A 35-year-old California guy who died aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise send final 12 months used to be served a minimum of 33 alcoholic beverages on the send’s bar, his circle of relatives claims in a lawsuit.
Michael Virgil of Moreno Valley boarded the Navigator of the Seas in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2024, together with his fiancée, Connie Aguilar, and their son, in step with court docket paperwork filed in Miami, Florida, the place the cruise corporate is primarily based.
As they have been on their solution to Ensenada, Mexico, Royal Caribbean workforce individuals “negligently” overserved Virgil “in a question of hours” whilst he exhibited glaring indicators of intoxication, the lawsuit alleges.
Whilst intoxicated, Virgil tried to seek out his cabin room, were given misplaced and was agitated, the lawsuit states. Virgil used to be then faced through Royal Caribbean safety individuals who allegedly tackled him to the bottom and subdued him “with their complete frame weight,” the plaintiff’s lawsuit claims.
Handout equipped to CBS Information through Connie Aguilar’s lawyer 
Royal Caribbean workforce individuals additionally allegedly injected Haloperidol, a prescription medicine used to regard psychotic problems, into Virgil on the request of the send’s captain. More than one cans of pepper spray have been extensively utilized on him, Aguilar’s legal professionals declare.
The daddy “in the long run died within the care of Royal Caribbean workforce and workforce individuals,” the lawsuit states.
In a commentary to CBS Information, a Royal Caribbean Staff spokesperson mentioned, “We have been saddened through the passing of one among our visitors, labored with government on their investigation, and can chorus from commenting any longer on pending litigation.”
The legal professionals famous within the lawsuit that Royal Caribbean had the best to refuse alcohol carrier to any individual who used to be visibly intoxicated, however alleged that the corporate didn’t do so that you can give protection to Virgil’s lifestyles. In addition they declare the cruise line intentionally markets its “all you’ll drink” beverage applications to passengers and guarantees there is a bar in “each and every corner and cranny” of the Navigator of the Seas.
Along with negligence claims within the alleged overservice of alcohol, Aguilar’s legal professionals additionally declare Royal Caribbean is negligent within the hiring and coaching of its workforce individuals — together with clinical and safety group of workers — alleging they contributed to Virgil’s demise.
The incident is the second one lawsuit in contemporary months in opposition to Royal Caribbean involving a demise and the intake of alcohol. A 66-year-old lady, Dulcie White, went overboard all over a Taylor Swift-themed cruise on Oct. 22, 2024, after the send’s workforce saved serving her alcohol regardless of indicators of maximum intoxication, her circle of relatives claimed in a lawsuit filed in October.
The lawsuit additionally cited Royal Caribbean’s limitless alcoholic drinks bundle. “On account of that (drink bundle), [she] did overdo it, looking to possibly get her cash’s value,” her daughter Megan Klewin mentioned. “She used to be utterly intoxicated in some way I have never observed sooner than. It saddens me that this is my final reminiscence of her.”
