Overview
- Michael Virgil, 35, died in December 2024 shortly after ship security detained him on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Mexico.
- The family’s new lawsuit claims he was served at least 33 alcoholic drinks at a single bar before becoming disoriented and attempting to force a door.
- The complaint alleges crew pinned him with their full weight and used pepper spray and an injected sedative, after which he lost consciousness en route to medical care.
- A medical examiner later classified the death as a homicide, with the suit citing mechanical asphyxia alongside obesity, cardiomegaly and alcohol poisoning.
- Royal Caribbean says it is saddened by the death, has cooperated with authorities and will not comment further during litigation, as the case renews scrutiny of the line’s safety practices following other 2024 fatalities.