Summary: A wrongful-death suit filed in the Southern District of Florida alleges Royal Caribbean overserved passenger Michael Virgil with at least 33 alcoholic drinks and that crew members restrained him forcefully, administered haloperidol and used pepper spray. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication (BAC 0.182%–0.186%). The estate seeks damages under the Death on the High Seas Act and calls for industry reforms.
Family Sues Royal Caribbean After Passenger Dies Aboard Ship; Lawsuit Alleges 33 Drinks, Forceful Restraint and Homicide
Royal Caribbean sued over cruise passenger’s death as ship rules prove ‘fast and loose’: expert
A wrongful-death lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accuses Royal Caribbean of negligence and misconduct after 35-year-old passenger Michael Virgil died aboard the Navigator of the Seas following what the complaint describes as extensive alcohol overservice and a forceful restraint by crew members.
Virgil and his family boarded the ship in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2024, for a four-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. The family included Virgil's longtime fiancée and their seven-year-old son, who has autism. According to the complaint, the couple were asked to wait in a bar with live music while their cabin was prepared; the fiancée and child left the area when the boy became restless, leaving Virgil behind.
Michael Virgil died on board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Allegations and Timeline
The lawsuit alleges that within hours of departure, crew members served Virgil at least 33 alcoholic drinks. Later that evening, while reportedly disoriented and trying to find his cabin, Virgil was confronted by ship security and other staff. The complaint says several employees tackled and restrained him, applying body weight that compressed his chest for roughly three minutes.
Family attorneys say video and other evidence show crew members, under direction of the staff captain, administered the antipsychotic haloperidol and deployed three cans of pepper spray while trying to subdue Virgil. According to the complaint, body-camera footage indicated Virgil still had a pulse and was breathing after the restraint, but he was pronounced dead about two and a half hours after the incident began.
Michael Virgil, 35, can be seen kicking a door prior to being taken down by security on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas.
Autopsy and Medical Findings
The medical examiner ruled Virgil's death a homicide, citing the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication. The autopsy reported a blood alcohol concentration between 0.182% and 0.186%, more than twice the U.S. legal driving limit. The examiner attributed the life-ending injury to body compression during restraint by multiple ship security personnel, in combination with ethanol ingestion and underlying heart enlargement.
Family Allegations and Legal Claims
The complaint alleges Royal Caribbean staff refused the family's request to return to port and instead placed Virgil's body in a refrigerated morgue unit while the ship continued the voyage, returning to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2024. The estate seeks damages under the Death on the High Seas Act, including loss of support and companionship, past and future earnings, funeral and medical expenses, and mental pain and suffering. The suit also asks for systemic reform of cruise-ship alcohol policies, restraint practices and medical protocols.
An overhead view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas cruise ship.
Attorney Comment: Family attorney Kevin Haynes compared the alleged restraint to other high-profile cases of asphyxia during restraint, saying the events bear disturbing similarities to past restraint-related deaths.
Industry Context and Response
Bill Stanton, a retired NYPD officer and author, told press that cruise lines often operate with varying policies and that, in international waters, ship security commonly handles incidents that on land would involve local police. Royal Caribbean provided a brief statement saying it was saddened by the guest's passing, cooperated with authorities and would refrain from further comment due to pending litigation.
Virgil's death has prompted questions about onboard alcohol service, crew training, restraint tactics and medical care. Plaintiffs contend the combination of aggressive overserving, forceful restraint and pharmaceutical sedation contributed to a preventable death and are pursuing legal remedies to prompt industry changes.
