What was meant to be a joyful family getaway aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise turned into a heartbreaking nightmare for the Virgil family.
Michael Virgil, 35, lost his life last year while on the Navigator of the Seas, and now a lawsuit filed by his family is shedding light on the shocking circumstances surrounding his death.
According to court documents, Michael’s final hours on the ship were marked by chaos, distress, and what his family describes as extreme negligence on the part of the cruise line.
Excessive Alcohol Service Raises Alarm
The lawsuit alleges that Michael was served a staggering 33 alcoholic drinks by the ship’s bars on the day he died.
Video footage reportedly captured him in a meltdown, lashing out at a door and removing his clothes.
A fellow passenger even claimed that Michael threatened to harm him during the incident.
His family has maintained that he died after being administered a sedative by cruise staff.
The new legal filing emphasizes that Michael’s death was ruled a homicide, prompting serious questions about how the situation was handled.
Family’s Grief and Legal Response
Kevin Haynes, the attorney representing the Virgil family, spoke about the devastating impact of the incident:
“Michael’s family has suffered unimaginable heartache and torment caused by Royal Caribbean, a mega cruise line that prioritizes profit over passenger safety.
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—one that should never have occurred—was handled.”
The family is seeking damages to cover funeral and medical expenses, mental suffering, and loss of support and inheritance.
A Simple Mix-Up Escalates
The incident reportedly began when the Virgils discovered their cabin wasn’t ready upon boarding.
Staff directed them to a bar area to wait while their room for a four-day trip to Ensenada, Mexico, was prepared.
Michael’s fiancée, Connie Aguilar, took their seven-year-old son—who has autism—to check on the room, leaving Michael at the bar.
Within hours, he was allegedly served an excessive amount of alcohol despite appearing visibly intoxicated—a point highlighted in the lawsuit, which argues that Royal Caribbean had the ability and responsibility to refuse further service to protect his safety.
Confrontation and Use of Force
As the cruise progressed, Michael reportedly wandered the ship searching for the family’s room.
Frustrated and agitated, he became aggressive, prompting staff and security to intervene.
According to the lawsuit, crew members tackled him and “stood on [him] with their full body weight,” making it difficult for him to breathe.
The complaint also claims that the ship’s captain authorized the injection of a sedative called Haloperidol and that multiple cans of pepper spray were used on Michael.
These actions allegedly led to cardiopulmonary arrest, resulting in his death.
Calls for Change in the Cruise Industry
Attorney Kevin Haynes emphasized the broader implications of this tragic case:
“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.”
The lawsuit paints a stark picture of what went wrong, highlighting both the excessive alcohol service and the handling of a medical emergency, and raising urgent questions about passenger safety on cruise ships.
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