Exclusive: California grandma with MS booted from cruise in Caribbean for ‘stealing’ free wine, lawsuit says

A Los Angeles grandmother suffering from multiple sclerosis was thrown off a cruise ship in the British Virgin Islands, without her essential medications, after she was accused of “stealing” a half-bottle of wine she insists was included in her vacation package, according to a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit filed Wednesday and obtained by The Independent.In the aftermath, Dayna Zegarelli claims security aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Luna rushed her to pack her things and disembark, and that amid the chaos, she left her meds behind and had no way of refilling her prescriptions in a foreign country – something her complaint describes as “incredibly dangerous.” Going without the meds, Zegarelli’s complaint contends, exacerbated the MS-caused lesions on her eyes, which had been under control. This, it says, “can lead to blindness.”Norwegian, along with the ship’s captain and head of security, who are both named as defendants in Zegarelli’s suit, “engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct” by falsely accusing the 49-year-old of theft when they “knew or should have known that the wine in question was complimentary,” according to the complaint.Beyond the worsening of Zegarelli’s worsening optic issues, she has since suffered panic attacks, elevated blood pressure, headaches and nausea, as well as “emotional injuries” including humiliation, shame, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness, the complaint states. It says she has spent large amounts of money on medical treatment in the weeks after the aborted cruise, plus psychological care and counseling.A federal lawsuit by California grandmother and MS sufferer Dayna Zegarelli claims she was kicked off a cruise in the British Virgin Islands – without her medication – over a free bottle of wine she was wrongfully accused of stealing (iStock / Getty)“I don’t think any of us would want to be treated like that,” attorney Michael Perry, who is representing Zegarelli, told The Independent.A Norwegian spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.Zegarelli and her partner boarded the Norwegian Luna in Miami on August 8 for a seven-day Caribbean cruise, according to her complaint, which was filed August 26 in Los Angeles federal court.The 3,565‑passenger Luna “elevates every moment of the guest journey,” Norwegian’ website tells prospective guests. The ship features 17 restaurants, 18 bars and lounges, and a staff that “ensures that every experience feels effortless.”Zegarelli was staying in The Haven, a group of top-floor first-class suites that cost at least double – and potentially up to 10 times more – what a comparable stateroom goes for in the regular area of the ship. Access to The Haven, a luxurious “ship within a ship,” is by keycard only. Norwegian calls The Haven “your own private oasis with exclusive amenities and our most luxurious accommodations.” “Guests of The Haven receive special treatment at every turn – from priority embarkation to restaurant and show reservations to personalized butler service 24-hours-a-day,” it says in its marketing materials. “The Haven also boasts a private courtyard, pool, restaurant and lounge as well as a dedicated concierge, ready to satisfy any request (really, anything).”Zegarelli’s complaint says she was informed that, as a Haven guest, she was entitled to “certain complimentary beverages, including wine, [which] would be provided free of charge in designated Haven areas and delivered to Haven suites upon request.”Four days into the cruise, Zegarelli was in The Haven’s private bar and, before heading back to her suite, took a half-bottle of wine with her, the complaint states. It says she was “of [the] understanding” that the wine was free. Zegarelli “placed the bottle of wine in her purse to make it easier for her to carry the bottle as she has Multiple Sclerosis,” the complaint continues. The alleged incident happened during an August trip on a Norwegian cruise line ship (Reuters)Nothing seemed amiss until the next day, when Zegarelli was informed that she needed to go to the ship’s security office, according to the complaint. When she got there, the chief of security told Zegarelli that she was being removed from the ship “under the direction of… Captain Robert Lundberg for stealing the half-bottle [of] wine,” it goes on. The security chief called Zegarelli a “thief,” in front of her 8-year-old granddaughter, the complaint states.But when Zegarelli pushed back and said the wine was meant to be complimentary for those staying in The Haven suites, the security chief responded that “every passenger must show their Haven Suite keycard every time before they will be served with no exceptions ever, and that because she did not show her keycard it was stealing,” according to the complaint.However, the complaint says Zegarelli has “video evidence that this statement is a lie and completely false.” It alleges that Zegarelli’s partner had gone to the bar immediately before her and had been given a drink – gratis – without showing his keycard.“It is asserted that once the bartenders know a guest is staying in the Haven Suites all drinks are complimentary,” the complaint argues. “... Had [Zegarelli] known that there might be an issue with her removing the half-bottle of wine from the bar, she would have merely contacted the butler assigned to her suite and ordered a full bottle of wine be delivered complimentary.”Meanwhile, Zegarelli was only allowed “a very short time” to gather her belongings and disembark once the ship made a port call in the British Virgin Islands, as security told her the vessel was scheduled to soon depart and would not delay for her, according to the complaint.“Security rushed [Zegarelli] to pack her things, [and] under the incredible stress caused [by] security, [she] forgot to locate and pack her medication which is necessary to address her MS,” states the complaint.It notes Zegarelli was “shaken, disturbed and incredibly upset that she had been called a thief in front of her family members, including her eight-year-old granddaughter, and felt as though she had ruined the whole vacation for her entire family.”In tears and “very, very shaken,” Zegarelli was forced to leave the ship without her meds, which cost her more than $160,000 annually, and “no means to obtain medication in a foreign country,” the complaint says. She called her neurologist back home in a “desperate attempt” to get a new set of prescriptions, but the doctor reportedly told her that she was not licensed to fill scripts internationally.“This left Plaintiff without her medication and no means by which to obtain it,” according to the complaint. “... It is incredibly dangerous for [her] to go without her medication at any time and to undergo high levels of stress.” Zegarelli is now seeking a minimum of $5 million in compensatory damages, with a final figure to be determined by a jury, for emotional distress, physical injury, medical expenses, and loss of enjoyment; as well as punitive damages “in an amount sufficient to punish [NCL] for its extreme and outrageous conduct and to deter similar conduct in the future; plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and legal costs.