The family of a California man who died aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise alleges the company is responsible for his death, filing a wrongful-death lawsuit seven months after a medical examiner ruled the case a homicide.
Michael Virgil, 35, boarded Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas with his fiancée and their young son on Dec. 13, 2024, expecting a short four-day trip to Ensenada, Mexico.
According to a federal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida, the vacation instead ended in tragedy after crew members allegedly overserved Virgil 33 alcoholic drinks and then used extreme force that ultimately killed him.
Lawsuit Claims Cruise Overserved Alcohol, Then Used Deadly Force
The complaint states that when the family boarded, they were directed to a bar because their cabin wasn’t ready.
Virgil’s fiancée briefly left with their 7-year-old son, who has autism, to check the room, leaving Virgil alone.
The lawsuit alleges that in the hours following departure, crew members “negligently served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks,” causing him to become severely intoxicated while trying to locate his cabin.
Security personnel then allegedly confronted Virgil, tackled him, and held him down using body-weight compression.
According to the suit, at the staff captain’s direction, crew members injected Virgil with the sedative Haloperidol and deployed three cans of pepper spray while restraining him.
The filing says the combination of prolonged restraint, sedatives, and chemical spray caused “significant hypoxia, impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability, and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest.”
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A medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide, concluding Virgil died from the “combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication,” and noting the fatal injuries occurred during “restraint by multiple ship security personnel.”
Virgil’s body remained stored on board until the ship returned to Los Angeles on December 16.
Attorneys: Cruise Line Put Profit Over Passenger Safety
“Michael’s family has suffered unimaginable heartache and torment caused by Royal Caribbean, a mega cruise line that prioritizes profit over passenger safety,” attorney Kevin Haynes of Kherkher Garcia said.
Haynes argued the crew displayed clear incompetence:
“It is very clear that Royal Caribbean is completely negligent in the hiring, training, and supervision of its vast fleet of maritime employees.”
The lawsuit highlights that Virgil purchased the ship’s “Deluxe Beverage Package,” a top revenue source for the company, granting near-unlimited alcoholic drinks across the vessel.
“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.
Family Seeks Damages Under Federal Maritime Law
The estate of Michael Virgil is seeking damages under the Death on the High Seas Act for loss of support, inheritance, earnings, funeral and medical expenses, loss of companionship and protection, and mental pain and suffering.
Haynes said the case reflects a disturbing trend:
“We are seeing an incredibly alarming number of serious injuries and fatalities on cruise ships of late.
“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.”
Royal Caribbean Responds
Royal Caribbean declined to address specifics due to ongoing litigation.
“We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting any further on pending litigation,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
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