Family sues Royal Caribbean after man allegedly served 33 drinks dies aboard cruise ship

foxnews.com ^ | December 8, 2025 | Greg Wehner , Michael Ruiz

[V_TWIN]

Michael Virgil, 35, and his family boarded Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2024, for a four-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, a trip they intended to be a fun vacation.

What began as a routine departure quickly unraveled, the lawsuit says, after an onboard incident involving security that would later become the center of a legal battle.

The family – which includes Virgil’s longtime fiancée and their young son who has autism – has filed a wrongful death complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Security and crew members allegedly tackled and restrained Virgil, compressing his body until he stopped moving. The complaint says that at the direction of the staff captain, the crew injected him with the sedative Haloperidol and used three cans of pepper spray.

[DPMD]

The ship companies openly advdertise unlimited booze as a selling point. The TV commercials are the receipts. What did they expect?

[DPMD]

Floating circus, petri dish, UFC octagon, 24/7 open bar, repurposed “hood”...

[jimwatx]

“the crew injected him with the sedative Haloperidol and used three cans of pepper spray.”
****************************

While 33 drinks is extreme it’s unlikely enough by itself to kill him. Back in the day I’ve drank that much myself upon occasion. Haloperidol is a potent anti-psychotic which contributes to respiratory depression and that along with the 3 cans of pepper spray and the crew piling on him is what killed him so I expect the family to win the lawsuit.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

We’ve been on exactly ONE cruise (to Alaska from Seattle). My wife initially bought each of us a drink package for something like $250 each (maybe a lot more). I asked her “Why would we do that? We hardly ever drink!). She cancelled those add-ons. I think we each had a couple of beers and wines.

[lula]

What else are you supposed to do with an unruly, drunk and psychotic passenger? He is a danger to other passengers and crew. Plus I doubt it was a room steward that injected him. They have a full medical crew on-board. Would love to see his bloodwork. No doubt their actions contributed to his death, but so did he. He may have had a bad heart, he was obese too. I hope RC fights this, personal responsibility has gone out the window.

[Bonemaker]

That’s abou one drink per 10 pounds of blubber.

[Bonemaker]

“People need to understand, when you’re on one of those cruise ships your not in the US anymore.”

They weren’t in US where they boarded.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

In the United States, dram shop laws in about 42 states and D.C. allow bars, restaurants, or bartenders to be held civilly liable if they serve a visibly intoxicated patron who later causes injury or death (e.g., in a drunk driving accident). Victims (or their families) can sue the establishment or bartender for damages. Liability usually requires proof that:

1. The patron was obviously or visibly intoxicated (e.g., slurring speech, stumbling).
2. The bartender continued serving anyway.
3. This led to harm (third-party injuries are most common).
4. BUT, self-injury claims are rare and often barred..

After 33 drinks, #1, #2 and #3 were certainly true. But #4 will get the lawsuit tossed.

[Bonemaker]

“I’m glad we did all our cruising in the early 2000s...”

I’m glad we did all our “cruising” in 50’s...in a 55 Chevy!😎

[jimwatx]

They should have trained security on staff which should have been capable of bringing that drunk guy down. A bouncer could have easily taken him down in less than a minute. Hell back when I was in my prime I probably could have taken him down myself. The staff appears incompetent.

[bigbob]

Died doing what he loved

[Ford4000]

I found the drinks on RC pretty weak. If the guy had 33 of them he must have been waiting in line about 8 hours.

[Bonemaker]

Ships Captain has absolute authority.

[JimRed]

The patron was obviously or visibly intoxicated (e.g., slurring speech, stumbling).

In my bartending days I saw several cases where habitual drunks were able to pull themselves together and act normal long enough to get service, then commence with the stumbling and slurring.

[Deaf and Discerning]

I have heard those cruises keep track of stuff like this.

You're right: someone could keep watch. I'm just appalled that the number is so large and unique, it's not like "a couple of drinks" or "a dozen drinks". I'm trying to envision someone behind him counting...

[Peter ODonnell]

Thirty-three bottles of beer on the cruise,

Thirty-three bottles of beer,

If one of those bottles should happen to fall

I’ll get a few more and I know it don’t rhyme.

[OldHarbor]

I ‘ve never been on a cruise. How much are drinks ? Certainly it’s not “all you can drink”, eh ?

We’re these drinks on his “tab” I wonder..

Did they get his consent for each drink ? So many questions.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Certainly it’s not ‘all you can drink’, eh ?”

There’s a premium package that is pretty much exactly that.

[OldHarbor]

What could possibly go wrong with the free booze plan ?

[CraigEsq]

“Thirty three? That’s too many and too specific. Was somebody actually keeping track?”

His cruise card would track everything he purchased on the ship (even with the drink package).