticed White's behavior and assisted her to her stateroom.
According to Klewin, she saw White go to the balcony.
"I assumed that's what she was doing was going to check her suitcase," Klewin said. "I wasn't looking and the next chance that I did look up, I saw her back. She was seated on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up. She was seated and then fell over before I could get to her."
The lawsuit also claims the cruise ship never turned around or used rescue boats, even though independent reports from TMZ and other outlets showed rescue efforts.
