The family of a 35-year-old man, Michael Virgil, who died after allegedly being served 33 alcoholic drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise, has initiated a lawsuit—this comes seven months following an autopsy that ruled his death a homicide.
Virgil and his family boarded the Navigator of the Seas in Los Angeles on December 13, 2024, hoping for a pleasant four-day getaway to Ensenada, Mexico. However, things took a turn when an incident involving security occurred, leading to a legal dispute, as stated in the lawsuit.
The wrongful death suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, includes Virgil’s fiancée and their young son, who has autism.
The lawsuit claims that the cruise line bears responsibility for Virgil’s death, alleging he was over-served alcohol and later faced excessive force from crew members.
Upon arrival, the family’s room wasn’t available, prompting them to wait at a bar with live music. During this time, Virgil’s son, then 7, and his mother went to check on their cabin, leaving Virgil alone.
According to the complaint, he was served at least 33 alcoholic drinks within hours of departing, leading to intoxication and growing agitation while he searched for the room.
The situation escalated, resulting in security and crew members tackling Virgil, restraining him forcefully. Allegations include that the crew injected him with a sedative, haloperidol, and utilized three cans of pepper spray at the captain’s command.
This combination of factors reportedly caused severe hypoxia, ventilation failure, and ultimately, his death due to cardiopulmonary arrest, as ruled by the coroner. The reported cause of death included mechanical asphyxia, obesity, and ethanol intoxication, with injuries attributed to physical restraint by security personnel.
Virgil’s body was kept on ice until the ship returned to Los Angeles on December 16, 2024.
A partner at a law firm representing the family, Kevin Haines, expressed the family’s immense pain resulting from what he termed the negligence of a major cruise company prioritizing profits over passenger safety. He stated that staff, particularly security and medical, must receive rigorous training—something he believes Royal Caribbean has failed to provide.
He further remarked that what should have been a joyful family vacation turned into a tragic event due to mishandling of the situation.
The lawsuit also mentions Virgil purchased a “deluxe beverage package” that allowed nearly unlimited drinks, including alcohol—something that contributes significantly to Royal Caribbean’s revenue.
Haines also pointed out a concerning trend of serious injuries and fatalities on cruise ships, aiming for systematic changes in the industry to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Virgil family is seeking damages under the Death at Sea Act for various losses, including expected earnings, funeral expenses, and emotional distress.
Royal Caribbean, in a response, stated they do not comment on ongoing litigation, and inquiries from news outlets for further comment have been made.
