A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Royal Caribbean following the death of a 35-year-old passenger during a family cruise in December 2024. The civil claim alleges that Michael Virgil was served at least 33 alcoholic drinks before being physically restrained by ship security. A post-mortem examination later ruled his death a homicide, citing restraint-related asphyxia as the primary cause.
Virgil had boarded the Navigator of the Seas with his fiancée and their young son for a short voyage from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges serious failures in alcohol service monitoring, passenger welfare and emergency response. Royal Caribbean has said it does not comment on ongoing litigation.
