TALLAHASSEE — Tablemation Studios, a family-owned company specializing in innovative dining experiences, has filed a lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises, alleging breach of contract and exploitation.
The complaint accuses the cruise line of exploiting their intellectual property, breaching contracts and unjustly enriching itself at the expense of Tablemation’s groundbreaking concept, Le Petit Chef (LPC).
"This claim involves a large corporation, Celebrity, who preyed upon and took advantage of a small, family-owned business for its own benefit," the complaint states. "Tablemation, as its name implies, was the creator of an innovative, one-of-a-kind dining experience for guests aboard Celebrity cruise ships."
Tablemation developed LPC in collaboration with artists Filip Sterckx and Antoon Verbeeck, creators behind the renowned digital animation firm Skullmapping, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The dining experience combines high-definition projections and animations synchronized with meals, captivating diners aboard Celebrity's cruise ships.
Introduced in 2018, LPC became a significant attraction, featured on 12 Celebrity vessels, the complaint states.
The cruise line charged $55–$70 per passenger for the experience, reportedly earning approximately $20 million annually.
Under an agreement signed in 2018, Tablemation was to receive $25,000–$100,000 per quarter and a share of the dining revenue.
Despite the success of the collaboration, Tablemation alleges that Celebrity undermined their relationship.
During the pandemic, Celebrity requested leniency on fees, which Tablemation granted. However, as the pandemic subsided and negotiations for contract renewal began in 2022, tensions emerged, according to the suit.
Celebrity sought a 20% discount, to which Tablemation reluctantly agreed.
Celebrity abruptly ended negotiations in October 2022 and conspired with Skullmapping to cut Tablemation out of the LPC operation, the complaint states.
The cruise line allegedly continued running LPC without Tablemation’s authorization, using proprietary equipment and technology supplied by the family-owned business.
"Celebrity refuses to return the Tablemation equipment used to create the LPC dining experience," the complaint states. "This equipment consists of projectors, cabling, routers, BrightSign Players, and confidential and proprietary Player Activation Software."
Tablemation claims Celebrity also involved their exclusive vendor, Illuminating Magic, to maintain the LPC projections without consent.
"Illuminating Magic, LLC has an exclusive contract with Tablemation, restricting its business to install and maintain Tablemation’s high-definition projectors and media player system utilized to create the LPC dining experience and other similar dining experiences," the complaint states. "Upon information and belief, Illuminating Magic, LLC, in contravention of specific contractual agreements with Tablemation limiting its services, is currently assisting Celebrity in maintaining Tablemation’s projection Equipment on Celebrity’s vessels."
The lawsuit claims Celebrity retained projectors, media players and proprietary software despite repeated demands for their return.
Tablemation is suing Celebrity for breach of contract, conversion, unjust enrichment and fraud, seeking damages exceeding $75,000.
The lawsuit also alleges that Celebrity misled Tablemation during negotiations while secretly planning to bypass them entirely.
Tablemation is seeking compensatory damages. It is represented by Jonathan F. Claussen of J Claussen Law; and L. Elijah Stiers of Stiers Law.
Attorneys did not respond for comment before publication.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida case number: 1:24-cv-25064