The family of a 35-year-old man who died on a Royal Caribbean cruise after allegedly consuming 33 alcoholic drinks has initiated legal action, months after an autopsy classified his death as a homicide.
Michael Virgil, along with his family, embarked on the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles on December 13, 2024. The four-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico was intended to be a relaxing getaway.
However, what was meant to be a routine voyage quickly turned into a nightmare, according to a lawsuit, following an incident involving security personnel that has become the crux of a legal dispute.
Virgil’s family, including his long-term fiancée and their young son who is on the autism spectrum, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Footage shows Michael Virgil, 35, kicking a door before being subdued by security on the Navigator of the Seas. (Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles)
The lawsuit accuses the cruise line of contributing to his death, alleging that Virgil was overserved alcohol and subjected to excessive force, resulting in tragic consequences.
According to the complaint, the family was directed to a bar with live music because their cabin was not ready. As they waited, Virgil’s then 7-year-old son grew restless and left with his mother to check the room, leaving Virgil alone.
The suit claims that within hours of the ship’s departure, crew members negligently served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks, after which he became intoxicated and increasingly agitated while trying to locate his cabin.
Security and crew members allegedly tackled and restrained Virgil, compressing his body until he stopped moving. The complaint says that at the direction of the staff captain, the crew injected him with the sedative Haloperidol and used three cans of pepper spray.
The suit says the combination of restraint, sedative use and pepper spray caused significant hypoxia, impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest. The medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide.
The medical examiner wrote that the cause of death was “combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication.” The report also said the injury occurred from “body compression during restraint by multiple ship security personnel” and “ingestion of ethanol.”
Virgil’s body remained refrigerated on board until the ship returned to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2024.
“Michael’s family has suffered unimaginable heartache and torment caused by Royal Caribbean, a mega cruise line that prioritizes profit over passenger safety,” Kevin Haynes, a partner at Kherkher Garcia, said. “Crew members, including security and medical personnel, are required to undergo rigorous competency training; it is very clear that Royal Caribbean is completely negligent in the hiring, training and supervision of its vast fleet of maritime employees.
“What was supposed to be a beautiful family vacation came to an unimaginably tragic end due to the reprehensible way the situation – that should have never occurred – was handled,” Haynes added.
An overhead view of Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas cruise ship. (Royal Caribbean)
The complaint also notes that Virgil purchased the “Deluxe Beverage Package,” which gives passengers access to nearly all of the ship’s drink offerings, including alcohol. It explains alcohol sales are among Royal Caribbean’s top revenue streams and that the ships are designed with numerous outlets serving alcohol throughout the vessels.
“We are seeing an incredibly alarming number of serious injuries and fatalities on cruise ships of late,” Haynes said. “Our goal is to force systemic change in the way this industry operates to ensure that no person or family experiences tragedy like this again.”
Through the lawsuit, the estate of Michael Virgil is seeking judgment for damages under the Death on the High Seas Act, including loss of support, inheritance, past and future earnings and net accumulations. The family is also seeking funeral and medical expenses, loss of companionship and protection and mental pain and suffering, among other claims.
Royal Caribbean told TMZ it does not comment on pending litigation.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Royal Caribbean for comment.
