Fiancee Files Wrongful-Death Suit Accusing Royal Caribbean of Over-Serving Alcohol and Using Fatal Restraint

The fiancée of a California man who died during a holiday cruise has brought a wrongful-death action against Royal Caribbean, alleging that the company’s bartenders poured him dozens of alcoholic drinks and that security personnel later restrained him in a manner that stopped his breathing.

The civil complaint, lodged in federal court in Miami on Friday, seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial on behalf of Michael Virgil, 35, who died aboard the Navigator of the Seas in December 2024. Plaintiff Connie Aguilar contends that ship employees served Virgil at least 33 alcoholic beverages, ignored visible signs of intoxication, and used excessive force when he became disoriented while searching for his cabin.

According to the filing, the couple embarked on a round-trip voyage from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, accompanied by family members, including their young son. The suit states that Royal Caribbean personnel continued to serve Virgil alcohol “at every bar, lounge, and dining venue he visited” throughout the day despite slurred speech, unsteady gait, and agitation.

The document alleges that in the early-morning hours of December 10, Virgil grew confused inside a stateroom corridor and began kicking a door while attempting to locate his room. Security guards responded, tackled him to the floor, and positioned their bodies on his back and torso. Aguilar claims the guards maintained a prolonged prone hold that compressed Virgil’s chest and restricted his ability to breathe.

The captain reportedly ordered additional measures that included chemical spray and an injected sedative, steps the plaintiff says intensified respiratory suppression. Moments later, Virgil went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated by onboard medical staff. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner subsequently classified the death as homicide, citing mechanical asphyxia complicated by obesity, cardiomegaly, and alcohol intoxication.

Video recorded by another passenger shows portions of the corridor confrontation. In the footage, Virgil appears agitated, yells profanities, and pursues a crew member who retreats into a linen closet. Several guards then wrestle him to the deck and hold him facedown. The lawsuit argues that less-dangerous interventions were available and that cruise personnel lacked adequate training in de-escalation and safe restraint techniques.

Aguilar’s attorneys invoke maritime common law, which requires passenger carriers to monitor guests whose actions may endanger themselves or others. The suit contends that Royal Caribbean promotes heavy drinking through drink packages and widespread bar access yet fails to enforce policies limiting service to visibly impaired customers. An overview of responsible service standards published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that cruise operators are expected to identify intoxicated individuals and withhold additional alcohol.

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The claim also faults the ship’s medical team, alleging that personnel lacked proper licenses and experience to treat life-threatening emergencies. Aguilar says Royal Caribbean neither equipped staff with pulse oximeters to monitor breathing during restraint nor provided training to recognize signs of positional asphyxia.

Royal Caribbean, the world’s second-largest cruise company, is headquartered in Miami and registers many of its vessels in the Bahamas. The firm did not respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit. Under federal procedure, the company has 21 days from service to file an answer or motion to dismiss.

If the case proceeds, a South Florida jury could be asked to weigh complex issues of hospitality liability, shipboard security protocols, and medical standards at sea. Aguilar is seeking compensation for funeral costs, loss of income, emotional distress, and punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct.

Crédito da imagem: Associated Press